Blog #5: Moving With The River

Sarah takes in the view

In the early morning, we awoke to drive from . campground in Lander, Wyoming to the Green River Lakes. Frost covered the windows of the van, painting beautiful patterns along them. As we drove along the winding roads to our put-in, we looked out over the fields. Grazing in the tall grass were buffalo! Their large bodies covered in dark hair mesmerized us.

When we arrived at the headwaters of the Green River, Haystack Mountain stood out tall, beautiful, and snow-covered. Under the beautiful mountains we loaded our canoes and pushed off the snowy shores. Dipping paddles into the crystal-clear waters, small rainbows danced across the blades.

Ruby on a break from paddling

Liam trying out the kayak

The first day we paddled 10 kilometers to our very first campsite on Moose Creek. The next morning we awoke to frosty grounds. As we paddled, snow fell upon us. We continued to travel south and as we did the weather warmed to greet us. The land flattened and the canyons began  to rise around us. During our travels we have seen many animals including:

elk
moose
snow geese
pronghorn
raven
bald eagle
foxes
otters
deer
beavers (one close enough for Pele to touch!)
pelicans
rainbow trout
brown trout

Moose crossing!

Fin and Tristan fishing

Tristan studies on a rock at dusk

Maya takes in the sun

Rio and Elena on a chilly morning

The group in the typical Wyoming landscape

Breathtaking scenery!

We've paddled in freezing temperatures waking up to snow storms and thick frost.  We've encountered hot springs that helped us through our coldest days. The water turned from deep turquoise to green and brown, full of sewage and algae at Fontenelle Reservoir. Once we portaged over the dam, the beauty returned. It was here that we learned about our first "solo" for the last 2.5 days of the leg.

A "solo" is when all of the students live out in the wilderness without instructors. Once Miron and Ruby had departed we had a long way to go before looking for camp. We found a place right before the Seed-Skadee Wildlife Reserve. We are becoming very proficient at setting up camp. The next day we woke before sunrise and started paddling. We had to go 50 kilometers that day and 35 the next day. We were all very tired when we met Miron and Ruby at a small park in Green River, Wyoming for our first resupply.

Callie and Maya prepare lunch on a snowy morning!

Morning frost

Pele gets ready for the day

Kai and Tristan enjoy academic time in the sun

Alice journaling

We have traveled 300k since the Green Lakes. As we move down the river the landscape and river width has changed very drastically. When we began the river was narrow and winding. Trees towered above us. Now, as we move south, the land is becoming more like a desert. We look forward to the canyons.

Spencer is working on bow-drilling...

...And Liam blows the coal to life! 

Study time!

Canyon wrens, sandstone, and canoeists!

Elena and Callie on a windy day

Zinnia and Sarah

A brave and happy group approaching the desert landscape! 

Blog #4: Widening Skies

As the rain poured down at Kroka Basecamp, our footprints washed away and our journey out west began. Our first meal on the road was in Vermont's Prospect Mountain in the pink hue of the setting sun. From there we drove to Blue Heron Farm just outside Ithaca, NY. A sweet bed of straw and a lantern-lit barn awaited us.

The next morning we awoke to gifts: fresh peaches, eggs, and grapes. Birgit and Eric, the farmers, greeted us with warm smiles. For most of the day we worked in the cool soil of the fields, planting garlic and learning about life on the farm. By the end of the day we had planted 19 rows of garlic! Morning flowed into afternoon and we had a hearty lunch of farm veggies. Afterwards we all loaded into the back of Eric's trailer and rode around the 140-acre farm. Eric showed us the beautiful land surrounding us. Coming to a small forest, we ended up at the top of a deep quarry. From there the mountains seemed to stretch infinitely all around.

In the evening we swam at the finger lakes. The chilly water gently held us, washing away the dirt and sweat of the day. Beside the rocky shores, sitting on the grass, we celebrated Kai's birthday with rich chocolate cake and many birthday songs. In a small circle we attempted to block out the strong western winds so Kai could blow out his one remaining lit candle! As the sun dipped slowly into the horizon we loaded into the van for the long drive ahead.

