Moondance Leadership

Moondance Leadership Log (2007-06-20 -> 2007-07-10)

Leaders: Chris Barnes, Michaelyn Koss

Students: Chap Chapman, Margaret Watford, Ellen Rogers, Katie Garcia, Johnson Duncan, Lucy Lynch, Kat Barnes, Trent Houghton, Andrew Miller, Leah Andress

June 20

All have arrived safely. Preperations are underway for Backpacking the Coastal Section of Olympic National Park.

June 25

Greetings friends and family from the beautiful beaches of the pacific northwest! This is your inaugural '07 Moondance Leadership group reporting after a fantastic four days trekking along the waves and rainforest of the Olympic Coast. Where to begin? Chris and I (Michaelyn) picked up everyone at the Seattle airport and not long after, realized we just had to be two of the luckiest leaders of the year because this leadership group is rock solid. It took no time at all for the group to get comfortable with each other and you'd be amazed to see how well everyone has bonded after only 5 days (has it really only been that long?!) Wasting no time at all, we headed into the backcountry after our first good night's sleep together and the real excitement began. We reached our first campsite early and picked out the best possible locations for our tents...right where we could get perfect views of the crashing waves. Last night at Moonup, Ellen decided that that moment when we all reached the beach for the first time was her favorite of the entire section. She said it best, exclaiming that we were all like little kids as soon as we saw the sand and water, smiling, laughing, running around and throwing the frisbee. She also said she couldn't remember being this happy for this long, which we all agreed upon. It was truly great and we enjoyed a superb dinner of steak stir fry. It began to rain a bit as we were crawling into our tents, but the next morning we awoke to blue skies.

Trent was actually the early riser of the group and enjoyed a quiet stroll along a beach all to himself. Then he and Margaret cooked a delicious meal of bacon and eggs (that's right...all the way in the backcountry!). After packing up camp, we began our first full day of beach and forest backpacking. It took no time at all to realize that we have some serious Moondance vets on this trip...Miss Lucy "Long Legs" Lynch, Kat, and Chap were leading the pack most of the day, joined by Leah who you would never know is on her first Moondance experience. We got our first taste of the ladders we'd heard so much about. Half of the backpacking was on the beach, but the rest of it was in the forest, which I will call a rainforest because it was so incredibly lush and green. We felt like we were hiking in a scene from Jurassic Park (minus the crazy dinosaurs, of course). Anyway, to get from the beach up into the forest or back down to the beach, we had to climb and descend steep rope ladders, which was quite an adventure with full backpacks on. Each time Katie came upon a ladder, she started to get a bit nervous, but needless to say, she overcame her fear of heights and did a fantastic job on each one. I enjoyed her reaction at the end of a ladder the most because she was always grinning ear to ear and had the most wonderful look of amazement, fear and accomplishment on her face.

The weather along the coast certainly created an added element of challenge, yet excitement, for our group. We had patches of sunshine throughout the trip, but the rain was definitely what I think we will all remember. When we reached Mosquito Creek to camp after 5 hours of hiking, the sky OPENED. We'd already had a full day of excitement on the trail (Trent, Chap and Kat all said it was their favorite day of backpacking ever) with some bushwacking, river crossings and map and compass lessons, so everyone was ready for a good meal and those lovely warm socks that we keep at the foot of our sleeping bags. Well, that didn't happen for a while as the rain continued to pound us. Andrew emerged as the greatest Leader of the Day ever and helped Chris set up an indestructible tarp system with the additional help of Johnson "J. Dunk" and Chap. The rest of us huddled close together, watching in awe as the guys created a truly great and wonderfully welcome shelter that all twelve of us could fit under. Once the rain let up a bit, Lucy and Leah took it upon themselves to make delicious macaroni and cheese for the whole group. Everyone went to bed warm, dry and happy. Our survival skills were truly tested and I must say, our group passed with flying colors.

Yesterday we hiked miles through a forest that had been soaked by the rain. As you can imagine, we were all a muddy mess. Half of the trail felt like a slip and slide for all of us, but I think Margaret felt this the most. At the end of the hike, she somehow had mud on her face, her neck, and anywhere else you can imagine. The best part was that after taking a spill, Margaret would simply laugh and shake her head at the craziness of the trail. I've never met someone who smiles more often, no matter what comes her way. And I've honestly never seen a group of kids in such high spirits, regardless of the situation or circumstances. We really do have a group of allstars and I couldn't be happier knowing I have over 2 weeks left to spend with all of them. They are all happy to be here and loving every minute with each other. How lucky I feel to be a part of this group!

