- Expedition: Apr 14-19, 2002
- Robert
- West High School
- Hite's Cove
First Impressions
what is wilderness?
the definition of wilderness is different for each individual. a rugged man sees wilderness as straight drop cliffs, jagged rocks, and wild animals in their natural habitats. for a city girl wilderness can be her backyard.
are you in wilderness now? [yosemite valley]: for me this is wilderness. being out in nature. there are different types or levels of wilderness. here in [curry village] rated from 1 to 10, 10 being most extreme, 5. this is wilderness. but tuesday [when we go to hite's cove] it will be more extreme wilderness.
Goals and Expectations
Today's Monday. It's the first time we actually went for a long walk and were able to observe the beautiful wilderness Yosemite has. My expectations, well I don't have any. This is such a beautiful place and I am so fortunate to be here. I can't have expectations because I don't know what to expect. Give me all you got. The arrival through Yosemite Valley would have been worth it alone. We stopped [and] got very close to a waterfall and it was very beautiful. I know this will be fun: being able to relax, slowing down and just taking in everything this beautiful place has to offer. This is only the first day and I have had a tremendous amount of fun. The games with the group, getting to know each other...it all has been just a wonderful experience. There's no way any man-made structure could compete with the wilderness and beauty that Yosemite has. The waterfalls, the trees, the deer, the little bugs are all just magnificent. I expect to see a lot more. That may be my only expectation and I'm more than sure it'll be met. Well, it already has. It's just so awesome to be here.
My Biggest Challenge
I think a challenge I had to endure was when Travis hurt his ankle and I volunteered to carry come of his weight in my pack. I was challenged because I kept saying you're going to get tired, you can't do it. The good that came out was that Travis was able to heal a little. And in the end it made me feel good.
I want to remember...
everything I can, everywhere I ran. even the little man. It's hard to leave this place, to go back to the ugly race, but to remember the mountain's beautiful face. This would be a true treat, to remember in Bakersfield's awful heat, when we sit down to eat... I can tell my family and share and they will say. I too will dare, and it matters not if the weather's fair. This would be great, hopefully it's part of all our fate, come early, or even late-- Because it's better than never. I pray not to destroy this place, ever.