11/22/14

It is a bittersweet day and our last day here in San Diego, California. We will be saying goodbye to the Pacific Ocean, the birds of paradise, palm trees, and warm weather. Out of all of the places we have been I have found the most peace within myself when I watch the beauty of the way ocean never stops kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it is sent away along with the incredibly resilient waves and the vastness. The ocean makes me feel tiny when I am sitting there in the warm sand and it makes me put my life into perspective in this uncharted territory. This is all so new to me when you’re doing something new, of course there are going to be mistakes made along the way. When being a leader you are going to make a wrong decision or failures, sometimes there is going to be no way to avoid it. We all need to be like the ocean that never stops coming back to the shoreline, it is resilient as we should be with our mistakes and risks. We don’t want to keep making the same mistakes. Soon enough I will be back to the coast. I have been making the same mistake for to long and it is finally time to learn from them. I have been accustomed to a routine, convincing myself it is impossible to accomplish certain dreams, and have been to afraid to hurt and abandon those that I love dearly. It is time to take more risks that scare me, that tests my spirit as well as my body.

Dear Ocean,

Thank you for making me feel tiny, humbled, inspired, and salty…...

 Cheyenne Wilson

11/21/14

Baja California was beautiful and crazy,

When the wind was blowing the background was hazy.

I’ve never seen better sunsets or sunrises than this place,

I sit here waiting on border patrol and anticipating mace.

I’ve been to Mexico before and I love it every time,

There simple family based culture, Pineapples and Limes.

Seriously sitting here waiting on border patrol is dumb,

I’ve got nothing else to do but suck on my thumb.

I loved sea kayaking even though it hurt my butt,

I just want to drive through border patrol but this stupid gate is shut.

As much as I was looking forward to returning,

After getting off of the sea I had this bittersweet burning.

I no longer want this trip to end,

Don’t want to be home, don’t want to see friends.

Im finally content with constantly being on the go,

Yeah the drums they swing low, and the trumpets they go.

This trip will probably come to an end too fast,

Let’s make everything count right down to the last.

The last day, the last laugh, the last meal, the last chore,

Let’s make it all count before we close the door.

And before we say goodbye to the vans and trailer forever,

And before Jeff makes one more joke he thinks is clever.

This is it, the end of expeditions, were on our way home,

No more backcountry, no more traveling gnome.

Trip plan and Scavenger hunt, let’s get this work done,

Final Evals, those should be fun.

Honestly what I miss the most is going to the bathroom with a bit of personal isolation,

I just want to be alone in there, no other feet or confrontation.

This trip has made me realize that I’m both extrovert and introvert so I don’t fit into these designations,

I’m not people, product, process, ideas, or any of those classifications.

I am me and only me with all of my traits,

And if people don’t like it they gonna hate.

I’ve only got a few more of these left,

So I’ll try to make them better this much you can bet. 

11/20/14

When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision. ECOEE is full of decisions but it is also a lot of unclear paths. During this last unclear path we took into the Sea of Cortez, Mother Nature took the reins. She kept us in Pescador bay longer than expected. Mother Nature has also taken control of my sleeping patterns. She wakes me up with the sun and puts me to sleep with the darkness. This morning I woke up at 5:43 despite my 6:20 alarm that was going to go off. We all drank our coffee, ate our breakfast burritos and started cleaning. I love sweeping because I can pretend I am a chimney sweeper like in Mary Poppins. After I was done being a chimney sweeper we walked by Jeff’s lead to the museum across the street. In the basement of this museum the local artists were displaying their work. I purchased a pair hand carved moon earrings made from an oyster shell found on the pacific coast of Baja California. After the museum we moved like a herd of sheep or in our case, a flock of birds, to the market where Cheyenne bought a coconut. We then headed back to Casa Azul where we waited while Jillian cleaned the toilet. We piled into our great white vans to eat lunch at Los Hamacas or The Hammocks. We ate our wonderful Mexican food and drank our refreshing sodas then started our journey to Catavina. The Cordons, Cirios and Ocotillos are not part of my accustomed scenery but I have fallen in love with their unique figures. Before getting to our desert campsite, we made a pit stop to a cave where the ancestors of that area still tell us about how nature shaped their lives. They dances and celebrated and expressed their values through these cave paintings. As our ancestors did, we shall listen to our heart; it knows all things because it came from the soul of the world, and it will one day return there. 