Until next time, we're thinking of all of you out there and sending our love! Wish us blue skies!

July 1

Greetings again from the deserts of Oregon! We simply cannot begin to express how happy we are to be here at Smith Rock! Our backpacking travels have now come to a close and naturally, we have a plethora of stories and experiences to share. After finishing the coast backpacking section, we enjoyed a much-needed "rest day" where we ventured over 5,000 feet up a mountain to the Hurricane Ridge trail. Everyone LOVED the idea of a hike without the weight of our heavy backpacks and I think Trent expressed more than once how great it felt to hike in such a beautiful area with only our day packs. The trail was mostly paved and wound around the ridge of a mountain with snow-capped peaks as far as the eye could see. It was truly an amazing sight, particularly since we were all warm in shorts and t-shirts! Andrew is the resident photographer of our group and has done a perfect and impressive job of capturing the highs and lows of our trip, with this magnificent hike being no exception. He managed to capture everything from a buck to a chipmunk (up close) to an ambush snowball fight led by the feisty Ellen! (Chris and I were unfortunately on the losing end of this fight and are planning our strategic revenge...ha ha.)

After our hike, we prepped for our next backpacking section in record time and enjoyed a little music from Chris, Trent, Chap and Andrew (stay tuned for their traveling band). With Chap's rhythm on one of the bear canisters (seriously, he is IMPRESSIVE) and Andrew and Trent's talent on the guitar, these guys really could form the first Moondance band. Margaret even picked up the guitar and played a few chords for the group while Katie's beautiful voice accompanied it all. Again, nothing less than superstars on this leadership trip!

The next day we hoisted on our backpacks once again and I think everyone felt a little more comfortable this time. Having two backpacking sections was certainly nice and gave us a chance to bring extra things we'd forgotten on the coast or unload superfluous items we didn't need! We reached our first campsite 5 miles into the Hoh Rainforest in 2 hours, which left plenty of time for swimming in the river and a delicious meal of bean and chicken quesadillas. For fear of rain (we've learned our lesson!), Johnson and Chris set up a magnificent tarp system where Johnson even taught Chris a thing or two about knots and various other tricks. We had a wonderful Moon-up about where everyone wants to go to college and future goals and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing how ambitious and determined this group is. Chris and I can't wait to stay in touch with everyone and hear about the wonderful things they are doing!

The next day was a challenging one, but I never heard a word of complaint from our group. They were truly happy to be a part of nature and were ready to meet anything that came their way. And some crazy moments certainly came our way...We hiked 10 miles through the Hoh, over rushing rivers and along lush emerald green trails, but the rain decided to visit us once again and we were pounded during the last two miles (which happened to be almost straight uphill)! After finally reaching our campsite at Elk Lake, we settled in under our tarps (home away from home) and enjoyed a delicious meal of jambalaya and summer sausage prepared by our lovely wet weather chefs: Lucy, Leah and Kat. I cannot express to you just how tasty and comforting it was to have warm food in our bellies.

The next morning we woke up to more rain, which didn't stop for the entire day. We broke down our camp and set foot into the muddy mess of the Hoh, eager for the sun to shine. Andrew and I enjoyed an upbeat version of the song, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," which was almost unnecessary for this group that never stops smiling. We hiked 15 miles, yes 15, out of the Hoh and I have never been so proud of a group of people in my life. I hesitate to call our group 'kids' because they are the toughest group of Moondancers I've ever been around and without their support and positive energy, Chris and I might not have made it out of there!

So now we've made it safe and sound to sunny Oregon where we could not be more excited to start rock climbing. And don't you worry about us...our stuff is dry, we're warm and perfectly happy. The past few days have brought us closer than you can imagine and we wouldn't change any of it for the world.

