04 Aug Cabin in the Woods

(Image: Historic era log cabin in Logan Canyon, Logan, UT, with 7 Forest Service employees and 1 EFTA intern posed on the front step. Photo is tilted, with a glare.)

Hello fellow interns, friends of the forest, and lovers of historic preservation! It’s been just over a month since I joined the Heritage team at the Uinta- Wasatch- Cache National Forest Supervisor’s Office here in Salt Lake City. I’m settling into my role as data forager (not my official title) and future cabin restoration expert (also not official). Each time the Forest Service truck rolls into the canyon, my heart still pitter patters with excitement that I’ll be working in the forest (hopefully) for the rest of my career.

Last month (July) was peak field work month. Even though I do a lot of work on the computer, my supervisor Rachelle assured I attended some meetings to discuss future projects and brought me to some small-scale surveys, but I think the *coolest* project I was able to attend was the restoration of a historical era cabin built in 1907. The cabin is located about an hour and 45 minutes away in Logan Canyon. We in Utah were one of the states that experienced the heat dome that encapsulated the western states, hitting us with daily triple digit heat wave. With no end sight, the escape to the cooler mountains has been welcome.

(Image: Wooden sign reads Built 1907, hangs above front step of historic era log cabin in Logan Canyon. A white Forest Service truck is parked behind some aspens.)

I celebrated my birthday in the forest as well. I also finally have the opportunity to reach other goals I set for myself while working on my undergraduate degree. Right now, I’m learning how to use GIS and will be returning to school in just a couple weeks to begin my Masters (and to wrap up a few other loose ends).

I always imagined my career path as an archaeologist would look exactly one way, but I have learned quickly that it definitely isn’t going to be that way! I am so very excited for what the rest of this 8-month internship holds.

Here’s a photo overlooking one of the many valleys of Logan Canyon. Until next time!