Haley Brasile

11/19/14

Any "historical" movie with Mel Gibson in it is garbage. The kind of movie that ought to star in "Mystery Science Theater 3000." But allow me to briefly quote one of Mr. Gibson's atrocities…

            "FREEEEEDOOOOOOM!"

            Yes, this morning our band of merry adventurers was awoken by Jeff's short, gruff tones telling us to get going at 5:00 AM. The North Wind, that demonic force of nature that had kept us on a beach for three days, had finally blown itself out. In less than an hour we had our kayaks on the water.

            Cassidy and I took the point of our pod and kept our bow pointed at Jeff as he led us around points, across bays, near a sea turtle, and into Bahia de los Angeles. Where, at the end of our sea kayaking odyssey, we saw a few whales in the distance. We cleaned up and got treated to lunch by a former ECOEE alum. That cold Coke at Guillermo's was great.

            Our final backcountry experience is over. I remember sitting on a beach near Blue Bay our very first night in Canada--writing the group journal  then as well. The stars were bright that night, too. They are out tonight here at Casa Azul. Except the constellations are different. The seasons are changing and Winter is Coming.

            That first day in Canada was so overwhelming. Our navigators turned the wrong way right off the bat, John and Vickey took on water, bear bags were an ordeal, and we had to figure out tents and stoves. My, oh my, how far we've come.

            Rivers, mountains, valleys, and more roads than I can remember--all have brought us to this little blue house in Mexico and its wise owner. A tough man named Francisco who has helped us out in so many ways. Just imagine if he had been with us in Ontario!

            Now we are about to leave this place. But that's what ECOEE has been about the entire time, right? We arrive in our white vans, fall in love with something, and leave it. I guess that's one lesson that we can take away from all of this--the rapids, the misty lakes, the pouring rain, giant waves, snow, northern lights, brilliant sunrises, giant rocks, mighty waterfalls, hot beaches, and the eternal ocean--Carpe Diem, seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.

                                                                                                Most Respectfully,

                                                                                                Anthony Killion

11/18/14

            It is our fourth night at Pescador Bay. For three days, we have been wind bound, unable to paddle our way back to Bahia de los Angeles or any other destination.

            Every night, we have prepared peanut butter and jelly tortillas by headlamp so that we have a quick breakfast in the morning, enabling us to get on the water as quickly as possible once the winds die. Every night, we anticipate Tati and Jeff waking us up at the crack of dawn when the winds break. Every morning, we pack up our camp, stuffing everything we have into the small hatches of the sea kayaks. And every day, we have waited and waited … and waited. We have waited, hoping that the North winds would cease and the waters would calm. Hoping, until we must finally admit that today is not the day that the winds will break. So, everyday, we unpack those same kayaks, which have not moved, and set up camp once more.

            These past few days have been a test of patience, optimism and faith. We must have faith that this will all work out. We must stay positive about our situation, even as we watch our resources of food, water and fuel lessen with every passing day. We must be patient as we wait for Mother Nature to cut us a break. Yet, as we remain patient, optimistic and faithful, we must never waiver or fall prey to traps of wishful thinking. We must remain grounded, realistic and rational in our decisions.

            So, we look toward a new day, our tortillas made, ready to rise at the first light of day, ready to pack up our camp, full of hope that this day will be the day, and full of patience if it is not. It is all a test of patience. Life is a test of patience – for we must be prepared to take hold of opportunities when they arise, keeping faith that they will come, and smiling while we wait.