Everyone wanted to say a little something:

Hey to my awesome fam- we are having a blast and I'm really excited about learning how to rock climb! I love all of you sooo much! Life's tasty! xoxo, Katie Bug

I'm having the greatest time! My leaders and new friends are all awesome. I miss and love you all. Tell Max and Scouty hello. Love, Chap

I'm having the best time! We've had so much fun, my leaders are amazing and our group is incredible! See you in a few weeks! Miss and love you! Love, Leah

Hey Watfords! I'm having a blast! My group is amazing and I am so excited about climbing at Smith Rock! Tell Msum hey. Love you! -Margaret

This trip is 100% what I needed this summer! I am so incredibly happy! Thank you do much for the opportunity to have such an amazing time! Love all you...and scooty! Love, Kat

Hey Mom and Dad! I'm having the best time and I'm so happy to be doing this trip. Everyone is absolutely amazing and we're having so much fun. I miss and love you. -Ellen

Hey Family! Havin a great time in the Pacific Northwest with an awesome group of people. Miss you guys and give Zoe a hug for me. -Andrew

Hey Mom and Dad! This trip has been amazing. We have backpacked on the beautiful Olympic Coast and hiked 30 miles in the Hoh Rainforest. I cannot wait to start climbing. I miss you, but I'm having so much fun! -Johnson

Hey Dad and Tammy and Mom and Rick! This trip has been absolutely amazing. Backpacking the beach was such an amazing experience and the rainforest really toughened me up for rock climbing. I'm so excited about Smith Rock and Rainier! See you soon! - Trent

Hey Momma and Daddy- I had so much fun backpacking with the group! I can't wait to Climb Rainier! See you soon! Love, Lucy

Until next time...

Greetings from the Bunkhouse at the basecamp of Mt. Rainier! We finally made it to the grand finale of our trip and couldn't be more excited for the upcoming days. Since this IS the Leadership trip, the kids have compiled a large portion of this update themselves (with bits and pieces of their wonderful senses of humor, personality and maturity). Hope you enjoy!

After days of rain, the desert weather hit the spot and the group was in great spirits! We spent the first day in Oregon in the lovely town of Bend walking around town enjoying a little downtime until we all met up at Bend park for an ultra competitive game of Ultimate Frisbee. The victory went to Chris's spectacular squad of Chap, Trent, Kat, Leah and Katie (much to Michaelyn's dismay...it took me a WHILE to get over this loss...). Upon returning to Smith Rock, Chef Katie prepared yet another fantastic meal of stir fry while Chap entertained the group with his hilarious techno dancing. Words cannot explain the beauty of the sun setting over the gigantic rocks and the moon rising as we all lounged in the tall grasses, gazing at the sky. I must say, the opportunity to see the stars again after our crazy weather was a real blessing and we appreciated every minute of it, with everyone falling asleep outside underneath the starry blanket. It was a true Moon-up!

The next day was one of our earliest, yet one of the most exciting as well. The group met the First Ascent guides and hiked to the most popular face of Smith Rock, Morning Glory, where we enjoyed solid 5.9 climbs in which everyone excelled. Chap and Lucy showed off their skills gained from previous Moondance trips as they propelled themselves up the high faces of the wall in record time. Johnson educated the group during downtime with his extensive climbing knowledge. The group, hot, sweaty and sore headed off a short way down the road to Steelhead Falls to enjoy a much-needed and welcome dip in the snow-melt water. Everyone plunged into the river below, most screaming with excitement all the way down. The cold didn't seem to faze the North Carolina girls-- Kat, Leah and I couldn't get enough of the jumps into the icy water below. After a long day, everyone agreed that ice cream would definitely hit the spot. Margaret happily outdid (and out-ate) the rest of the group by ordering four scoops of ice cream towered on one single cone. It was quite the site and don't you worry...we have tons of pictures! Those who slept outside enjoyed a spectacular view of the stars, river and mountains from a cliffside campsite.

The next day proved to be much cooler, which we were all thankful for, as we hiked to the back of the rocks and enjoyed climbing for several hours in the shade. Andrew mastered every route with ease, including even the most difficult of them all. Ellen persevered to the top of an especially hard climb with extreme skill. On the ground, Katie was by far our expert belayer with her rope skills as well as her continual words of encouragement. After a relaxing late afternoon, the girls prepared their favorite dish, fajitas (get them to tell you about this when they get home) with beans, peppers, onions and sausage. With Trent in the lead, the boys again showed off their musical skills creating a wonderful atmosphere. As the sun began to set, the group participated in Chris's crazy rendition of two of Moondance's favorite games: Big Booty and Dip Dip Dip. Everyone agreed at Moon-up that they have never laughed so hard, which I will have to say, seems to be the everlasting theme of this trip! Lucky us! All slept outside and enjoyed the last night of desert weather before we will soon suit up in our winter attire and tackle the beast that is Mt. Rainier!

