Santa Teresa

By: Emily Maze

November 4, 2017

I woke up forgetting that I was under Francisco’s truck for protection from the light rain last night. French toast was the lovely breakfast we had before our hike to Santa Teresa. We hiked to Ramon, his two friends, and the mules and burros. While packing our food to go on the burros, we bought cowhide knife holsters made the same way as ancient ones. Jeff picked up our packs and deemed them too heavy, so most of us unpacked and left unnecessary stuff in the van. Then, we started our hike to Santa Teresa.

            We hiked about three hours on a narrow rocky dirt path before arriving. Along the hike, we unfortunately found out Chris, Emma, and Boz felt pretty sick. Hopefully they’ll sleep it off and wake up better. Jeff gave us some more riddles and Ashley solved her first one. The riddle from two days ago is in the eye of the “bee holder”.

            Tracy discussed her misadventure scenario on novice students kayaking seven miles across a wavy sea while the instructor pontooned too far ahead and lost sight of the students. I taught how to tie a double bowline and Ricardo joined in. He tied it on his first try and said they call it a neck knot for burros. Kara taught how to tie a bowline on a bight. Ricardo demonstrated the box braid with four pieces of grass and Tracy caught on. He also created a Chinese finger trap out of grass and proceeded to have all of us put our fingers in it.

            While waiting for our three pots of mac ’n’ cheese for dinner, I clogged my second toilet in Baja California. I tried at least five times putting water in the tank and flushing while the three guides watched me come in and out of the bathroom to fill the bucket. They had to radio a woman to come and fix it because there wasn’t a plunger there.

            Austin and I decided to give the group an early night to fight sicknesses. Right now, I am laying on my thermarest and looking at how the walls of the canyon glow from the unseen moon. I can’t wait for the cave paintings!

Casa Azul

By: Emily Maze

November 2, 2017

Today started with a hearty breakfast at a restaurant where most of us got a type of omelet, and then we headed off to Bahia de los Angeles, a ten hour drive. Along the way, Boz learned a lot of cactus names from Francisco. We almost hit a guy skateboarding with his earbuds in in the middle of the road. That was number one of three things we almost hit; number two was a coyote and three a jackrabbit.

            After a few hours, we pulled over for a bathroom break in the desert. Kara’s second time peeing in the desert had a similar result to the first. We heard yelling and Boz came upon a scene where Kara had a mini cactus stuck in her leg. Boz assessed the situation and pulled it out.

            We stopped for lunch where Austin got for the third time an American meal. First, quesadilla, then, pancakes, and now, a burger and fries. Chris had a huge chalice of homemade lemonade.

            For the rest of the trip, Austin and I planned out most of next week with some input from Boz and Francisco. After arriving at Casa Azul, yes it is blue, we went to Guillermo’s to eat. Jeff started what became many riddles. A bee’s in your hand; what’s in your eye? Tracy was the first to figure that one out two hours later with some hints. Austin ate his first true Mexican meal of chicken and cheese enchiladas and he loved it.

            Back at Casa Azul, most of us learned how to set up cots, and then fell asleep. Two more days and we’ll head to the cave paintings.

Border Bound

By: Tracy Ellis

November 1, 217

I do not even think that I can begin to describe the emotions I felt waking up at pyramid point, but I am going to give it a shot anyway. First, I opened up my eyes and was instantly unhappy because my nose was severely plugged, and I did indeed have snot everywhere. Second, I was in awe at the beautiful California scenery that we missed while coming in late at night. Third, excited to be driving through Los Angeles, especially knowing that the final game of the World Series would be happening there that very same day. Fourth, anxious to know that in just a few short hours we will be crossing the border into Mexico where we will be starting the final chapter of this amazing journey. And that is where my fifth and final emotion of the morning hit me like a bag of bricks. I felt thankful. I was thankful that all of these people came in to my life by choice (even if they don’t think so). I felt thankful for Jeff and Boz for bringing me to see and learn in places of the world that I can only hope I’ll visit again. And I felt thankful that we still have more time left on this trip.

            After running just a tad behind schedule, our newly reinstated LOW team pushed us into the van and we took off south through LA, along the coast, through San Diego, and finally to the border. With passports in hand, we purchased our visas, got the van checked, and happily moved forward. We had the beautiful pacific ocean to our right the whole time as we made our way towards our destination of the night; Ensenada. Once we arrived, I was almost instantly captivated by the busy lifestyle that I was seeing. Everyone was outside walking to their destinations and often waving and looking happy to socialize. I couldn’t help but feel that maybe socializing is something I am good at, and because of this, I am going to be very happy here. We then met our new group member/leader, Francisco, and together our new and improved group went out for dinner. I learned two things while at this dinner. 1. I can, and will, eat all Hispanic food placed in front of me with little to no self-control. 2. Emily will not. This is due to her delicate taste buds that do not do well with spicy foods. Which is totally fine, because that means more for me.

            After a long day of traveling we took a windy and bumpy road up to Francisco’s ranch where we retired for the night. Ashley and I found comfort on a bed, and I slept very soundly. Despite my nose still being plugged. And although we ate three meals, I only got the chance to say one quote. And this makes me feel very cheated. Cheated of the chance to bless your ears and eyes with another Harry Potter quote. So to make up for it, I will end this journal entry with one instead.

