I am officially a blog neglecter...ugh! I guess all I can do is tell lots of good stories about why I haven't written. Considering that I haven't posted in a month, this could be a long one. Since my last post, I've made my biggest purchase in several years. I am now the proud owner of an entire ski set up. Skis, bindings, boots, poles, a helmet goggles, the whole deal. Additionally each of the days I've taken them out in the past week have been fresh powder days. PERFECT!
From March 11th-20th, I was down in Gunnison Colorado re-taking a Wilderness First Responder Course with a fellow crew leader, Josh. Because it was my second time taking the course, I felt I was able to absorb much more information and hone in on good patient assessment and care. While in Gunnison, we stayed at an awesome hostel called Wanderlust run by two great gals, Amy and Melissa. If anyone is ever looking for a place to stay in Gunnison, you should check it out. Additionally, for the second time in a month, I got to see my best friend Alli in Montrose, CO. Although I drove a total of 3 hours to see Alli for 2 hours, it was wonderful to see her and I'm so glad I made the trip. Driving home from Gunnison in daylight made for a beautiful drive and I was ecstatic to get home to someone special. Thus I will introduce to the world, on my blog, Kory Cook, my boyfriend. Kory and I met while working at the ski area and have been pretty much inseparable since our first date at the Banff mountain film festival world tour in Laramie.
After a much needed night of rest, I departed again for Denver to pick up Adam Pettee and Courtney Smith from the airport. These two were kind enough to spend there spring break with me for some much needed fun. Upon picking them up it was close to 70 degrees and sunny in Denver. Although the weather was beautiful, I was really hoping for some snow so they could ski on fresh powder. Sure enough, both Wednesday and Friday(the two days I was working) we had a few inches of snow and on friday, enough people showed up to work that I got the day off and skied for just about every minute of it. Friday night, we all shared a new experience that really made me feel like a local, shooting guns on BLM land. After much discussion on the ride there about everything not to do, we were all nervous, but excited to try it. As it turns out, Adam is quite the marksman, and Courtney and I are not. We were much better at throwing the clays and even that was not so easy. On Saturday, we drove through some nasty weather on I-80 to get Courtney and Adam back to the airport. After a teary farewell, I sent them on their way and made the 2.5 hour drive to Laramie one last time.
For now, I'm enjoying my last week at the ski area and then I'm off to Salida, CO for 4 days of chainsaw training with the other crew leaders at Colorado Fire Camp. Hopefully, I'll post sooner rather than later!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Risk Management Journal
Assignment: Reflect on why risk management is important and steps you can take to make sure risk is limited.
Risk; exposure to the chance of injury or loss. You could say that only a pessimist would see risk around every corner, but by taking actions that have real consequences(risks), we open so many doors to learn and grow.
Early on in college, I was fortunate enough to learn the famous venn diagram risk equation from Mr. Bill Schnirel in Outdoor Education class. On one side of the diagram is human factors, and on the other is environmental factors. Naturally, the middle is the cross-over space where human and environmental factors interact and result in incidents, or worse yet, accidents.
So, what can we do to as leaders to mitigate risk for ourselves and our groups. BE PREPARED of course. Most incidents and accidents are the result of human error, so the best thing we can do is be educated. Know where you are, what resources are there, and how to get out quickly if the event arises. Know what you're doing, how your equipment works, and that you should stop if you are concerned about safety. Lastly, know your group and their skill level so that you know who and what to look out for. If you're always a step ahead, you'll always have the space you need to fix things before they even become a problem.
Risk; exposure to the chance of injury or loss. You could say that only a pessimist would see risk around every corner, but by taking actions that have real consequences(risks), we open so many doors to learn and grow.
Early on in college, I was fortunate enough to learn the famous venn diagram risk equation from Mr. Bill Schnirel in Outdoor Education class. On one side of the diagram is human factors, and on the other is environmental factors. Naturally, the middle is the cross-over space where human and environmental factors interact and result in incidents, or worse yet, accidents.
