| Pacific Northwest Exposure log (2004-07-15 -> 2004-08-04)
Leaders: Eric Draper and Sarah Wrenn
Students: Frank Berry, Emily Cranford, Jeff Eberle, Caroline Edelman, Mimi Edge, Jessica Frederick, Chris Hehmeyer, John McClelland, Mary Ellen Pearce, John Pope
All are in Seattle and accounted for. We are heading south towards Smith Rock where we will begin our climbing section. We will be in touch.
NEW LOG
CLIMBING
PNW 4 Climbing Update 7/20/04
Before we even peeled out of the Sea-Tac Airport our group seemed to be coming together. People from all parts were quickly shedding their preconceptions about the upcoming expedition.
Driving down I-5 towards Smith Rock, Oregon to go climbing, the van was alive with chatter and questions about everyone’s background. John Pope kept us all laughing with his jokes and stories from his previous Moondance experience. Chris Hehmeyer, another Moondance alum, immediately stepped it up and helped everyone feel settled by showing them the ropes and helping set up tents.
Upon reaching Smith Rock, the temperature shot up into the 90’s and the atmosphere was getting very dry. However, we were enchanted and amazed by the sheer beauty of the towering cliffs. We set out to climb and learn about belaying one another. It quickly became clear that Frank Berry might possibly be related to a tree frog as he hopped all of the routes that our guides from 1st Ascents could put up! He really excelled at climbing every day.
As our 1st day came to a close we were hot, tired and in need of ice cream. So Sarah picked up some orange cream pops for everyone. We also decided to go for a swim to Steelhead Falls on Crooked River. The water was very refreshing and very cold! Emily and Frank jumped first. We all followed suit and briefly froze together. That night we all slept under the stars, all 50 billion of them!
Our second day was a little cloudy (thank goodness)! The sun was safely behind the clouds and the perfect temperature of 80 degrees allowed us to climb many new routes. One route named “the Crack” was quite tough and gave us all a challenge, especially Jeff Eberle. However, he reached the crux of the climb and would not come down! He tried and tried and tried, and finally made it to the top! His persistence was amazing and his enthusiasm contagious! He also was constantly shouting out “way to go” and “you can do it!” to the others. As the day winded down we decided to make a grand feast for ourselves-a homemade pizza! Mary Ellen Pearce took the reins and made the dough from scratch! Filled with onions, mushrooms, peppers and cheese these personal pizzas were gooey goodness that put us to bed full and happy.
Our 3rd day was the big day for climbing. This is the day for the Tyrolean Traverse and the ascent/descent of the Monkey’s Face! Everyone who attempted it was successful! John McClelland, who might possibly be the most well mannered person on the planet, shed his fear and climbed “the Face” with little difficulty. This is no ordinary climb mind you. It is a traverse on a rope 200 feet off the ground into a small cave, where you switch ropes, climb out the other side and climb up another 20 feet. Here perched atop the world famous Monkey’s Face, you begin with your repel down, down, down!!!
Jessica Frederick, who may have had the most visible fear, (next to one of the Moondance Leaders --- Eric Draper) was amazing. At first she said “No way am I going to do this!” But soon you saw her making her way across and up to the top! She really was a model of, what we say at Moondance, leaving your comfort zone. Caroline Edelmann probably showed the most improvement. On the first day she was hesitant and nervous climbing up some of the easier routes. But by the end of day two she was really finding her stride. She was climbing all day when the others were resting, soaking up every second she could get. Way to go! Mimi Edge decided that the Monkey’s Face was not for her. But still, she showed her true colors by taking pictures and cheering everyone on! The guides from First Ascent were amazed by her singing and chanting and general support for everyone else. A real team player!
We are off to an early start tomorrow to go rafting on the Deschutes River. So from our campsite on the shores of the Deschutes, to all of you back at home-See ya soon!
NEW LOG
RAFTING
We met our river guides, Orion Expeditions, at Mecca Flats Campground on the shores of the Deschutes River and quickly prepared for a two day float trip. As we packe our gear in dry bags we were greeted by chanting of a group of Native Americans who live on the White Spring Indian Reservation across the river. We talked with them for a little while and hopped on the river with a new found appreciation for where we were.
Soon we pushed off on three boats, one gear boat and two passenger boats. Our three guides quickly dispensed with the knowledge of how to paddle and how to stay inside the boat! The views, as we begin our river journey are amazing. The landscape is a “lush desert” with steep hills rising on both sides of the river; you can clearly see how the valley was formed. There are sporadically placed basalt boulders and volcanic basalt columns that shoot out of the river some 40 feet in the air. It is truly a geologic masterpiece.
