| Pacific Northwest Exposure log (2003-06-19 -> 2003-07-09)
Leaders: Kevin Sprouse, AW Bauknight & Emily Braucher
Students: Stewart Ford, Dan Rosso, John Henderson, Paul Kossak, Harriott Kelly, Anna Lee Paschal, Jenny McGehee, Elizabeth Honeycutt, Dillon Barron
Rock Climbing, Smith Rock Oregon, 6/2 1- 6/23
PNW 1 has spent the last 3 days rock climbing in the nationally known Smith Rock State Park. The climbing there is second to none. Each day the group has honed its skill and slowly built there confidence level in order to tackle the great Tyrolean Traverse followed by scaling the Monkey's Face (as seen above). Needless to say, the group has had a blast and everyone mastered their new skills, each in their own way.
From climbing the volcanic rock faces to camping in the surrounding high desert plateau, everyone is having an incredible time. Dillon, otherwise known as "Hutch", has kept the group in good humor. Dan came out of his shell and became the group star omelet flipper. John blew us away by topping out each climbing route with efficiency. Jenny also dropped our jaws with her outstanding foot work and flexibility on the rock. Paul "The Hydrator" has shown impeccable Leave No Trace ethics by picking up all trash he sees, even if it is not his own. Elizabeth has impressed and inspired us by always thinking of others. Stewart has shown that he is mature and capable leader by guiding the group through basic camping fundamentals. Anna Lee is developing as a trusted and dependable member of the group and always ready to help others. Harriott inspired the group with her determination to move through the more technical parts of the rock climbing. The group is now heading out to raft the Deschutes River. Tune in on the 27th to see how rafting went!
Rafting the Deschutes River, Oregon, June 24 - June 25
Kevin called in to report on the PNW 1 and their adventure on the Upper Deschutes River. Kevin rated the river as a strong class 3 with a touch of class 4 rapids at a spot or two. The group is doing better than they were during the last update! Things could hardly be better. As for the rafting, everyone got involved and had some serious fun in the desert sun. Rapids were run and everyone got plenty wet. Dillon willingly spent more time in the water than in the raft. Jenny was the first to go down the rapid "Buck Skin Macy" and she got a tad wet. Paul was a huge help with meals along with Harriet. Harriet headed up a dinner of fresh broccoli, pasta with homemade sauce, salad, and pound cake with peaches and cream for desert! John bore the brunt of one rapid as he sat on the front of the raft and got soaked. There is a discrepancy in the report where Kevin states Dan was the first to get in the river/ fall out of boat. Nonetheless, he was the first person to go for a swim! Stuart's sense of humor is still a constant form of entertainment for the group. Elizabeth remains focused on learning whatever she can, whenever she can. She is a sponge. And finally, Anna Lee is always smiling and happy. Kevin said she spent most of the rafting trip laughing.
There is no shortage of good times on the PNW 1. They are about finished with Oregon and are headed to catch a ferry up Stehekin Lake to begin their backpacking section in the North Cascades. Remember: No news is good news! Check back in on the 4th of July for the update on backpacking.
Backpacking, North Cascades, 6/27 - 7/4
Emily called in after their backpacking section. Everyone is safe and sound. After a two hour ferry ride across 25 Mile Lake, the group plunged into the backpacking section by climbing up the valley nestled between glaciers and the mountains of the North Cascades National Park. Other than the showers during the third day of hiking, they were blessed with sunny days. However, they did encounter snow fields and freezing nights. During their seven days in the backcountry, Paul spent lots of time observing bear tracks. Jon confidently led the group off trail during their summit bid with his excellent map reading skills. Dillon proved himself a strong hiker. Dan set a fast and steady pace while leading the group. Harriet, despite a heavy pack, led the group well. Anna Lee showed good leadership skills as she and Harriet were leaders of the day. Stuart kept the spirit of the group alive by using his cinematic humor on the trail. Jenny was the first one up each morning to enjoy the Washington Mountain sunrise. Elizabeth continues to prove herself as a good leader and an excellent strawberry cheesecake baker. Between ghost stories, tough climbs and awesome views, the group cooked an array of tasty backcountry dishes. They are catching a ferry to Lopez Island, and will be sea kayaking for the next three days!
Everyone is healthy and having a blast. The crew will spend the next 3 days island hoping in the beautiful San Juan Islands off the coast of northern Washington State.
Sea Kayaking, San Juan Islands, 7/4 - 7/8
Kevin called the office to give the final update for PNW 1. He said he could not have asked for a better group. The trip was outstanding and the final section of sea kayaking was especially incredible. They took the ferry to Lopez Island where they met their "awesome" outfitters. The first day they paddled 13 miles to Jones Island where they camped at an outstanding campsite. The sunsets were the best Kevin had ever seen. The next day the group paddled through the Wasp Islands where they saw seals, otters, deer and eagles. They camped again on Jones Island before they paddled 13 around Shaw Island back to Lopez where they had a huge barbeque waiting for them. Dillon was an excellent kayaker. John overcame a rough start to become the group powerhouse paddler. Anna Lee's enthusiasm and attitude helped contribute to the group's success. Harriott was the lead paddler on her birthday and for dessert, they had a chocolate cake in honor of her. Kevin actually called it a chocolate scramble! Stewart led his group with his strong paddle strokes. Paul became an excellent stern man wit his excellent steering ability. Dan was a leader on the wet exit day and set a great example by going first into the cold water. Jenny was able to surf waves with Kevin and managed to get really close to the deer on the island. Elizabeth overcame her fears and conquered the wet exits with perfect precision.
It has been 3 weeks and the group is departing from Seattle as this is posted. Kevin said they had a great final banquet dinner in Anacortes and everyone could not believe the trip was ending. The group did every activity and had a blast the entire time. Everyone seemed sad to leave their new friends but were excited to get home and see old friends and family. PNW 1 had themselves a perfect adventure!
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