| Pacific Northwest Exposure log (2006-06-20 -> 2006-07-10)
Leaders: Jack Matthews and Julie Megler
Students: Abbey Davis, Betts Irvine, Gregory Manker, Amanda Torie, Sebastien Treciak, Sam Maxwell, Wilson Hallett, Thomas Patton, Bo Anderson, Matthew De Nuccio
June 20, 2006
All have arrived and are making preparations for Sea Kayaking the San Juan Islands. Will update soon. Stay tuned!
Wow, Jack and I knew that we were in for a fantastic adventure from the first moment we started picking up students at the Seattle airport. As everyone was waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive people were chatting up a storm. The whole group instantly clicked together, and a strong group bond was already created from day one of our trip.
We left the Seattle airport Tuesday afternoon, and headed for Anacortes where we caught a fairy to Lopez Island. To ensure energy for our long day of paddling ahead of us, Bo, Sebastian, and Amanda cooked up a storm and filled all of our bellies with veggie and chicken burritos. Content with the first day, we all slept well under the stars. Our guides, Blair and Kathy, from Outdoor Adventures met us at 8 am Wednesday morning. We loaded up our gear into dry bags and were on the water paddling among the 400+ San Juan Islands by noon. Covered in sun screen, among the blue skies, salt water, and the distant Olympic Mountains, we paddled 13 long miles to Jones Island. After a few awkward strokes everyone quickly became acquainted with their new surroundings and paddled until muscles were sore and we were beached at a beautiful campsite overlooking the water. Thursday morning allowed us to sleep in until 7:30. Our first set of Leaders of the Day were Betts and Wilson. Their positive attitudes and willingness really helped make the day run smoothly. The tide was low, so after some apple pancakes we hiked across Jones Island to play in the tide pools. Our morning of sea life exploration was full of starfish and crabs of all sorts of colors and sizes, sea urchins, oysters, mussels, eels, jelly fish, sucker fish, seals, the list could go on and on. Once she got over the “ickyness” of it all Abbey really enjoyed turning over rocks and finding all sorts of new little creatures. The day got even more exciting as we all learned the safety and rescue techniques of wet exits in the afternoon. Amanda, Betts, and Sebastian were the role models for all as they bravely tipped and successfully reentered the first boat to go. After drying off and warming up we all had a little bit of free time to explore the island in small groups before dinner. Greg and Matt were a tremendous help in assisting the leaders of the day in making things run smoothly. The luck of the draw meant they were on cook and cleanup duty for all three meals. It was hard work, but their hard working hands meant great food and cleanliness for all, and their efficiency allowed us to make it into the water for a sunset paddle. Bundled up in fleece and raingear we circled around to the west side of the island to wish the sun a goodnight as it descended beneath a few thin lines of clouds and cast yellow, then orange, then pink, and finally violet onto the glimmering water.
Yesterday we paddled the 13 miles back to Spencer’s Spit on Lopez Island. Sam kept us entertained through the hard work with his consistent jokes and funny voices. After we organized and cleaned up the kayaking gear, we had a final barbeque with the guides from Outdoor Adventures. As we said our goodbyes, Blair and Kathy presented us with reminder necklaces from our trip with them. As Leader’s of the Day Thomas and Sam were on top of their game waking everyone up at 5:30 am this morning to ensure that we caught the fairy back to Anacortes initiating the beginning of the next leg of our adventure. Each of us is riding high with the excitement of our kayaking section and the anticipation of our backpacking section in the North Cascades.
July 3, 2006
What an amazing experience in the mountains! Jack here, reporting that our group has made it safely out of the backcountry and is now heading south towards Oregon where Smith Rock awaits.
Our backpacking section began at the Ross Lake Dam Trailhead where everyone couldn't wait to jump on trail with their heavy packs and away from all the pavement. After about a mile hike downhill we arrived at Ross Lake and waited for a water taxi that would shuttle us 21 miles north on the lake to our trail which started not far from the Canadian border. The taxi ride was a blast and everyone enjoyed the amazing scenery. (Especially Sam and Wilson) After a quick lunch at the trailhead and, the group loaded up and set out on a walk through the woods. Using Sebastian's awesome map skills, Bo and Betts set the pace and everyone cruised through a beautiful green forest towards our destination at Hozameen Lake for a first night in the backcountry. After a bit of scouting for the perfect campsite, Matt, Amanda, and Greg scoped out a killer site near the water and everyone agreed. The afternoon and evening was filled with swimming, laughter and an excellent quesadilla dinner prepared by Abbey, Thomas, and Sam. Julie and I are quite amazed by how fast the group has come together and bonded, and how every individual brings great energy and unique character to the table. It is so awesome!
The next couple days backpacking were just as beautiful and wonderful as the first as we circum-navigated Desolation Peak. Day 2 consisted of a moderate day on the trail so we woke up, made chocolate chip pancakes, packed away camp and headed out towards our next destination. You would not believe how green and lush the forests are in the North Cascades! It makes for great backpacking. We slept at a camp that was properly named "Nightmare" and everyone loved its spooky feel. Our next day began with an LNT talk/quiz that was given by a ranger (which the entire group nailed), and then we hit the trail towards Lightning Creek Camp for our longest day so far. Wilson and Greg's amazing leadership qualities and Expedition Behavior (EB) really set a great tone for the group and kept everyone pushing hard till the end. The views throughout the day proved to be spectacular and everyone enjoyed and respected the beautiful landscape that surrounded us. Lightning Creek Camp was located on Ross Lake and the group enjoyed a quick swim and cooked a great dinner before Moon-up that night. During Moon-up we shared amazing stories, discussed the backcountry in great detail, and also enjoyed a reading by Ed Abbey before calling it a night. Awesome day!