Planting garlic at Blue Heron Farm

Elena hard at work! 

Erik giving us a tour of the farm on the wagon

A cool evening dip in the Fingerlakes

After many hours we arrived in Chicago. Mechanical issues held us up for the day, making for a very loud class on the front lawn of a Taco Bell! As cars raced pas us we discussed the words of Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass. Class came to a close with a writing prompt about creating stories just as the last issues on the trailer were fixed. Celebrating with a large game of Ultimate Frisbee on a nearby field, we then dipped in the calm waters of the Mississippi.

The next, on our drive, we watched the skies light up as bolts of lightning streaked down into the Iowa corn fields. We still had to find a place to sleep, so we kept driving, ending up at a very buggy campsite in Sioux City, South Dakota. Almost no one slept that night: Sounds of soft guitar playing, singing. Slow walks around the pond... We slapped away mosquitos as the sky lightened and we got back in the van. From her we drove 200 miles west to the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Lots of time in the car makes for a silly group of students...

Tow truck to the rescue!

Anything can be a classroom - even the front lawn of Taco Bell...

...or the underside of a highway overpass.

The elementary school students from the Lakota Waldorf School greeted us, bringing to life our childlike wonder to let loose and play. In the following hours we worked in the school garden, harvesting bok choi and weeding.

Driving away from Pine Ridge Reservation, we stopped at the Badlands: looking out over the valley, clay mountains stretched for miles. We climbed down, exploring the winding land as the cold ait and mist kissed our faces... while climbing, Tristan found fossils in the buried clay!

The vast desert landscape of the Badlands

"Being with the children let loose our child-like wonder"

Elena works in the school garden

Liam, Sarah, and Alice harvest fresh veggies! 

Pele and Kai assemble a tipi

Kai makes a new friend

As we drove into Wyoming through the shifting, misty landscape, we came into the town of Lander: 60 miles from our river put-in. Now, as the sun sets, we're settling into camp. As I write this blog entry we are doing our final gear check and getting ready (finally) for our paddling journey.

Loading boats at the put-in

Finally! The expedition begins! 

Blog #3: Sweet Leaves

September 25, 2019

This past week our minds have been full of academics and adventures to come. Anticipation for the sandy canyons and roaring waters is building as we approach our leaving date. We have been working to prepare our boats, bodies, and minds. Much of our time has been spent on our Big Jobs: each of us is trying to catch up with our ever-expanding list of tasks to finish before we leave.

            Recently we travelled with Jo and Misha, two of our leaders and teachers, to the Bellows Falls Waste Water Treatment Plant. We drove to the widest part of the Connecticut River. Diving into the waters at around 10:00 a.m, we swam to the beach leading to the treatment plant. After a very interesting and smelly visit we walked into the town of Bellows Falls. As we approached the center of town we noticed our odd "uniforms" of dirty clothes and socks with sandals! Following a map, we soon found ourselves at the top of sloping granite: the site of petroglyphs made by indigenous people hundreds of years ago! 

Learning about wastewater treatment in Bellows Falls

Smelly!

Crossing the bridge over the Connecticut 

Exploring the Petroglyphs

 Family weekend was very fun and we thank you all for joining us. This weekend we took 52 people rafting down the West River and raised nearly $2600 for the Capital Campaign! Before families and friends arrived, semester students paddled the upper part of the West River where the dam was being released. There we had a chance to watch the waters grow and have a short class with Misha about the inner workings of dams. Paddling down the large rapids, we prepared to guide rafts. It was very new and exciting. Paddling such a large boat with many other people on it was an amazing experience that helped us understand how to steer our own boats better.

As the week continues, we are tying up loose ends at Kroka base camp. The anticipation and excited energy continues to rise. We are packing more than 1000 pounds of food! The trailer is being loaded with canoes... Our paddling journey will take us through Utah, Wyoming and Colorado for a total of 1,160 kilometers on the river. We want to thank you all for your many contributions and hope everyone who visited had a good weekend with us.

Rio: Logistics Manager at work

Alice: Navigator reviews maps of the Green River with Misha and Rio

Kai works to complete his knife sheath

The group heads out on a morning swim across the CT river!