Zach Urness

Statesman Journal

Ever wanted to spend a summer working in Oregon's most remote wilderness areas?

If so, the Siskiyou Mountain Club wants to talk.

The Ashland-based nonprofit is hiring interns — primarily college students — to spend part of their summer improving trails in southwest Oregon's federal wilderness areas.

The job runs June 23 to Aug. 30 and includes taking part in four work hitches. Teams typically backpack into camp and spend 10 days using hand tools such as cross-cut saws, loppers, axes and pulaskis to cut trees and brush back vegetation.

Work will take place in the Kalmiopsis, Siskiyou, Sky Lakes and Red Buttes wilderness areas.

"This isn't for the faint of heart," said Gabriel Howe, Siskiyou Mountain Club executive director. "We run a tight ship to meet high performance goals. But anyone with the right attitude can take it on."

Interns also participate in an academic program with daily reading and writing assignments, Howe said. There's a seven-day break from work in July to draft essays, participate in writing workshops, go backpacking without tools and meet with hiring managers in agencies and industry.

Interns work toward for a $1,600 stipend paid out in installments and are eligible for $2,000 in tuition reimbursement. Some interns return to SMC and work positions that pay $15 per hour.

Deadline to apply is April 1.

For more details or to apply, see siskiyoumountainclub.org/trailcrew. For more information, email info@siskiyoumountainclub.org or call 541-708-2056.

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