Due to our tremendous effort put forth in the previous three days of backpacking, everyone was in need of a rest day. So, Day 4 was spent hanging out and catching up on sleep at Lightning Creek. Of course, laughter, smiles, and swimming also played a huge part. The final couple of days were an amazing experience for the entire group. Everyone got the chance to perfect the backcountry skills they had learned as we hiked south along Ross Lake. By the end of our trip, it was apparent through many forms of communication (including telepathy) that everyone had understood and enjoyed our time in the backcountry. We were picked up by our water taxi at Roland Creek on the 1st of July and made the entrance back into front-country.
The weather was has been perfect for our entire trip and the group enjoys sleeping under the stars as a group every night. Julie and I were so blown away by the performance of the group during this backpacking section and cannot wait to see where our adventures take us for the rest of the trip. Stay tuned for the next update...
July 6, 2006
Wow, what an intense section. We all just got off of the "Monkey's Face" a few hours ago. After backpacking we had a long drive to Oregon, strapped on some harnesses, squeezed our feet into climbing shoes, and put some helmets on to protect our melons. Zach and Dean were our climbing guides from First Ascent, and spent a beautiful and HOT few days teaching us the ropes of outdoor rock climbing.
Our first day of climbing happened to coincide with the exciting holiday the fourth of July. Greg and Julie rose early to surprise everyone with a hot American breakfast consisting of French toast, bacon, and hash browns...a nice change from oatmeal, and cereal. We met Dean and Zach around 8 a.m. and headed down to the days climbing site. The whole group was full of natural climbers. Sebastian hopped right onto the hardest route (rated 5.8), and after a few tricky moves made it to the top, fooling all of us into thinking that it was just that easy. Wilson is our little man of many talents. He's athletic, and always there to help out, and encourages everyone. Although, many had the strength needed to climb, Thomas had the fitness. Thomas seemed to really understand how to make his whole body work with the rock as he made his ascents. After finishing off our first day of climbing, we headed back to the campsite for a BBQ and some celebrating. Burgers, hotdogs, corn, chocolate cake, oh my were we stuffed!! We digested our stuffed bellies well as we watched an incredible sunset with the occasional distant firework exploding over the towers in Smith Rock.
Amanda pulled strong on our second day of climbing, proving that girls can keep up and even be stronger than the guys. She climbed up cracks, and threw herself down repels without a flinch of fear. Abbey was usually convinced that she couldn't do it, and then would shock us all by practically prancing up the rock walls. Matt, also climbed strong. It was a long hike from the climbing area back to the campsite, so we stopped to play in a set of sprinklers along the river. Sam as always, had us rolling around in laughter, as he cracked jokes and ran around doing little stunts in the water. Some much needed comic relief after a long day in the intense sun. We headed to bed early tonight.
Rising early at 6 a.m. this morning to start the long, steep hike up to the "Monkey's Face." For those of you who don't know what the "Monkey's Face" is, it is a terrifying (totally awesome!) reward on our last day of climbing. It is what we spend the first two days of climbing to gain strength and skills for. The "Monkey's Face" is a 200 foot pillar, that each person has to do a hanging traverse to. After which, each person hung out in the Monkey's mouth, before climbing up the tower, and repelling 180 feet back down to solid ground. Sounds scary, huh? And for most of us it was. Betts looked green from the first moment she crawled out of her sleeping bag, but was determined to do it. I can't even describe the look of happiness and pride that beamed from her face after she finished. It was so great to see the whole crew work together, cheer each other on, and have fun. Off to our next exciting adventure, white water rafting.
July 9, 2006
We made it safely off the river and have finished the final leg of our journey. What a great way to end our incredible adventure!
Climbing was a thrill, but everyone was looking forward to life on the river. After meeting our river guides in the small river town of Maupin. We set up camp and prepared for the next two days to come. By now the group has the Moondance lifestyle dialed in and after a fantastic pasta dinner prepared by the young ladies of the group, Betts, Abbey, and Amanda, everyone curled up in their sleeping bags for a night of dreaming next to the river.
We woke up early the next morning, grabbed a bite to eat, and set off to the put-in where the group helped the guides rig our boats. It was a scorcher in the high desert of Oregon, and Sam (our "water boy") couldn't wait to hop in. Soon enough, we were all laying back and enjoying the river culture and paddling through the rapids. It was beautiful! Although, within the first 5 minutes everyone was soaked and laughing and the water fights kept coming. We paddled all day and decided on a spot to make camp for the evening. It was perfect. Our dinner was excellent, stars were great, and the sound of river made everything seem ideal.
Freedom toast was a great way to start our second day on the river, and man was it good. Everyone gobbled it down! (Sea Bass ate any leftovers!) Thomas, Bo, and Matt all were ready to hop back in the rafts for more water fighting, so the group quickly got ready and pushed off shore again. Everyone had the opportunity to guide a little bit, but Greg and Wilson were the ones that really took to liking the stick. Potential guides one day? They have the skills to pay the bills...We took out at the headwaters of the Columbia River and headed North towards Washington.
Our trip is coming to an end, and whitewater rafting the Lower Deschutes River was the perfect way to end our Pacific Northwest Expedition.
July 11 - Final Update
Hello to all in the Moondance Family!! The trip has come to a close, but will always be remembered. From the first few days in the San Juans to the final days on the river, we had an amazing adventure and Julie and I would like to thank our wonderful group/family for everything. We will miss everyone and hope to hear from you'll soon.
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