Three Peak

This week last work week I had the opportunity to work with the adult group. They had all been there for a while, and were very invested in their therapy so they were easy to work with on an emotional level. On a physical level, I could barely keep up. 

These young men decided they wanted to take the three peak challenge; hiking the three tallest mountains in the field. This is a rare and wonderful opportunity. My colleague for the week has worked at Red Cliff for 2 years, and this was only his 3^rd three peak. Given the winter conditions, this was also his hardest three peak. For my part, it was my first week as a full staff, so I was very lucky to participate. My level of fitness was extremely low though. In my first three shifts, I was lucky to hike 5 miles a week. By contrast, this past week, the shortest hiking day was probably 5-7miles.

  

We started out at the base of Rose Mountain. It seems to be named after the numerous rose colored rocks that cover the trek. Rose Mountain is small, and without snow, but the rocks made it not such a fun climb.

 

From the top of Rose, we could see our second Mountain, Indian.

The day after Rose, we walked a little over 10 miles, across the valley, and in the snow to the base of Indian. We laid over a day due to weather. When we woke up and our shelter had become over two feet skinner due to snow accumulation against the wall. Our feet were pinned under snow, and everyone had scootched down so that their face would avoid a similar fate. 

Indian had the most outstanding views. It was 360 degrees, of mountains, and mountains beyond mountains. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, and have no photos. Although, it was probably a blessing, because about a quarter of the way up the mountain we started breaking snow trail through waist deep drifts. 

After peaking Indian we hiked just over 13 miles across the valley to our last goal, Steamboat. Steamboat was my favorite. There were lots of trees all the way up, just ready to give a hiker a hand. We broke snow for the last quarter of this hike. Trudging through the snow didn't bother us, because in the distance a pack of 11 mustangs was keeping an eye on us. 

First Fire

Part of the Red Cliff Ascent Program is to create fire using a bow drill method. In order to complete our  internship period, we have to get 8 fires. After that we are expected to get at least four fires per shift. When we’ve reached 100 fires, we get our fire patch. Once we have the fire patch, we only have to bow coals, and we’re not obliged to blow the coal into flame. 

This last on-shift, we both got our first fires, and on the same day too!

This is my full fire stet.

The set includes the bow, cut from a juniper tree. There is also a palm rock, that I use for down pressure, on a spindle. Look for the small indentation in the center of the rock. I carved that out using a harder rock. The cluster next to my palm rock is called nesting, made from bark off of a juniper tree. After a coal is bowed, then  you place it in the nesting, and blow it into flame.

 Then there is a board, usually made of juniper tree root, or sage bush root. Mine was given to me, and I'm not sure what it's made of. The spindles are straight pieces of sage bush.

 Here I am, showing the bowing position. My left leg is an anchor for the fire board, as well as for my left hand. My gloved left hand is holding my palm rock, and is snug against my left leg so that I can get the maximum down pressure. My right leg is kneeling behind me. My right hand is bowing.