| Pacific Northwest Exposure log (2006-06-20 -> 2006-07-10)
Leaders: James Catts and Ashley Lewis
Students: Ashley Thibodeau, Kaitlyn Russel, Redding Kingery, Katherine Duncan, George Flowers, Sarah Hansen, Lucy Izard, Kenny Henson, Melody Abitz, Bill Pappas
June 20, 2006
All have arrived and are making preparations for Rock Climbing at Smith Rock in Oregon. Will update soon. Stay tuned!
We came to the Pacific Northwest wanting adventure and challenge, we wanted to have fun and amaze ourselves. In the past five exhilarating days we’ve done it all already. Our long drive from Seattle down to Smith Rock, Oregon gave us plenty of time for conversation. It was nice to learn a bit about our teammates and fellow Moondancers. We drove south through the dry and scattered volcanic range, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Hood demanding attention in the distance during our wind shield time. It was very fitting, the snow capped volcanoes appeared calm on the surface, but energetic underneath. Kind of like the 12 of us.
We finally made it to Smith Rock, the site of the next three days of intense climbing. Smith Rock is a climbing Mecca, where adventurous souls gather to traverse, rappel, purple lung, chicken wing, boy George, Roy Roger, Arnold Palmer, and meat hook, (these are all very technical rock-climbing moves coined by us). We crimped, cramped, and climbed up. Smith Rock is formed of Welded tuff, meaning that somewhere along deep times line, a volcano erupted and deposited ash more than a mile high which, due to heat and pressure, welded to form the stunning rock. With helmets and harnesses, tight shoes and figure eight knots we climbed, encouraged one another, overcame fears, and built the beginning of the lifelong friendships.
Ashley was more that impressive as she moved her athletic physique up the rock with ease. Her ultimate success was the completion of a 100 ft climb. Throughout the day, inspired by a quote “the only failure is the failure to try”; Kaitlyn was able to take major strides towards overcoming her fear of heights. At the end of the day, sore and sun-kissed we cooked. Thanks to Melody’s masterful kitchen skills and knowledge we created some backcountry masterpieces and tried our best to satisfy Kenny’s hearty appetite.
We awoke with sun, sage, and juniper on the morning of our Tyrolean Traverse of Monkey Face. We hiked up Misery Ridge (very steep) to look down at the rugged beauty of the crooked river. It is hard to describe the way our group stepped up with agility and grace and a strong belief in themselves. Needless to say we defied gravity, and the view was incredible. Lucy radiated pure confidence and Sarah showed no fear. After the Monkey Face, we were amazed with ourselves.
Just as an extra award, we treated ourselves to some Huckleberry ice cream, where George ate some chocolate, mountain blackberry, and the famous Huckleberry twice. Then we headed to the river. The Deschutes was wide and green when we arrived for a 2 day raft trip.
Donned paddles and covered in sunscreen we started to float downstream. The white rapids were refreshing and the water fights were relentless. Redding and Bill were splashing and smiling all the way down the river. We camped in a beautifully sunny space and ate a wonderful dinner of burritos and pudding pie. Katherine turned on her sense of humor and had the whole group laughing by the gold sun down.
With rosy cheeks and a sense of accomplishment we are heading into our backpacking section where we will surely adhere even more. We will report with details from the North Cascades. Hello to all our families and friends. We love you. We are alive and well and very very happy. Over and out.
July 9, 2006
Ahoy again from Washington!
The first band of Pacific Northwest Explorers has made it safely from land to sea and back again. After three splendid sunny days, kayaking around Lopez Island in the San Juans, we cruised on the "Yakima," a car/van/uhaul carrying ferry boat, back to the docks in Anacortes this morning. For the six days prior we were backpacking in the hundred year old shade of old growth cedars and hemlocks in North Cascades National Park. Though it was hot when we were on the uncovered, grassy sections of the trail; the 32 degree glacier melt that filled Rainbow Creek and the Stehekin River cooled us sufficiently. Likewise, practicing "wet exits" from our kayaks into the chilly seawater of the Northwest has kept our bodies cool and comfortable for the past week and a half. Everyone is having a great time and not one person has said they miss the pool or the beach back home.
