November 21, 2008
After spending two expeditions in the mountains, we figured canyons were going to be a piece of cake. No summiting, no climbing, no cold.... What could possibly challenge us? This was the prevailing sentiment on the drive west. We were on our way to an adventure in a new place, but we had our skills dialed and we were ready to camp in style. We soon discovered, however, that our new environment would hold new challenges for us as well.
Regular day-to-day challenges in the canyons involved looking for water, getting into the canyon, or out, exploring slot canyons, and navigating over open slick-rock benches. After our first time lowering into the canyon on a rope with our harnesses and helmets, we were all smiling ear to ear. This was true of everyone, even if we (well, some of us) were terrified to begin. So, as we faced these new elements, we found that the challenges
actually made the trip they kept us on our toes and helped us bond as a group.
Another day we happened upon a less anticipated challenge: though water is otherwise difficult to find in this season in the canyons, slot canyons often hold large amounts of water year-round. So, after rappelling into one slot canyon we discovered that there was actually a lot of water. And this wasn't just any old water it was a lot of freezing cold water! We swam through this water, wondering why it wasn't solidified (as the temperature surely justified that) and then we made a run for the sun! That was the best sun we had ever felt and we relished it as it warmed our goose bump-covered bodies.
Two of the four expedition groups (one boy's group and one girl's group) were located in the Jacob's Chair area. Our routes involved hiking around and using technical skills, such as climbing, rappelling and lowering. We had a blast exploring new terrain that most of us had never seen, and now we love the canyons! With the cloudless blue skies and orange-red rocks, we are smitten!
In Grand Gulch (where the other two groups traveled), we had the opportunity to see Puebloan (commonly referred to as Anasazi) ruins. These ruins are believed to be from 900 to 2000 years ago, and many of them are still in very good condition! Almost everyda
y while hiking we would look up to the canyon walls and within them see magnificent cliff dwellings. On one particular day we decided to explore and headed up Bullet Canyon. Here we were fortunate enough to see "Jailhouse Ruin", rock homes, and "Perfect Kiva". We climbed down into the Kiva and sat in a circle replicating meetings held long ago by the Anasazi.
While visiting the ruins and being in the canyons we exercised great LNT (Leave No Trace) principles. We were careful not to step on cryptobiotic soil, which grows in dry and arid environments and can take from 50-250 years to form. We were also careful around all water because it is extremely scarce. The canyons taught us to respect our environment even more than our previous two trips so that things like the Anazasi ruins can be preserved so many can enjoy them in the future, just as we did.
Other than the new environment, something special to HMI and specific to the third expedition, is a new leadership position: the "SEL" (Student Expedition Leader). SELs Brendan, Mo, Jeannie, and I (Andrew) were all in charge of trip logistics, which, because they are still relatively new to us, are quite fun. During the week leading up to the expedition, we SELs had to create the route, the groups, the tarp groups, the gear list, and the activity calendar for the expedition. SELs were, for the most part, in charge of the entire expedition. SELs were in control in the field, we decided how classes should be run, and we ran them ourselves, and we decided where to have layover days and when and how far to hike. This was a great experience for us, because we had a ton of ownership over the trip, but we also always had the instructor team at our back to support us along the way. As SEL, I was ecstatic to stretch my wings in backcountry leadership, managing our group and managing risk to the group on steep and exposed terrain like canyon walls and cliffs. Personally, the SEL experience was probably the most valuable and rewarding
leadership experience I could have imagined.
From the canyons, we will all remember the endless beauty of sandstone walls stretching upwards for 200 plus feet on each side of us. We will remember the complete silence of the deep canyons, a silence broken only by the sound of crows yelling and stoves lighting up in the morning. We have images etched into our minds of Anasazi art and dwellings. We will hang onto the wonder offered by something as simple and powerful as the sun on the canyon walls and reflecting off the clouds above us. Vibrant pinks, purples, golds, blues, and reds lit up the sky each evening and greeted us each morning. Flashing stars and shooting stars across the sky, defined each night.
Parents, most of you will probably see pictures of these sunsets and sunrises, as well as the rest of the canyons, but the wonder of seeing them in person, of being deep inside sandstone heaven, and feeling the chilling quiet, will most likely be one of the most inspiring and beautiful things we, your sons and daughters, will ever see and experience.
