Trail work showed me what I am capable of.
THERE WASN’T ONE MOMENT where I thought, yes, I am going to start Eastern Sierra Conservation Corps. It was a collection of many moments, built on experience and the intention to provide more opportunities for young people to experience wild spaces. I thought, “Why not give it a shot?” If one life could be affected, it would be worth it.
Trail work showed me what I am capable of. It has taken me to sights I never would have seen otherwise. It has introduced me to a family of loving, determined, brilliant, and funny humans, and I wanted to show this world to others. The landscape of the Eastern Sierra is so diverse and dynamic. The tall mountain peaks are wild, raw, and unforgiving. There are dramatically serene alpine lakes and delicate meadows, mixed with weather that can turn on you in a moment’s notice. It is no secret, there are not a lot of people who look like me working in our National Parks and Forests. Women, particularly women of color, are the least represented group in employment in and visitation to public lands. Each women-based trail crew we fund contributes to evening the playing field.
The mountains do not discriminate; they don’t care who you are, where you came from, or what your skin color is. They demand your respect.
AGNES VIANZON