            Jillian Ross

11/17/14

Beach life… what a way to live. Warm sun to soak in, smooth sand to walk on, soothing waves and tides to listen to, and an amazing star filled sky to fall asleep to. With all that being said, being stuck on Pescador Bay isn’t all that bad. Instead of paddling to our next site we fulfilled our day with lessons. Haley led us in some search and rescue techniques. Tiff touched base on first aid that lead into a surprise simulation of Jeff being half dead on a ridge somewhere… which brought back WFR (wilderness first responder) flashbacks in my head instantly. Jeff shared his wisdom to all of us about group decision making and goals. There is always more behind the scenes to every situation than you realize at first. Always a different meaning, perspective, or even just a different angle to something. It is only when you speak, act, and observe with a true meaning that everything is understood. ECOEE is a course that teaches along the way. Most things we figure out, some things Jeff tells us. We might not be great ECOEE in the end, but it’ll have taught us so much to work on in our lives afterwards.

-Greg Strobel

11/16/14

Yet again Mother Nature has intervened. Today we would have attempted to paddle our hardest to beat the wind, but as the rain and cold held us hostage in Canada so the wind halts our progress here in Mexico. So instead of constant paddle strokes we finished a few lessons that were overdue. Some of us sat on the beach talking of the past or future. All of us enjoyed the present. As strong as the wind was today, watching the white cappe3d wave3s roll over in the distant sea was beautiful. I sat for a while with Kenny, Greg, and Curtis at the shoreline just watching the water come in and out

                The land and all the land we have visited has been so powerful. The water here is our mode of travel, the same as it was in Canada yet the two places are extremely different. While this place is warm and inviting Canada was cold and challenging. No matter where we go or where we have been we must listen to nature. Today it told us to stay put. Nature has taught us so much and has more to give. Nature has shown us its raw power such as our journey into Yellowstone National Park where we could feel the heat under our feet. In both Canada and here in Mexico we can feel the power and witness. Firsthand the power of water.

                Nature has called us out here to come together and be done with it. Though it may burn, drench us in sweat, soak us in waves we welcome it because nature is a part of who we are.

John Wiegert

11/15/14

Another day another Peso as they say in Mexico. We are here on the beautiful waters of the Sea of Cortez. The prehistoric feel of this place is so surreal, with each passing moment I get I whisper under my breath “Welcome to Jurassic Park.” Today I sat wishing that I would never leave Los Animas Slot, because this place is paradise it feels like something from a cruise ship commercial. But unfortunately we must venture on and head back because all good things come to an end and we must make a slow return back to Illinois. Think about it for a second Los Animas Slot is the furthest away we have been from home this whole trip. Crazy right? But we must keep going pushing through the waves and the basking sea lions. Man sea lions have the life I want, they just lounge around all day in the sun and occasionally play in the water, ahhhh how nice of a life. So far sea kayaking has been a great experience. Its hard to believe but in four weeks I will be home shoveling the driveway. Thinking about this is hard to comprehend, ECOEE has become my life hate it or not it just feels natural now. The sun is shining now and I must go now and enjoy this warmth while it lasts. So here a quote before I leave.

“The air here is miraculous and outlines of reality change with the moment”

-          John Stainback

Kenny Bambini

11/14/14

As I sit here with my feet in the sand without a worry in the world. Not really thought there’s always a constant thought of am I going to get all of this work done. Though today we can put all of that behind us. We have been told a lot by Tati to live in the present worry about the now. Don’t worry about the future. We need to focus on the present. Today we were given the opportunity to hike up to the points to look out over all the bay’s that we were surrounded by. Which was pretty awesome. I got the opportunity to go snorkeling in the bay. Which brought me back to my childhood days and watching Finding Nemo. I felt like the diver that was swimming around. Which was pretty awesome. 

11/13/14

A young fish is swimming along one day when he bumps into an older fish swimming the other way. “Great day to be in the water,” the older fish says. The younger fish stops. He replies, “What the hell is water?”

