| Pacific Northwest Exposure log (2004-06-20 -> 2004-07-10)
Leaders: Anderson Heagy, Sarah Fox, Jay Kinney
Students: Virginia Batts, Van Gill, Reece Mealy, Katherine Morgan, Carter Pope, Will Turner, Barnett Williams, Blanton Winship, Rob Wooten
PNW 3 is about to begin and they are in for a summer of a lifetime. All three leaders are extremely excited to share their love of the outdoors with everyone. Anderson has years of mounaineering experience as a guide with Rainier Mountaineering, and Sarah Fox was a 14 year old student on our first trip way back in 1996! Jay's younger brother Will was a student with us for several years. Looks like the group is in for a treat! More to follow as the adventure continues.
6/24/04
What an opener to PNW 3 2004! We've spent the last three days sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands with the incredible guides from Outdoor Adventures. Our guides, Bucky and Erica, were "Boat Loads" of fun, and they really showed us a wonderful time.
Our first day was spent learning the basics of water travel and safety. The OA guides really took a hands on approach in their instruction. They had us working with all of the equipment and charts from the very beginning, and we played some great games that kept things exciting (Virginia really shone in the Paddle Toss). Later, we ate a huge lunch, packed up and hopped in the boats for a 13 mile paddle to Jones Island. It was absolutely beautiful! We saw a bunch of Bald eagles, some seals, and the weather was perfect. Every single person did a great job of paddling, but Will "The Tank" really put his strength to use. We finished off the day with a hearty meal and a moon up.
On day two we had our first leaders of the day (LODs), Reece and Carter. Reece is a real pro in the spontaneous motivation department, and Carter has been hilarious as well and helpful. They made a solid leadership team for the day. After breakfast was all went for a hike around the island, making a stop along the way to check out some marine life. We were able to find all kinds of starfish, eels, sea urchins, and Barnett pulled out a huge crab. Once we got back to camp we had a quick lunch and then went out in the boats for some “wet exits” in chilly, 45 degree water! Everyone got out there and really embraced the activity, taking turns flipping their kayaks over and practicing various rescue techniques. Upon surfacing from her icy dip, all Van had to say was "Mother of Pearl!" It was another great day followed up with a sunset that Blanton said was his favorite part of the section.
Day three's LODs were Will and Katherine. Both did a great job, and Katherine's enthusiasm definitely fueled everyone else. We got up early, had a tasty breakfast, and then took off for another 13 mile paddle back home. On the way we saw a bunch more wildlife, including a group of about 20 seals and seal pups. Once we landed safe and sound, we had a BBQ and a moon-up on the beach around a campfire. To bring closure to the sea kayaking section we named the group "Team Fusion" on the suggestion of Rob. It was awesome.
Trip Update 7-2-04
Team Fusion is back from the woods, safe, sound and siked! We just finished up a seven day backpacking trip through North Cascades National Park. The bulk of this section was spent traversing Ross Lake, a huge body of water that was as cold as it was emerald-green. We started the trip off with a thirty minute boat ride to the Hozomeen trailhead, less than a mile south of the Canadian border. Surounded by towering peaks and beatiful water, we were all taken back by our setting for the week to come.
The first day was one of our toughest. At 7.2 miles, it was our longest day with the heaviest loads we'd have to carry. Nevertheless, all of our hard work was rewared with a beautiful campsite and chicken/vegi stir-fry at the end of the day. Day 2 was a little shorter, but still challenging. It took a lot of climbing and descending to get to Lightning Creek, our camping area for the next two evenings. Complete with a large wooden dock and a captivating view, lightning creek was a haven for us. Once we arrived, we all ate and went to bed early only to wake up aroud midnight that same evening for a summit attempt on Desolation peak - a mere 12 mile round trip! This climb was immortalized in Jack Keruoac's "Dharma Bums", and we had the opportunity to experience both in complete darkness and as the sun rose around us. Although the ascent was challenging, the view from the top and the sense of satisfation we felt made it easy to ignore aching muscles, sore feet and tired minds. Once we returned to lightning creek we all took a swim and passed out on the dock. The best day at the beach couldn't rival how good we felt that day. The fourth day of backpacking was spent taveling to rainbow point. Another beautiful, waterfront, campsite with a spectacular view of the mountains. We ended the day with a moon-up on our new dock. The following morning we broke camp, ate a pancake breakfast and hit the trail for Hidden Hand pass, 6 miles away. After walking all day we finally arived, and went down to a scenic (and
safe) cliffband for some jumps into the icy water. After a moon-up and a good night's sleep we walked out of the back coutry, and into clean clothes and ice cream.