The backpacking section of our trip really allowed for the best bonding and banding together the group has had, as well as some inspiring individual growth. From the very first day, as we climbed a few thousand feet in elevation in just eight miles, everyone was encouraging each other to keep moving as if we were a team battling in the final minutes of the championship game for the World Cup. While most of the group groaned and grunted their way up to our first campsite at Bench Creek, Ashley and Lucy were silent warriors in the back, pushing each other and the packs that dwarfed their petite frames up the mountain. Katie also started out a little timidly on our first day, as it was her first time backpacking. However, once we had our mac and cheese meal, and the six pound block of cheddar was off her shoulders, she hardened into a drill sergeant and lead all the marching chants the rest of the way.
Sarah too really excelled in the backcountry and proved to be the workhorse of the group. Never once complaining, she was always there at the end of the day ready to help out with whatever needed to be done before we could all sleep, even though most of the group was worn out and in their bags already. And worn out or not, Katherine was always able to find words for something. When it was getting hot or hilly or humid, she kept the group talkative and boisterous, even if she had to do it all by herself. There has been a steady stream of laughter for the entire trip, most of which we owe to her.
Some of the boys demonstrated superhuman strength in the woods as well. Their primal instincts took over quickly as they were fastening spears in a short-lived attempt to catch supper from Rainbow Creek, or as they were wrestling black bears (just kidding). We did have two bear sittings, but both were at comfortable distances well across the valley. Still, the thought of a bear stealing Kenny's food was enough for him to single handily, and in nothing but his long-johns, hoist the two-hundred plus pounds of food we carried twelve feet up in the air. The rest of the group didn't feel too bad for not helping since Kenny probably ate a hundred and fifty pounds of it himself. George may have been the only one who preferred that some of it get stolen, as his pack bulged out to the size of three full packs put together. Still, George looked like he was having fun the whole time.
Everyone was definitely appreciative as we all had a chance to practice cooking in our downtime in the backcountry (In addition to summer reading - ***parents, don't be fooled, several thousands of pages were read in only a few days in the woods by these kids. If you really want them to read a book take them camping for a weekend - you'll be amazed). But the fuel that their minds needed was indeed very well made. Lucy certainly takes after her grandfather as she most enjoys her time spent preparing food in the kitchen. I hope Melody will have her restaurant one day as well, though I'm afraid everything will be marinated in garlic and onions. Still, she is a master slicer and sauteer. Redding has perfected his mustard, mayonnaise, and honey based "special sauce," and Katherine even invented a cheese sauce that should be sold somewhere, if not just given away.
Despite all the fun we had eating and reading in the woods, we weren't too upset to be served fresh dungeness crabs in the San Juans. Melody may have finally overcome her fear of water and sea creatures as she was responsible for carrying the crab pots in her lap all the way into shore. Bill also enjoyed the relaxation that we had while on the water, though his paddling partners Ashley and Lucy couldn't always keep a straight line with Bill controlling the rudder, they certainly couldn't keep a straight face either. Most boats had a similar problem with more laughing than paddling, but we are now a little sad that our adventures are so close to the end. Thanks parents and Moondance for making it all happen. We love all of you and we can't wait to share more stories when we get home.
James, Ashley, and PNW Mooncrew #1
July 11, 2006
Now that everyone is home safe and sound after our amazing adventure, it is with a bittersweet feeling that I look upon the last three weeks of our lives. Our adventure has officially ended with feelings of ever-growing trust in ourselves. We surrounded ourselves with familiar bodies and bounced thoughts and lessons around in the circular space underneath the very speckled sky of stars. We came back to the east and will always remember the dust, glaring sun, the tall horizon of the Pacific Northwest. We have filled our minds with new skills and lasting memories of each other and our trip. Our friendships have budded and blossomed. Let us remember our goals and achievements, and that we 12 Moondancers will always be the heart and souls of something grand and tiny. I am sending my love to all of you and hope that you will take the skills and knowledge that you have gained and point towards your futures, whether they are simple, rusted, weathered, or wise. So go, Ashley, Bill, Kaitie, Kenny, George, Redding, Melody, Katherine, Lucy, Sarah, go fall in love with the great buzzing wild of the world. Remember to empower yourselves, because the steep mountains, snow-melt rivers and wide-open skies are never that far away.
Love and Layers,
Ashley “Big Hands” Lewis and James Catts
(Mamma and Pappa Bear)
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