Here we are, on our 90^th day of ECOEE, still going through the same motions. Being woken up by the sun, returning to the back country kitchen, wiping the sand out of our underwear and hopping into a boat to our next destination. Nothing new. Like water to a fish. We can still bicker and argue about the tedious and the obvious; that none of this is new news. “We do this every DAY people!” “Why is packing up a boat so hard for you?!” “What do you not understand about no sand in my food?!?” We have gone through all the same motions, made all the same mistakes, been given all the same feedback. Some feedback, given 4 or 5 times even, still has yet to sink in. Well, what do we do about it? Some may take it to heart, to roll around in their head until they cannot stand it any longer, others take it, spit on it, and throw it to the ground. Just learn to accept it, they say, or learn to grow from it, they say… Why let it bother you? After all, it’s just feedback anyway.

We tend to forget the obvious things in our lives. We often forget that we are all hurting in the same ways, or that we are all physically strained and emotionally drained from the condition of this expedition. We forget that we are all breathing the same air. We are all people with feelings and people with pain; that the person right next to you is just a person, they shouldn’t make you nervous.

So we all have a choice. We can choose to give meaning to our lives, or to step back and let life make all our decisions for us. Tati said to me today something along the lines of this; “ A person does not ever realize when a fish is drinking water.” Has a fish like the last quote, but with a little different meaning. You can never tell if a fish is a happy fish or a sad fish. We just see this cute little fish and decide that he’s happy. We give meaning to his meaningless little fish life. If we take life with a happy heart, how can we wrong ourselves? There are so many distractions and opportunities for negativity that we need to be of constant reminders to ourselves that we do not want the easy way out of life. We are here for the simple challenge of it. We are here, and are going to continue being here. This is our water to swim in how we please.

Cassidy Depoy 

11/11/14

So, here we are… at our first campsite for our last backcountry experience on ECOEE 14. It has some similarities to our first site way back in Canada. Paddling, not knowing what to expect, sand, a debrief and plenty more. With that being said, it definitely has its differences too. This time we were all ready. We listened to Jeff’s ten minute spiel on what to pack and how to do it and we went about taking care of ourselves. There was no all-day process of packing dry bags, Walmart runs for missing items, or even worried faces about what’s ahead. ECOEE 14 has grown in so many ways since day one. One of those ways is our willingness to accept challenge. This Mexico experience is proof of that. A 15 mile hike through the Sonoran Desert with only the goal of food in mind. Now sea kayaking through the Sea of Cortez where we get to camp with some casual hazards like rattlesnakes and sneaky coyotes. I believe a big factor in the reason why people accept challenge is because they realize the rewards. We move often, open our minds to learn every day, work hard, we’re up with the sun and asleep with the stars, and we take in all the rewards along the way. Accepting challenge is obvious… it’s all obvious.
-Greg Strobel

11/10/14

            Hola, friends! It is our last day at Casa Azul here in Bahia de Los Angeles before our last backcountry expedition. Where, you ask will this last adventure take us? We will be spending the next eight amazing days sea kayaking some of the most beautiful water I have only dreamt of. The Sea of Cortez holds so many great treasures that I cannot even imagine. Today we all learned some basic kayaking skills to better prepare us for the days ahead.  As our group split into two, the first group headed out. As they arrived back they told us nonchalantly that they had seen incredible marine life: sea lions, whale sharks, and dolphins. As the rest of the people in the second group and I hoped for the best we set out in our kayaks eager to learn what Tati had to teach us. As we headed out the winds started to pick up and it made it more difficult practicing t-rescues (if our kayaks flipped we needed to know how to get out and others come help flip the kayak to get the water out). After we practiced for a while it was time to paddle out into the bay. Tati had us paddling towards a huge flock of seagull, pelican, blue and brown-footed boobies, and many others.  As we got closer all the birds fascinated us with their dive-bombing skills, that we almost missed the whale shark surfacing right next to Cassidy. I quickly noticed and hollered at Cassidy. We stared in awe; it was the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. We all just sat there silently trying to watch were it was going, so we could catch just a bit longer glimpse of the magical beast.