The last week really helped Fusion come together as a team. We've learned a lot about one another, and we realize our strength as a team comes from the strengths of individual. Here's what we think of team fusion so far...
Carter: A natural leader. He connects well with everyone, and he's never affraid to take on more responsibility. Cater helps to keep spirits high with his infectious humor.
Van: Embodies the spirit of Moondance. She has stepped out of her comfort zone, thrown herself into a brand new group of people, challenged herself physically and mentally, and she's had a great time doing it! Everyone feeds off of her individuality and kindness.
Will (The Tank): A major element in the group's lifeblood. He is a strong an vocal leader, he entains us with spot-on Shrek impersonations, and he is always willing to help people clean their plates. Will is always commited to the experience!
Virginia: She has emerged as a quite rock star! Although she is a bit softer spoken than others, she leads through example. She is always at the front of the group on the trail, and her respect of nature and people serves as an excellent example for the rest of the group.
Barnett (The Beast): Barnett helps to unify the group. Whether it's through his ability to make us laugh or his strength in service, he is always helping to hold us together. Despite his blistered feet, he proves everyday that he is a commited member of this trip.
Katherine: Her performance during the desolation peak ascent was nothin short of inspiring. The last mile and a half were quite a challenge for her, but she kept pushing to the top without complaint. She may have been tired, but her efforts were a source of energy for the whole group that day.
Rob (Dwight): Has turned into quite the backcountry specialist. He has shown the most improvement in all aspects of wilderness travel, and he shows no sigh of slowing down. His ability to pick up on new skill sets is pretty incredible.
Blanton: Blanton came on this trip with a solid base in backcountry living, and it shows. He is a go-to individual, because he is alway able to provide assistance and ideas when we need them most. His efficiency in tasks such as bear-bagging and camp set up has proved invaluable.
Reece (D.Q.): Our spark plug. Reece gets things moving when we slow down a bit. It is impossible not to feel the warmth of her personilty. She shines in her sincerity and her acceptance of all team members. Basically, she makes us all feel good.
NEW LOG
Leaving the beautiful, lush Cascades after our incredible backpacking section and heading toward the drier and barren state of Oregon for the Deschutes River left the kids both excited and a little anxious. We quickly adjusted to the hot, desert-like feel of Oregon and awoke around 6am on Saturday morning to prepare ourselves for our rafting trip.
Van overcame her early morning syndrome, or her dislike for the early hours, and cheerfully awoke all of us with her sweet voice. We hit the lower Deschutes River with our guides in the late part of Saturday morning, and overall, rafting proved to be relaxing, challenging, and exhilarating all at the same time. Our guides were excellent motivators for the kids and encouraged each Moondancer to sit in the stern and control the boat. Blanton capitalized on the opportunity and exemplified great confidence in his ability to steer the boat and direct his raftmates with ease. We paddled a total of 26 miles on the first day where we mostly encountered Class 1 or Class 2 rapids. This gave us all ample time to soak up the gorgeous scenery. Virginia marveled at the sight of the giant, green hills that contrasted with the grey, slated rock and the blue sky. In the midst of enjoying the scenery, the kids unquestionably embraced being on the water.
From playing the games 'trust' and 'rodeo' on the raft, to jumping in the river at every chance he had, Barnett's love for the water and love of being wet entertained the group as well as kept him refreshed from the hot sun all day long. We pulled into Airstrip Campground after around 6 1/2 hours of paddling. Our cook group prepared an awesome meal of zucchini, chicken, and tomato cous cous with Jell-O pudding pie. Reece was a master in the outdoor kitchen and created homemade whipped cream for the pie about which each of us raved. That night we all slept under the stars and bright moon but before we fell asleep we were entertained by Carter's antics on the group ground tarp. He did a number on all of us with his steam rolling. We slept well that night, every once in a while hearing the freight train that passed us by in the dark hours. The sun woke up Sunday morning but that was not the first thing on our minds. The shockingly bright full moon that shone over us that night was an amazing sight to see. Rob did not let the morning slip by without reflecting on how awesome the moon was the night before. We set out on the river after a yummy freedom toast breakfast set to paddle some tough rapids.
One of our favorite rapids included one where we were encouraged to jump out of the raft and ride the rapids on our own. Katherine's smiles and laughter during this rapid was infectious. Her utter enjoyment for each activity shines. The biggest rapid of the day, nicknamed the Colorado Rapid, was an absolute blast. Each boat took the rapid straight on and successfully paddled through it. The 17 miles we paddled the second day flew by and we arrived at our destination by mid afternoon. Unloading our gear from the boats was high spirited and efficient. Will's strength in the fireman's line technique used to unload the gear was commendable. A day and a half of rafting was a bittersweet experience. The kids loved it and as expected, each team member contributed to the success of the activity and sparkled in their own individual ways. Nevertheless, this leaves us with only one activity to go-rock climbing. We look forward to the challenges and impressionable moments we will face in the few days left to come.