By: Rebecca "Smitty" Smith, Kelly Casey-Latterman, Andrew McCue, and Alec Douglas
Regular day-to-day challenges in the canyons involved looking for water, getting into the canyon, or out, exploring slot canyons, and navigating over open slick-rock benches. After our first time lowering into the canyon on a rope with our harnesses and helmets, we were all smiling ear to ear. This was true of everyone, even if we (well, some of us) were terrified to begin. So, as we faced these new elements, we found that the challenges
actually made the trip they kept us on our toes and helped us bond as a group. Another day we happened upon a less anticipated challenge: though water is otherwise difficult to find in this season in the canyons, slot canyons often hold large amounts of water year-round. So, after rappelling into one slot canyon we discovered that there was actually a lot of water. And this wasn't just any old water it was a lot of freezing cold water! We swam through this water, wondering why it wasn't solidified (as the temperature surely justified that) and then we made a run for the sun! That was the best sun we had ever felt and we relished it as it warmed our goose bump-covered bodies.
Two of the four expedition groups (one boy's group and one girl's group) were located in the Jacob's Chair area. Our routes involved hiking around and using technical skills, such as climbing, rappelling and lowering. We had a blast exploring new terrain that most of us had never seen, and now we love the canyons! With the cloudless blue skies and orange-red rocks, we are smitten!
In Grand Gulch (where the other two groups traveled), we had the opportunity to see Puebloan (commonly referred to as Anasazi) ruins. These ruins are believed to be from 900 to 2000 years ago, and many of them are still in very good condition! Almost everyda
y while hiking we would look up to the canyon walls and within them see magnificent cliff dwellings. On one particular day we decided to explore and headed up Bullet Canyon. Here we were fortunate enough to see "Jailhouse Ruin", rock homes, and "Perfect Kiva". We climbed down into the Kiva and sat in a circle replicating meetings held long ago by the Anasazi.While visiting the ruins and being in the canyons we exercised great LNT (Leave No Trace) principles. We were careful not to step on cryptobiotic soil, which grows in dry and arid environments and can take from 50-250 years to form. We were also careful around all water because it is extremely scarce. The canyons taught us to respect our environment even more than our previous two trips so that things like the Anazasi ruins can be preserved so many can enjoy them in the future, just as we did.
Other than the new environment, something special to HMI and specific to the third expedition, is a new leadership position: the "SEL" (Student Expedition Leader). SELs Brendan, Mo, Jeannie, and I (Andrew) were all in charge of trip logistics, which, because they are still relatively new to us, are quite fun. During the week leading up to the expedition, we SELs had to create the route, the groups, the tarp groups, the gear list, and the activity calendar for the expedition. SELs were, for the most part, in charge of the entire expedition. SELs were in control in the field, we decided how classes should be run, and we ran them ourselves, and we decided where to have layover days and when and how far to hike. This was a great experience for us, because we had a ton of ownership over the trip, but we also always had the instructor team at our back to support us along the way. As SEL, I was ecstatic to stretch my wings in backcountry leadership, managing our group and managing risk to the group on steep and exposed terrain like canyon walls and cliffs. Personally, the SEL experience was probably the most valuable and rewarding
leadership experience I could have imagined.From the canyons, we will all remember the endless beauty of sandstone walls stretching upwards for 200 plus feet on each side of us. We will remember the complete silence of the deep canyons, a silence broken only by the sound of crows yelling and stoves lighting up in the morning. We have images etched into our minds of Anasazi art and dwellings. We will hang onto the wonder offered by something as simple and powerful as the sun on the canyon walls and reflecting off the clouds above us. Vibrant pinks, purples, golds, blues, and reds lit up the sky each evening and greeted us each morning. Flashing stars and shooting stars across the sky, defined each night.
Parents, most of you will probably see pictures of these sunsets and sunrises, as well as the rest of the canyons, but the wonder of seeing them in person, of being deep inside sandstone heaven, and feeling the chilling quiet, will most likely be one of the most inspiring and beautiful things we, your sons and daughters, will ever see and experience.
By: Rebecca "Smitty" Smith, Kelly Casey-Latterman, Andrew McCue, and Alec Douglas