For now, we send our best. Please wish us luck, cross your fingers for us and say a little prayer if you will as we head into snow school and then on to summit on the early morning of the 7th! I will send our next update ASAP as I'm sure you will all be anxious to hear about this last and greatest adventure of our trip. The guides tell us the weather conditions are supposed to be perfect for our summit day and if any group is ready for this challenge, it is this Leadership group. Have I mentioned that I think they are all superstars?!

Happy 4th from all of us! Sending our love!

Leadership Update #4

Hello hello friends and family! As I sit writing this update, I find myself at a loss for words over how to describe the last few days and all that we have experienced. For starters, we are all safe and sound in our final campsite right outside of Olympia, Washington. What we have just accomplished has not only changed us all as individuals, but strengthened our bond as a group, no, a family. Whether we touched that summit point or not, each of us met the edge of our personal limit and returned to the bottom of Rainier as heroes. Summitting a mountain is no small feat and if you have walked, run, climbed or skipped to the top of anything, you will understand and know that the strength you gain and the person you become is not always found on the tip top of a peak. Rather, the sights you see with your eyes, the things you think about in your mind and the feelings you experience in your heart along the way are where your true character emerges and where you are able to get that rare glimpse of what really matters. And in my opinion, what matters more than anything is knowing yourself. Knowing your limits. Knowing how your decisions affect your teammates. Knowing how fortunate you are to have amazing life experiences such as climbing mountains. I think we were all able to learn a bit more and in some cases, learn a great deal, about ourselves.

So thanks for this opportunity. Parents, thank you for trusting us with your most wonderful possessions and for allowing them to join me on one of the greatest adventures I've had in my lifetime. Each and every single one of your kids made me proud to be a member of the '07 Moondance Leadership Rainier group and I learned something from every single one of them. From Chap and Margaret, I learned that a positive attitude is the most powerful force and with it, you can go anywhere. From Andrew, I learned that strength not only comes from physical endurance but the ability to make people smile, even in the most difficult of times. "Don't Worry, Be Happy" and "MmmBop" did wonders for getting us up and down that mountain. From Lucy, I learned that being a silent leader and leading by example is just as important as being the vocal one (and sometimes more important). And as always, Lucy taught us all to remember to have fun. It really is as simple as that. From Johnson, I learned that people will surprise you when you least expect it and people often show their greatest character when faced with their toughest challenge. He certainly did. From Kat, I learned how to be a member of a team and a solid team at that. She never stopped reminding us that we were all in this together. From Leah, I learned that a sense of humor and real honesty are crucial to getting through anything and climbing this mountain was no exception. From Trent, who was no more than 10 feet away from me throughout the entire climb, I learned that that kind of comfort can mean the world. His silent strength and support and his hourly check-ins to see how I was doing or how anyone else was doing did wonders for my own inner strength, particularly when I thought I couldn't get a word out. And last but not least, from Ellen and Katie, I learned that one of the most important parts of being human is having self-awareness. And it is possible that these two girls, whose character and strength I will never forget, were the most aware of themselves at midnight that day. As the guides told us, making it to the summit is only half of the battle. You must be able to recognize when it is your day and when it isn't. And these two girls handled their self-awareness and personal goals with such poise and grace that I will never think of Rainier without thinking of their efforts as well. Each of us will be forever connected by this shared once-in-a-lifetime experience.

So I hope I have not disappointed any of you. Meaning, I feel as though I should give you the meat of the climb (the exact details), but for me, everything I just explained IS the true detail of the climb. I've been away from my group for over an hour now and there's nothing more I want to do than spend every second of these last two days with them. They are my role models and my closest friends and I can only hope I mean a fraction to them of what they mean to me. They will be home soon enough and can fill you in on every second I have left out of this 3 week adventure. And then I will be jealous of the time you will be sharing with them!