Trip Update 7-9-04
It was bittersweet to see the "Smith Rock State Park" signs in our rearview mirror. On the one hand, we were sad to leave because it meant that the end of our adventure was quickly approaching. However, we departed knowing that we had pushed ourselves to the utter limit. The satisfaction and accomplishment that we felt was as strong as the evening winds that gusted through the Smith Rock Canyon.
The final leg of our trip began with the ultimate July 4th celebration. We finished our rafting section on the Deschutes River, packed up the van, and hightailed it south on Highway 97. The drive through central Oregon was as scenic a drive as this country has to offer, and the setting sun painted the landscape amber. After a quick pit stop to buy burgers and hot dogs, we made our way to Bend, just in time to watch a fantastic fireworks show.
After a great day of exploring Bend, we met up with the guides from First Ascent to begin climbing the various routes on Smith Rock. It was quickly apparent that the climbing section would be one of our most successful. The first day began with some challenging routes, but not one member of Team Fusion failed to rise to the occasion. After his first climb, which resembled a spider crawling up a cliff, Will could not keep his enthusiasm hidden. For a day, rock climbing replaced football as his number one passion. Virginia not only scaled the rock walls like a pro; she also took time to celebrate with a long nap in the sun. Katherine continued to show her selflessness and determination. No matter how difficult the climb, she stuck with it until she reached the top. She was also an extremely generous with positive encouragement or advice on what would make a good foot or hand hold. By the end of the day, we were exhausted, our muscles ached, and our fingertips throbbed. Nevertheless, the evening of "chill-axing" at the campsite allowed everyone to bask in the contentment of a job well done.
We awoke early the next morning to meet our guides for another full day of climbing. After a scenic hike around Smith Rock, we arrived at a series of climbs that were as daunting as they were gorgeous. Yet, instead of feeling intimidated, Team Fusion could hardly contain its eagerness to attack the rock. With the ease of a chimpanzee scaling a tree, Barnett scrambled up every rock face. He demonstrated a natural climbing ability that showed us that even the most difficult ascent was possible. As the sun crept around the corner and turned a chilly morning into a scorching afternoon, we yet again proved that there is nothing quite as fulfilling as the accomplishing an arduous task. Van found time for her daily nap in the sun, and she reminded everyone that someone with a laid-back disposition could still succeed as an aggressive climber.
The final day of the climbing section was perhaps the most special. After a grueling hike up the aptly-named Misery Ridge, Team Fusion prepared to undertake a spectacular Tyrolean Traverse across a 25 foot chasm that towered 175 feet above the ground below. Although it was completely safe, pre-traverse jitters were inevitable. His nerves notwithstanding, Blanton volunteered to go first. Slowly and steadily, he pulled himself across the traverse, one hand after the other, proving that the hardest part of the activity was overcoming our fears and stepping out of our comfort zone. He inspired us all, and one by one, every member of our team made his or her way across the chasm. Hayes had joined us the previous night, and he was at the traverse to photograph the entire event. The entire day was quite a spectacle, and such an event was so rare that even the most seasoned climbers stopped what they were doing to watch us.
Dinner that night tasted especially good. Rob took pride in the preparation of delicious burritos and made sure that everyone knew how much TLC went into the meal. With full bellies, we quickly cleaned up and walked down the road to a quaint ice cream/climbing gear shop where Hayes treated us all to some delicious huckleberry ice cream cones. We returned to the campsite for a heartfelt Moon-Up. Reece embodies the Moondance Spirit in this setting as she articulately and sincerely expressed her love for this team and its adventure. Everyone slept under the stars, and we were treated to a myriad of shooting stars. The clear night allowed everyone to reflect on just how special the climbing section had been.
The next day was the second-to-last of the trip. After a quick breakfast, Hayes sat down with the students to hear their evaluations and solicit their suggestions for how to make the adventure even better in the future. We then organized our bags, cleaned out the trailer, and hit the road. There's nothing quite like driving down a two-lane rural highway and looking at the beauty of our land. While many students used the time to nap, Carter leaned his head against the window and watched the landscape pass him by. The look on his face summed up our trip perfectly. His eyes reflected the joy of accomplishment and the sadness of knowing that the end was near.
As we cruised towards Seattle, Team Fusion felt thankful for the opportunity to challenge itself and make new friends. With the Pizza Hut banquet still on the horizon, there was plenty of time for reflection and camaraderie. Although it is unfortunate that our time together has to come to come to an end, we all took comfort in knowing that the bonds Team Fusion formed will carry on long into the future.
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