So, what can we do to as leaders to mitigate risk for ourselves and our groups. BE PREPARED of course. Most incidents and accidents are the result of human error, so the best thing we can do is be educated. Know where you are, what resources are there, and how to get out quickly if the event arises. Know what you're doing, how your equipment works, and that you should stop if you are concerned about safety. Lastly, know your group and their skill level so that you know who and what to look out for. If you're always a step ahead, you'll always have the space you need to fix things before they even become a problem.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Project Management Plan
Vision: Provide recreation opportunities in state parks lands for mountain bike users
Critical Success Factors: Develop 4 miles of single track trails that will be complete and available to users at the conclusion of the 10 day hitch. Crew learns the fundamentals of single track trail building.
Work Breakdown Schedule: Work will proceed in a bell curve type fashion where the bulk of the work will be done mid hitch followed by a day off and then a final push to complete the project. Day 1(Travel, frontload and assimilate to work site). Day 2-3(Develop first mile of trail). Day 4-6(Develop 2 miles of trail). Day 7(Half day or day off depending on progress). Day 8-9(Last mile of trail and finishing touches). Day 10(Clean up and travel home).
Resources: WCC equipment will be used in conjunction with agency equipment
Financial Plan: Yeah Tim and Kendall!
Project Team Roles and Responsibilities: Crew leaders main role is to provide guidance to team members to complete projects as planned and act as a team liason to agencies to ensure projects are accomplished as envisioned. Crew members will serve to support this mission and provide the labor necessary to comlete tasks
Document Distribution: Documents will be distributed during travel time and discussed twice daily in group ups
Quality Control Plan:Check in daily with agency partner to determine if project is being completed to standards disucessed in scope
Communication Plan: The foundation will be excellent co leader communication, followed by group communication and then communication with the agency partner. Twice daily group meetings will ensure that issues are dealt with and goals and expectations can be achieved or met.
Change Management Plan: Schedule accomodates time for changes in the scope of work or adjustments to the critical path. This will be minimized by maininting excellent communication among leaders, members, and agencies.
Risk Management Plan: Critical parts will include the first day of site assimilation and project familiarization. Risk can be minimized by checking in with group members and ensuring they are physically and emotionally able to work in a safe environment.
Client Care Plan: Maintaining good contact with the agency will be critical to the success of the project. We will check in with the agency daily to ensure that goals are being met and everyone is getting most they can from the experience.
Critical Success Factors: Develop 4 miles of single track trails that will be complete and available to users at the conclusion of the 10 day hitch. Crew learns the fundamentals of single track trail building.
Work Breakdown Schedule: Work will proceed in a bell curve type fashion where the bulk of the work will be done mid hitch followed by a day off and then a final push to complete the project. Day 1(Travel, frontload and assimilate to work site). Day 2-3(Develop first mile of trail). Day 4-6(Develop 2 miles of trail). Day 7(Half day or day off depending on progress). Day 8-9(Last mile of trail and finishing touches). Day 10(Clean up and travel home).
Resources: WCC equipment will be used in conjunction with agency equipment
Financial Plan: Yeah Tim and Kendall!
Project Team Roles and Responsibilities: Crew leaders main role is to provide guidance to team members to complete projects as planned and act as a team liason to agencies to ensure projects are accomplished as envisioned. Crew members will serve to support this mission and provide the labor necessary to comlete tasks
Document Distribution: Documents will be distributed during travel time and discussed twice daily in group ups
Quality Control Plan:Check in daily with agency partner to determine if project is being completed to standards disucessed in scope
Communication Plan: The foundation will be excellent co leader communication, followed by group communication and then communication with the agency partner. Twice daily group meetings will ensure that issues are dealt with and goals and expectations can be achieved or met.
Change Management Plan: Schedule accomodates time for changes in the scope of work or adjustments to the critical path. This will be minimized by maininting excellent communication among leaders, members, and agencies.
Risk Management Plan: Critical parts will include the first day of site assimilation and project familiarization. Risk can be minimized by checking in with group members and ensuring they are physically and emotionally able to work in a safe environment.
Client Care Plan: Maintaining good contact with the agency will be critical to the success of the project. We will check in with the agency daily to ensure that goals are being met and everyone is getting most they can from the experience.
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