            It really puts into perspective when Tati says “live in the present, be here now”. Even though we may get caught up in the moment of our daydreams of being back home with our bed, beer, chips, and loved ones. There is no other place I would rather be than laying here under the moon lit sky full of sparkling stars, soft sand beneath me, and the sound of the waves in front of me

Cheyenne Wilson

11/9/14

Today was our first full day staying at Casa Azul, and it already feels like home. Waking up this morning to a beautiful purple, yellow and red sunrise was absolutely breathtaking. We all woke up bright and early from the sunrise and overlooking the Sea of Cortez. Watching the pelicans catching fish out of the bay. Horn of nearby boats as they leave the dock to go and catch fish for the day. We have been so lucky up to this point to have some unforgettable experiences. It’s crazy to believe in a short amount of time we will be arriving back at Western Illinois University, back at Horn Field Campus looking back at these memories that were made, the experiences are also something we will never forget. We will never forget all the National Parks, recreation areas, state parks, and the many professional visits along the way. With that being said mistakes have also been made, but without mistakes we never learn. In Outdoor leadership there are real life consequences.

-Vickey Benhart

11/8/14

I spent a majority of the day looking at the ground. Watching, I suppose, is a better word considering that the desert is an obstacle course out to kill you. Everything here, living and not living, wants you dead. There are rocks that move beneath your feet as to break your ankles or draw some blood from your shins. There’s the sun; blinding and persistent seems to burn you through your sunscreen. And, of course, every single plant whispers death through their spines and waits for the most vulnerable time to lunge at you throat- in today’s case, our feet, elbows, and thumbs. Today was a homicide waiting to happen. Some of us were more fortunate than others.

We said goodbye to the beast this afternoon, leaving us with some minute injuries and some awesome suntans. We are more sore than ever after fifteen miles of non-stop moving, but we can feel accomplished to say we’ve done a hike that no ECOEE has ever seen before. We can even celebrate with some tasty Mexican cuisine. Thank goodness for restaurants, where the labor is not on you. We are such rich human beings. We are blessed to have warm clothes, water, food, and a space to sleep at night. And we can always find something to complain about. We are so behind in homework, I have no money, I smell bad and miss my shower, my bed, and my things. We have been graciously invited to share these resources in an environment that is completely new to us. Water is not an endless resource that we normally feel entitled to. So many people here have so much less stuff than we do. But we are also submerged in a rich culture. A community full and thriving with life, making do with all that they have. Enjoying the simplicity of the ocean and the heat. Perspective is everything. That desert we walked through was so vivacious. There was an amazing amount of greenery for what I thought a desert should look like. There was water. There was so much wildlife, making do with their home in the desert. This is their home, and certainly not mine, but that is okay. It is beautiful. I am so privileged to witness every part of it and live in it for a few days. Screw being comfortable! This is the right way to live.

Cassidy Depoy

11/7/14

Today was awesome we went to the pool at the oasis,

It was fulfilling to see all your sun kissed happy faces.

Especially after bad rationing and a 15 mile hike,

I would have definitely rathered a motorized bike.

But the oasis pool certainly made it worth it,

And to know that in 1767 Spanish Jesuits berthed it.

Baja California has completely changed my views on deserts,

Because of all the cactus it’s much easier to get hurt.

The plants are so green and even though a lot of them are spikey,

I can’t help but enjoy this landscape, me likey!

I’m also very thankful that our nights here have been lit by the moon,

It’s a shame that Kenny’s so bored and that were leaving so soon.

Speaking of soon ECOEE is coming to closer to the end,

Even though it seems like there’s still so much time to spend.

I say this hypocritically because I think of post-ECOEE too,

But we need to focus on the here and now, the me and the you.

We need to focus on the group and getting things done,

We need to finish our lessons so we can start having fun.

I hate hearing feedback because I take it so badly,

But after facing so realities I’m now accepting it gladly.