“It is our choices that show what we really are, far more than our abilities”

-Dumbledore

Day Of Change

Ashley Demers

October 30, 2017

Today we were blessed with some yummy sugar for breakfast! Crepes! That had some amazing cream cheese, cool whip and fruit filling mixture. We packed up the climbing gear and put it back away because we were done climbing. I am actually kind of sad about this I enjoyed climbing, although I definitely need some practice.

After that our plans got a little switched around, when it came to the leadership position. Jeff became our LOW. Our LOW’s were not withholding to the standards. So we packed up our bags and we left Bowler campground. To go to the famous town of Bass Lake where the Great Outdoors was filmed. After we got into town we went to Summit Adventure where Jeff worked here for ten years doing a variety of different positions. They let us so kindly soak up their Wi-Fi and for some of us do our laundry and of course I cannot miss that we were able to take a nice shower.

 Some of us went into a bigger town of Oakhurst to do laundry and buy whatever we needed too. I myself went to a few stores one of them being the dollar store to buy more razors to shave my head again since I don’t have an electric razor. With the help of Emma we were able to get my head shaved lets just say I am glad it is not my whole head, because it took so long. I also kind of bought five monsters, but two of them are not mine.

 While in town I found this cool coffee shop and had some really good pumpkin spice coffee and soaked up some Wi-Fi. They played some great music too, had me jamming.  While soaking up that Wi-Fi I was able to pick out my spring classes and send them off, so someone else could sign up for me. Then the rest of our night was monster and staring deeply into our computer screens. For some the night never ended nor did they ever blink.

Climbing Day

By: Austin Orr

October 29, 2017

Today is the day we finally got climb. We woke up, had breakfast, and divided the gear to carry to our climb site. Little did I know how heavy my pile I choose actually was. All of us were sad to hear to hear we had to leave Tracy behind as she wasn't feeling to well. We loaded up and drove out to a small lot and to my surprise it was only a few minutes from our campsite. As we started our hike I was excited with adrenaline, ready to take on the climb. As we walked up the hillside I was very unsettled walking on ledges smaller than my foot is wide.
After reaching our destination Jeff taught us enough climbing knowledge to be considered dangerous and advised us if we want to learn more to seek other training facilities. We learned how to set up anchors in the rocks and set up 4 different climbing sites. I took one look at the climbs and thought "how do you climb this?" Kara and I started on skyline and Kara manger to climb it with ease. I tied myself in after and couldn't get myself up. I was getting frustrated and soon Kara took another shot at it to show me her path. After that I finally managed to climb up and felt greater success underneath the trembling fear roaring through me. Kara and I moved to the next hardest one where she thought she was always falling. After coming down and we went to get some water and came back to track that was essentially a crack in the rock all the way up. I kept slipping barely getting myself off the ground and left with some battle scars. After Kara attempt I went and got my bag to patch up Sean's battle scars he got on his pinky using his finger strength to try and climb the overhang. After returning Carol was up on the wall attempting the same climb. I tried helping her and had some pretty good laughs from the fun. As we packed up my day was made when Sean found a common garter snake. This was the first snake ECOEE had seen. All in all the day was exciting and I can learn a great deal from the experience.

The Greatest Adventure

By: Kara Sahagian

October 28, 2017

I have been overwhelmed by the amount of homework I need to get done. I have spent the last few days soul searching about where I am now and where I want to be by the end of the expedition (which is way too close to being here). I am thinking back to the beginning of the expedition. In many ways I have grown personally and created a new outlook on life. With a 120-day expedition, you are bound to have days that are not your best. Today was one of those days for me. I have learned to appreciate these days. They make me take a step back and try to look for a new perspective on things. They challenge me and help me grow. I am still extremely grateful for the experience of being on ECOEE. I would not trade it for the world.  I catch myself caring a great deal for my ECOEE 2017 family whether they know it or not. These adventures and memories will last me a lifetime.

“What you see and what you hear depends a great deal on where you are standing. It also depends on the person you are.” C.S. Lewis

Getting to Bowler

Chris Friday

October 27^th

  

This morning began with a quality breakfast from Ashley of French toast and bacon. Many of us thought we wouldn’t be getting out of Yosemite due to our van striking an illness and not wanting to start. Thankfully, a nice man with a pickup truck helped cure it. Before we left Yosemite, we stopped at Glacier Point, mildly illegally with our trailer attached. It was a truly beautiful view of pretty much the entire valley. What I thought to be the most interesting part was that we could see where the forest fire was occurring. We couldn’t see any sort of flames, but a large section of smoke was visible. After this, we made our way to Oakhurst to go shopping. Us leaving was slightly delayed as Jeff ran off to a sandwich shop with the card we needed to pay with. I must say it was quite amusing to hear “Jeff Tindall to check out” ring throughout the store. Once all the groceries were packed up, we went to a gas station nearby where Emma realized her phone was gone. She learned here not to trust technology as Find My Iphone claimed her phone was at a destination we had not traveled to, but in a grocery bag in the trailer. Better than in her backpack again I suppose. Once the phone was found and we got gassed up, we made our way through Bass Lake where we learned where The Great Outdoors was filmed. Now we have taken residence in Bowler Campground where Ashley had us create several different kinds of poop out of Plato. It was definitely one of the more entertaining outdoor ed lessons so far. Tomorrow we begin our climbing seminar. I hope it goes well for us