spend most of the day in one place. While working on the trails in Van Sickle State Park, I would notice how the color of the lake would change ever so slowly as the sun moved overhead. Also, you discover that the sounds of the forest change throughout the day as the thermal winds vary and that animal sounds, the chirping and chattering, differ in low light versus bright sunlight. One day I could look down on the top of a broken off dead tree. A nest of baby squirrels kept peeking out, curious as to what I was and what I was doing. Recently, a long-eared chipmunk, normally a very shy animal, spent hours chattering and dancing near me as I was working near Watson Lake. I imagine he was fussing because I was intruding on his territory. Then there are the larger animals. A bear walked by us during a crew leader training session, to plop down into a pond and splash the water with his big paws like a little kid having a grand ole time. Another bear was walking up a trail when I was carrying a load of tools down. I did all the recommended responses; I banged tools together, stood tall, and yelled. The bear looked at me with a ‘yeah, right’ look and kept coming. I let him have the trail and hiked down the hill to our truck. Near Twin Peaks I was sitting by the trail serenely watching the sun come up when a bear, not seeing me, walked up behind me. We became aware of each other about the same time; he took off like a rocket (it’s an amazing sight the first time you see how fast a bear can run!) and I concentrated to slow my heart rate to avoid a heart attack! On my return trip on an early winter hike, I found mountain lion tracks crossing my earlier footprints. Deer usually had the habit of blending into the scenery and then scaring the bejeebers out of me as they’d suddenly leap up as I passed by. The list goes on and on. Flowers, trees, streams, storm clouds, pogonip, blowing snow, rock formations, etc., etc.. All these experiences I owe to my volunteering with the Tahoe Rim Trail Association and to the Association’s continued stewardship of the Tahoe Rim Trail. So, again, I want to thank the many members and donors who have supported the TRTA and thereby provided me with years of wonderful experiences.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Jamie Nowitzki We may be biased but we think TRTA volunteers are the greatest. Case in point, Jamie Goodspeed Nowitzki! Jamie has been a Tahoe Rim Trail volunteer since 2017 serving as both a crew leader and trail guide. Jamie grew up in northern Michigan enjoying the great outdoors with her family. Her favorite hobby is backpacking. More specifically, backpacking on National Scenic Trails like the Pacific Crest Trail and the North Country Trail. In 2007, with the mountains calling, she made the move to Lake Tahoe. She has been adventuring on the Tahoe Rim Trail every year since. She and her pup Dylan completed the Tahoe Rim Trail in 2017. Jamie got involved with volunteering after enjoying a solo backpacking trip along the PCT. She decided to give back to the trails she loved starting with digging into workdays and overnight backcountry work projects. She fondly looks back at her first workday with the TRTA and remembers how much fun she had and how fulfilled she felt walking away dirty and tired. More recently she started volunteering for the Forest Service’s Desolation Wilderness Volunteers after seeing some of the negative impacts the growing number of users in Desolation were creating. Through volunteering, she has learned many life lessons and has made amazing friendships along the way. She is a great resource for the TRTA, putting in over 250 volunteer hours in 2020 alone. She has her Wilderness First Responder, Crosscut B Sawyer, and her CPR certifications. This woman is a rock star and we are grateful for all the time she spends volunteering with the TRTA! When not out adventuring or volunteering on trails, Jamie can be found at the Bijou Community School in South Lake Tahoe, CA where she recently accepted a new position with the Lake Tahoe Unified School District as the Cafeteria Supervisor. She is very excited to help provide students with a healthy diet and make a positive impact in the community. After working with Jaime on the trail, we know the Bijou kids are in for a real treat! TRAIL BLAZER | Winter 2021 | Tahoe Rim Trail Association
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