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.

Santa Fe

This off shift we made an 11 hour road trip to Santa Fe in celebration of Valentines Day, and our three years together (February 19, 2010). 

We spent two days driving for one day of site seeing, but the trip was full of spectacular rock formations and colors, so we didn’t mind. We had both heard lots of great things about Santa Fe, and in the end, it’s all true. We're already excited to go again.

After a long day in the car, the first order of business was a good meal at Blue Corn Brewery. New Mexican cuisine is outstanding. No other Mexican food I’ve had comes close to measuring up. The local brew was good, but not terribly memorable. We did bring home bottles of other New Mexican brews that we would really like to have again. 

Santa Fe is well known for art. We spent our day at the Georgia O’Keefe museum, and then looking at several of the over a hundred galleries. We encountered the awe-inspiring work of Vladamir Kush and metaphorical realism. 

All that art gave us hefty appetites. So we went to Maria’s for some more New Mexican deliciousness, as well as a tequila and margarita education. Maria’s literally wrote the book on margarita's, and has a hundred recipes to choose from. When you’re seated, the waiter hands you chips, salsa, and a pamphlet of information on tequila. 

The next day we got an early start back home. We stopped at Bandelier National Monument to see the Ancestral Pueblo of the Tsankawi people located in the cliffs. Scrambling around the rocks to discover petroglyphs and dwellings was really exciting.

After a few hours at Bandelier we pressed on to the four corners before continuing home.

First Week

Now that we’ve made the training cut, we are expected to do a 3 shift internship. By the beginning of March, we should be full fledged staff. Normally there are two staff in a group with the student to staff ratio being 4 to 1. As interns we have the opportunity to work with a group as a third staff. As such we can learn from seasoned employees about the daily happenings in the field.

My first week was outstanding. There were lots of memorable moments. I got to work with two really competent and caring people. Mike and I both got to work at graduation, where we heard how the program has benefited families.

I also had a personal victory this first week. I swallowed my anxiousness, and volunteered to go on a solo hike in search of missing equipment. It’s an understatement to say that I’m easily lost, so this was no easy task. Especially since most things in the field look the same to my novice eyes.

So I gathered up my courage, a gps, a radio, and verbal instructions. I realize this adventure is starting to sound epic, but truly I’m just that easily turned around. The missing gear was at the previous camp site, just over a mile away. Furthermore, I’d already passed from one campsite to the other as a group at least three times. Still, these things are hard for me!

Long story short, I totally did it. In fact, I only used the GPS when I got near the new campsite because it was in the middle of trees. Trees are way beyond my navigational abilities. This solo hike was a big deal for me in terms of taking steps toward an important life skill that I’ve somehow avoided for the last 26 years. It is also important to my promotion potential. 

I have my eyes on the head instructor position. As head instructor it would be my job to lead hikes and choose camp sites. My recent expedition gives me hope that eventually I’ll be able to do those things with ease.