WE all need to give real feedback, even if it sounds mean don’t shake it

Because it’s during these four months that will be our only time to take it.

In the real world you rarely get feedback like this,

And though you don’t think it now, this feedback you’ll miss.

So don’t take it personally if I start dealing it out hard,

I just don’t want my super close friends to turn into tards.

Let’s finish out this next month and try harder to do things right,

Let’s take what John said and fight the good fight.

We have a really early start so I’m going to bed soon,

I say goodnight to this journal and goodnight to the…cactuses. 

Josh Baughman

11/5/14

The last time I wrote in this journal and had this much moon light, I was in Northern Ontario. It is really quite something, this expedition that is. Four months 11,000 miles in three different countries. Where will the learning end?

After Mexico we will be in the home stretch. We will be piecing together the last of our homework and tapping our foot until we can finally go home. It’ll feel great to do all the things we take for granted in typical life. Showering daily, beds, food, microwaves, fresh socks… the list goes on and on. But even as I lay in bed all cozy, probably next to the one I love. I will have my experiences flashing through my head like PTSD to a Vietnam veteran. Even then I will be thinking and learning.

I will never be perfect. There will always be improvements to make. One of the burdens of leadership is that there are no days off.

Baja California is beautiful. I have been enjoying the unique trees and the enormous cacti. Even more beautiful than the silhouette of a cactus in an orange sunset is the culture I am surrounded in. Today we stopped for a few final groceries and just getting to walk around and see how the locals interact with one another was great. Mexico definitely has a few things to work on but so does the US. Things are just different down here and I thought I wouldn’t enjoy it but thus far this has been a great place to learn.

John Wiegert

Baja California

Today we venture off on our last leg of our incredible journey in Baja California where we will be hiking and sea kayaking.

adiós

11/4/14

We started our day waking up at J-tree. We did not get to go climbing but I guess that is just the way it was supposed to be. I sat navigator in Jeff’s van while driving to SDSU. Jeff and I talked about Paul Petzoldt and how he had lived a rich life. I would like to say that I am also living a rich life. I am in San Diego state about to go hiking and sea kayaking. The end of this journey is soon but still days and days away; days that should be cherished and explored. I can see the big picture with ECOEE and I am in no rush for it to be over, and I can only hope that my ECOEE brothers and sisters feel the same. Jim is a character that has character and I appreciate what he has done for ECOEE since 2002. “let everything happen to you, beauty and terror , just keep going, no feeling is final” Rainer Maria Rilke.

May we all be well, happy and peaceful.

-Haley Brasile  

10/29/14

Day 75, 29 October 2014

            At 7:16 AM I am sitting outside of my cabin at Los Angeles County Outdoor Science School. I am not sure what to write, mostly because the kids are up and I cannot hear myself think over the cacophony. It is amazing how none of these kiddies have any volume control. They scream to each other first thing in the morning, they scream to my cabin co-leader and I, they scream their answers to the teacher in class, they scream in the showers, they scream in the cafeteria, and they scream in the bathrooms. So it's hard to take the children seriously when I hear them scream to their friends to please talk (let's be real, it's screaming) a bit quieter.

            This is leadership that ECOEE has not prepared me for. Maybe if I'd seen Jeff lead these little psychos I would have some idea. But I have this gut feeling that simply sitting back, asking, "what do you think?" and shaking my head is not the way to deal with these small people.

            I did not join ECOEE at the same time as everybody else, so the decision to spend a week 24/7 (or at least most of it) and unable to escape from these kids is not mine. I'm not pointing fingers, but to me, if your map says "here there be witches" in some woods, you don't go into those woods. If you do, you get what Hansel and Gretel got in the original--Death. In much the same manner, if you hear, "locked in a cabin with 5th graders and unable to leave for the better part of a week," you, well, you know the old saying--"Nope!"

            [I can hear my cabin co-leader having issues, pardon me while I break to help.]