We lash the boats together and have lunch as we float down the river. We fill our bellies with sandwiches of tomato, onion, avocado, cream cheese, and smoked salmon! Also we might add we were treated with watermelon, grapes, and cookies. As soon as lunch ends the water fight begins and within seconds everyone is in on the action. Frank and John P. drench each other and end up in a draw. However they try to sneak attack each other with the water cannon whenever the two boats get close!
John M. probably spent the most time in the frigid water than anyone else. He resembled the karate kid as he tried to balance on the front of the boat as we went down river. Clearly his balance was suspect at first, but improved greatly as the day went on. Chris was the first student to take the guide’s place at the oars and he led one boat through a class three rapid called “Buckskin Mary.” He did a superb job as he barked out rowing orders to his crew.
Jeff was the game master. He loved playing “trust.” This is where two people connect paddles by the “t-grip” and lean back over the water. Usually the participants end up soaked! He just couldn’t get enough of it! Jeff is so enthusiastic and willing to try everything-a true joy to be around.
Mimi decided to take a shot at the oars and lead a boat as well. She caught on very quickly and Tom, our guide, told her that she would miss her calling as a river guide if she went back to Georgia! She laughed it off, however she did the best job of actually keeping the boat in the proper place on the river.
Our first night on the river we camped out by the water’s edge and lashed the boats to a nearby tree. We had a wonderful dinner whipped up by Caroline. A gourmet meal of couscous with tomato sauce, filled with tons of fresh veggies, garlic bread, shredded cheese and pudding pie for dessert. A fabulous meal!
The next morning we awoke to a train whistle as an old iron horse raced by. We all sat up dazed and confused. However that was quickly cleared up by a morning cup of hot chocolate and a delicious breakfast of French toast, sausage, honeydew and Santa Claus melon, prepared by Jessica. It gave us the fuel we needed to raft the last 18 miles to Maupin.
For much of the day Emily amused us with all her new fashion ideas (she wants to be a fashion designer). She told us that the natural world and the solitude of the river had inspired her creations. Kate Spade-Watch out! Last and certainly not least, we thought we had to tell everyone about Mary Ellen’s life jacket tan. It makes the perfect shape on her arms and neck so that even when she has it off…she has it on! Her sprits were high and she enjoyed seeing the Osprey along the river.
We are setting in for the night after a big meal of fajitas and completion of some prep work for our backpacking section. We head out early tomorrow for Lake Chelan in the North Cascades. We will spend seven days and six nights deep in the backcountry looking at jaw-dropping beauty, and hopefully some wildlife! We will talk to everyone soon!
Blue Skies,
PNW 4
NEW LOG
Our hiking section began with a beautiful boat ride down Lake Chelan to Stehekin, our starting point. It was quite a long boat ride, about 35 miles into the remote area of the North Cascades. The lake is narrow with towering canyon walls rising up to the heavens-A thing of beauty. We loaded up our packs and began our day. We hiked for several hours growing altitude with many switchbacks. As the day wore on and we became more tired, Mary Ellen slipped and hurt her knee. We took a rest and realized that she needed to come out of the backcountry, and so with excellent planning and team support, we got her out safe and sound and resumed our journey through Lake Chelan. We hiked up to Tumwater and camped out by a river that soothed our ears as we fell asleep. Pushing on into the interior, we hiked a short section of an old wagon trail called the Pacific Crest Trail. We encountered a lot of bear scat, but luckily no actual bears! Our next campsite was the North Fork with great views of two rivers converging into one. Here we were able to take a swim and wash off some of the dirt…but not much! We felt very clean though. Finally we began our hike out of the woods. But we decided to take a day hike up Goodie Ridge. This brutal 10 mile round trip gained 4000 feet of elevation and afforded us with spectacular 360 degree views! What a way to end a backpacking section. Sarah and Mimi were given a special surprise when they spotted a mama bear with 3 cubs! Everyone was quite jealous. During our boat ride back down Lake Chelan, we passed several small forest fires, which none of us had ever seen. Chris, Emily, Caroline, Mimi, John M., Frank, John P., Jessica, Jeff, Eric, and Sarah watched in amazement as smoke billowed into the air. Tomorrow we head off to the San Juan Islands to go kayaking. Our best to all of our loved ones!
P.S.-You are still with us Mary Ellen!
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