February 21
Since returning from the expedition, everybody has been settling in to the daily routine. First thing in the morning we have AMX (morning exercise), which has so far consisted of two runs, "hard core" exercises, and a walk. Coping with the altitude is hard, but we are all gradually adjusting. Then, usually after a quick shower and change, we come back inside for breakfast and chores. After we've performed our respective tasks to perfection, it's time for morning classes.
On Monday, our day started with a seminar on academic honesty and how to avoid plagiarism. After that we went to our first real classes of the semester! It feels weird to go back to classrooms after having classes with the huge canyon walls around us, but we're getting the hang of it. In English we're talking about the myth of the West, and the stereotypes associated with that myth. This week we focused on how people stereotype cowboys, Native Americans, and women of the West, and now we're starting Sherman Alexie's book: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian.
In science we're learning about the ecosystems of Colorado, and on Wednesday we experienced them first-hand by romping through the snow and into an aspen grove, a coniferous forest, and a riparian ecosystem near a river (some of us were dressed better than others for the knee-deep snow).
In History, the AP classes are moving through the late 1800s, starting with the end of the frontier in the West, and the honors classes are also talking about the West, and Frederick Jackson Turner. Overall, our days feel like they are getting shorter and shorter, and we're working hard to squeeze our work into the two-hour study halls at night. But we still have time for fun days like "Switcheroo Saturday" and, of course we're having fun in class!
When lunch rolls around, everyone is ready for the delicious meal Ryer has prepared. During the hour we eat, relax, and prepare for the rest of the day. Classes continue after lunch up until 5:30, when we have half an hour to make phone calls, do some homework, or just chat. Dinner is always a fun affair, with an inspirational quote from the cook crew to accompany the meal they've prepared. Once we've eaten our fill, it's time for study hall- a much-needed chance to get some work done. After study hall we make our way back to our cabins to rest up and prepare for the next full, fun day.
Saturday afternoon, we were unleashed in the town of Leadville, Colorado. We all rushed to all of the places we had heard about from apprentices and faculty alike, including Melanzana, Proving Grounds, and Sawatch Backcountry. Our first stop in town was to Sawatch, where we found all sorts of cool clothing and gear. The back room had an assortment of crazy clothing, from a pink vest to a neon yellow shirt, while the front had a one and a half liter Nalgene and several pairs of awesome looking skis, including a wooden pair.
After looking at all the gear, we booked over to Proving Grounds for something to drink. We mostly got Dirty Hippies: a chai latte with a shot of espresso. The Dirty Hippies were a really nice change of pace from water and hot chocolate. After sitting at Proving Grounds for awhile we strolled over to Melanzana, the clothing store out here from which every faculty member and apprentice seems to have at least one garment. The store is really impressive, and their production area, comprised of lots of sewing machines, is right in front of you as you walk in. There are so many colorful garments around, and they all look so cozy and warm. Some of us walked out with a new sweater, some did not, but we were all impressed with the store for sure.
After town, we headed back to campus for wood chopping fun and dinner. For our evening activity, we played a combination of clue, charades, and telephone all at the same time. Unfortunately, our game playing was interrupted by two consecutive fire alarms from cabin 2. The cabin did not burn down, but our plan of organized events for the night was a bit derailed. In the end, we split up into a jam session for all of the instrum
ent-playing people, a dance party, or free time. The jam session was impressive, the dance party was fun, and free time is always nice. The first Saturday was lots of fun, and we are looking forward to the next one.
As a wrap-up to a busy week, on Sunday, we headed to Ski Cooper for our first day of skiing. In preparation for the winter expedition, we split up into groups and learned the basics of telemark skiing. With all of the recent snowfall, conditions were ideal, albeit cold. Between the beginner skiers and the veteran alpine skiers, we devoted the first afternoon of many to getting comfortable on telemark skis. We all piled into the vans, boots, skis, and poles ready to go, and drove to the mountain.
Bundled in warm layers, we practiced wedges, sliding, turning, falling, and other skills. Telemark skiing, compared to conventional downhill alpine skiing, proved to be a significant workout. Using the "herring bone" technique, as well as side-stepping, we practiced walking uphill, a vital skill for our second trip. At the end of the day, we all removed skis and loaded them into the vans. This first day in what is sure to be a rigorous process of preparing for two weeks on skis proved to be successful all around.
By: Allie Cohen, Daly Montgomery, Kevin Chun, & Charles Nunziato