            My bad, the kids were screaming because Hunter is putting war paint on their faces. I mis-interpreted their vocalizations. They're crazy.

            I have literally nothing insightful to say about this week. It is all about survival. And I guess it only makes sense that my favorite week of ECOEE is followed by the (in my opinion, obviously) worst.

            I hope that Maximus is not like this when he is 10.

10/24/14

Today we concluded our second back country journey and most of us can say this was our favorite part of ECOEE yet. We did some amazing things that some of us thought we couldn't have done back in August, such as hike up Post Peak. Getting there was a difficult journey. My group consisting was Josh, Haley, and Anthony decided to conquer. The hike up was one of the most difficult things I have ever done it literally took all I had. You know some people at home would probably struggle really hard if they attempted to climb it. But hey not even the great Paul Petolzt. After the hike up my group needed more and that more consisted of jumping, climbing, and hoisting ourselves from a gigantic rock to the next to reach the summit. The view from the summit was beautiful  we were able to get a 360 degree view of the Sierra Nevada’s it was breathtaking. That soon ended when we realized we had to get back down to our backpacks. That climb down was the most terrifying thing I have ever done, like I said it was terrifying. Of course my group survived the rest of our backpacking trek as did the two other groups who like us have amazing stories to tell. Being separated was something special. None of us will have the same stories going forward. ECOEE si far has given me many lasting memories. The end is in the distant horizon. No more going west for us. In the next couple days we will be watching over 5^th graders and keeping them in check. Then we will move forward to San Diego.

-          Kenny Bambini  

10/23/14

10/23- Day 69

When I woke up this morning, it felt like I was waking up to my cozy, warm bed at home on Christmas morning. I swear I haven’t slept this warm in 2 ½ months. As I started to come to, the soreness in my legs, back, and feet brought me to the realization that I was NOT home. And the odor coming from the depths of my sleeping bag assured me that I was indeed not in Good Hope, Illinois, but 4 days deep backpacking in the mountains and about to embark on another full day of hiking to our next destination.

            I accredit my comfort to two lovely ladies—Jill and Vick—on my right and hearty, warm Greg on my left, with their body heat radiating throughout the megamid keeping everyone toasty (…Much more so than my bivy sack has ever kept me!) Though I was not where I know as “home”, I can tell you waking up next to my ECOEE family at Joe Crane Lake on this frosty Thursday morning felt just the same.

            These past few days have been very nontraditional as a grad assistant. Instead of joining my partner Jeff as he took off to retrieve the vans, I trekked on with Vickey, Jill, and Greg for “final expedition”. Which is a fancy way of saying, “heading out ‘solo’ from the other groups and Jeff to navigate back to the vans by noon Friday, with only compass and maps”.

            Living on the inside… or outside, depending on your perspective… has been an eye-opening experience. Camping, cooking, and traveling alongside these three individuals for 48 hrs straight for the first time since meeting them in January, really forced me to get to know them on a new level. Working together to “master” navigation skills and motivating one another literally up and down mountains and mile after mile has been a tremendous blessing to be apart of.

            Today wasn’t as long and treacherous of a hike as yesterday’s, but it was certainly a gem day. We were packed and ready to set out shortly after the sun rose and the dromedary thawed, allowing us to fuel up with breakfast and hot drinks. The trail and elevation loss made the miles short and smooth compared to the previous days’. We even took an extended break at beautiful Cora Lake, our original planned campsite, where I dipped my blistered, pulsating feet in the cold water and filled Nalgene’s, while others basked in the sun upon a boulder overlooking the lake. Pure bliss. We then continued further along the trail, moving closer to the endpoint. Leap-frogging with Haley, Kenny, Josh, and Anthony’s group to “The Niche”, both crews decided to call it a night.

            The remainder of the evening was spent sharing stories, enjoying impeccable scenery, cooking chili mac and Ramen, and indulging in M&M pudding with crappy (and questionably poisoned…) bread *cough* Anthony *cough*. The laughs were endless and echoed throughout the mountains and forest surrounding us, putting a big smile on my face as I lie down to sleep tonight.

            Currently I am writing in my sleeping bag while simultaneously listening to Kenny’s bedtime story from the other megamid… something about a loser named Bob heading to Imagination land on a hot air balloon-boat with his fat girlfriend Melissa. I’m not sure… but I do know that the ECOEE life is a good one filled with incredible, hilarious, and LOVING people whom I am so privileged to have grown close to over the past couple months and even more so the past couple nights.

            It’s only 9pm, but people are already snoring or soon to be asleep, so I’ll pick up on the cadence and shut off my head lamp to enjoy one last warm night’s rest before hitting the dusty trail in the morning, ending our 2^nd backcountry expedition in the Sierra’s. Now we look forward to that glorious pizza promised from Jeff and cold chocolate milk promised by myself as we return to the simple missed luxuries of front-country life.

-Tiff

10/22/14

  Today was full of ups and downs, literally. We left Slab Lake and immediately started going up-hill, once at the top we were not sure when to head back down. We were not sure when to head back down. We were starting to get a little concerned because any way down looked unsafe. The view up there was breath taking so I didn’t mind being stuck all that much. We saw five deer sprint around Post Lake; we figured it was either a mountain lion or Jeff! We spotted a route down some red rock that was steep enough to scare me a few time. We saw Jeff down at the bottom where he pleasantly told us that this was not the end of our journey for today. He let us know that after tiffany’s lesson on weather, we were to be on our own and all meet back up Friday at noon. Our group took this chance to plan a hike up to post peak and summit the mountain we wanted to summit the peak earlier near the red rocks but didn’t because time constraints. After tiffany’s lesson we to post peak which was very hard even with the trail. We arrived out the top huffing and puffing, set our packs down and headed up post peak. ECOEE has introduced opportunities that scare me half to death multiple times. Summited post peak being one of them. We all shared a euphoric feeling up at the top and I immediately started back down. It was too intense to stay up there any longer. I feel like i am in a different reality here in the sierras. But whatever reality we are in this journal is right here in it with us. I think that is pretty cool.

-Haley Brasile 

10/22/14

10/21/14

Greg, Vickey, Tiffany and I started our trek this morning with heavy packs and high spirits. Navigating our way through the mountains, we crossed creeks and weaved through trees and giant boulders.

            We made good time and the miles seemed to fly by as we laughed and encouraged one another. For a while, we lost the trail, but following our compass bearings and the dried up creek bed, we found our way to our destination.

            Having arrived first, before the other two groups or Jeff (who was probably hiding like a blue ninja somewhere in the trees along the trail, waiting for us all to pass), we took some time to eat lunch and scope out a good campsite.

            We quickly set up camp, erecting our tent and laying out our sleeping bags and tarp, which were wet from the frost the night before. We changed out of our hiking clothes and into comfy camp clothes. We untied our stinky hiking boots and slipped our feet into our hundred times more comfortable camp shoes. Vickey and Greg gathered water while I washed clothes and Tiffany took a power nap. Camp all set up, and still no one in sight. It was just an hour into the afternoon, so we fired up the stoves and boiled water for some afternoon coffee.

            Not long after, another small band of our ECOEE group made their way to us. They set down their packs and started telling us all about their own journey. That was when we heard a voice call down from the mountain…

            “That’s not Slab Lake!”

            Upon hearing this, the other group strapped on their bags and quickly departed. Greg, Vickey, Tiffany and I looked around at our perfect little campsite, water boiling on the stove, the tent set up and our belongings lying in the grass, dry from the warm sun.

            “Okay, Jeff. We’re just going to finish our coffee and we’ll see you there later.”

            So, we drank our coffee, pulled on our hiking clothes, laced up our boots, disassembled our tent and packed our belongings for the second time today. We had another mile to go, but then again, what else is new? With ECOEE, there is always one more portage to complete, one more mountain to climb, one more lesson to teach, one more mile to go.