Hiking toward our special spots

This was definitely the coldest morning do far. Normally on our final day, we take a silent hike after breakfast down to Sunday Rocks and climb up on them for a bit of meditation. Today however, it was decided that the rocks might be too slippery so we simply stood in front of the rocks.

While we stood silently, members of the High Trails staff read aloud some of the short quotes the campers had written on their initial visits to their special spots on Tuesday.

Quotes at Sunday Rocks

“I feel peace and serenity. I feel one with nature.”

“Above all others, I see the world as if it is mine. I am floating on the cloud.”

“So far High Trails has been super fun but extremely cold.”

” I can be cold but have fun!”

“When I explore nature I feel like I’m part of it.”

“Everyone should have a special spot, and it can be anywhere you want as long as you fell how you want to feel.”

“I feel alone and peaceful. I feel that nobody can bother me. I feel peace overtaking my racing mind.”

“I sit under my house-like tree, branches hugging me. I sit to see the sunset and moon peek out in orange and pink.”

“It is silent; it is beautiful; it is everything; it is nature.”

“I’m sitting at my special spot and I feel like I’m on top of the world, just me, myself and I.”

“It may be cold outside but no matter what the temperature, nature is always around us.”

“The quietness of the mountains makes me feel as peaceful as possible.”

“Sometimes, I feel like I need to just get away. Into the woods to my quiet space. The sun is setting, the sky is pink, the clouds are white. I can never leave.”

“Nothing describes Earth more than the simpleness of nature.”

“My spot is open and alive where I feel comfortable and safe.”

“Today I feel free.”

“My body is as cold as an ice cube, but as I look out at the sunset over Pikes Peak, my heart fills with joy and warmth.”

“Sky changing colors, mossy trees and rocks. Cold slowly drifting in. Dark sky. Small pieces of snow falling after a long Summer break.”

My spot. I hike, I walk, I run. I walk downhill in search of a spot in which I can be alone. I nearly fall, but then the small, awkward branch of a tree catches me. I look up–there, a Mother Tree. It’s branches reach wide, just in front of me. it surrounds me as if holding me close. There are trees, people and other things nearby, yet I feel alone, yet comforted.”

“A spot of mine is a spot that feels comfortable, a spot surrounded by trees, a spot where no one can find me. A spot where I feel in my element.”

A Final Hike

Settling in at our special spots

After that moving moment, we regrouped and hiked back to the special spots we had each claimed on the first day. We paused a few times for a short discussion and to take a sip of water, before making our way to the top of B Bluff once again.

Upon achieving our objective, we spent a few final moments in quiet introspection as the sun blazed down on the western side of Pikes Peak. It was a chilly but a rewarding experience.

Following a leisurely hike back to camp it was time for a huge buffet lunch and then to the buses, for a welcomed trip back home.

A usual, the lost-and-found bag was full. I managed to keep track of all my stuff right up to the last half hour, at which time my scarf and toque suddenly went missing. Oh well.

Pike Peak in the morning is a beautiful sight indeed

To the quartz! Let's get rich! Who is that dude on the rocks?

On Thursday, the all-day Discovery Groups departed from camp at about 0930. The rumors of foul weather turned out to be just that–rumors. We were accompanied by occasional snow flurries and overcast skies, but there were many times when the sun burst through to warm us up.

Even though we had a modified schedule in anticipation of cold temperatures, it was actually about the same temperature or a little warmer even than the day before. In other words, it was an excellent day for outdoor activities.

I set out with the prospectors and Mr. Scott went with us for the first half hour or so. He took some good pictures and maybe some of them will find their way into the yearbook.

Quartz!

Up to Little Blue.

Did you know that a recent scientific breakthrough has led to the discovery that quartz is a source of clean energy and its value has increased by 100 times over night? That’s right. Better go get some!

We found a field that was rich in pure white chunks of quartz and started collecting it to get rich quick. Unfortunately the land belonged to a crazy prospector and we had to negotiate a deal. These were some hard bargaining prospectors and we worked out an agreement to where the crazy dude would get 30% of all the money we made from selling the quartz we found (the best any previous group did was 40%).

Hiking up to the Crystal Beds

After that is was a short hike up toward the trail known as Little Blue, where we learned the story of Shady Pete and his hidden gold. On the way over to the Interbarn, where lunch awaited, we looked for that 30-in diameter stump with 108 rings by which Pete’s treasure was buried, but nobody found it.

We hung out by the Interbarn for a while and then went inside for a few short skits on what it must have been like to be a prospector. Most of them seemed inspired by the Shady Pete story in one way or another.

After that we headed over to a nice rock outcropping and had a fun lunch by a roaring fire. It is wonderful how simple things like bagels, lunch meat, cheese, peanut butter and jelly, apples and granola bars can taste out on the trail.

Self explanatory!

Digging for perfect crystals of pure quartz

After lunch we headed out on our longest hike of the day. It took about 25 minutes to work our way back West and get up hill to the crystal beds. The crystal hunting was good. With a few snow flakes falling around us, we scraped our way through the dirt and just about everyone found a decent example of a pure quartz crystal to take back with them.

We made it back to camp by about 1445 for a bit of cabin time and then some outdoor recreation. It was a good time for the teachers to catch a nap or a quick shower.

More Quotes

“Dude! You got a bony butt!”

A girl fell in a creek and the teacher asked,”What’s it smell like?

Girl: “Butt!”

Boy: “How would you know?”

Girl: “I live with my brother.”

Skit Night

Thursday evening, the cabins put on 2-5 minute skits. Columbine’s was especially creative. They set up staged “photographs” of various high trails events. Two narrators bantered on animatedly before lowering a white sheet that revealed each “photograph” that was posed by the other cabin members. Very cool.

Another good one was the massive ninja fight staged by the kids and counselors of Cedar Lodge. After nearly everyone was killed, two remaining ninjas entered into a protracted sword duel (with plastic light sabers) featuring slow motion kung fu action, until: “Hey, look! It’s Justin Bieber!”, at which time the combatants paused to gaze in wonder and amazement as the young heart throb sauntered about the stage looking good. Then the fight resumed until the fighters’ mutual vanquishing.

To bed and get ready to go tomorrow!

Afternoon Sunshine on Pikes Peak

Everyone talks about the weather, but can’t do anything about it. Just as well, since the weather so far has been excellent. Sure it’s cold, but most people agree that they would rather be cold than cold and wet, and there has been little sign of precipitation so far.

There was a rumor of overnight snow, but we awoke to a crystal clear sky with no snow on the ground. It would be hard to imagine a more perfect day for a Winter hike. We will all be going out on the first Discovery Group hikes in about half an hour.

Last night half the kids went to the Interbarn for hands-on nature activities, and the other half went to a hoe down at Heisler Hall. The groups switch activities tonight.

Funny Quotes

Pretty lichen

Some memorable quotes heard or overheard:

“Do we have to dance with girls?”

“Do we have to dance with boys?”

“I’m not going to have enough volume in my hair today.”

“I can’t believe Ms Laycock can do these hikes!”

“My long term goal is to be a member of management.”

“I think this crystal will help my sore leg.”

“I forgot my hair spray.”

“I don’t wear long underwear ’cause it makes me look fat.”

“Are these cuffins or mookies?”

“Pigs don’t fly!”

Winter Hiking!

Listen up!

(Back from the hikes) Technically it may not be Winter, but weatherwise it sure is up here in the Rockies. On Tuesday afternoon we had a few kids that did not understand how to dress for cold weather (I sent one kid back to change because he thought he was going to wear shorts on the hike!). Ankle socks and no gloves were the main problems. They learn quick though, and everyone was properly layered up and prepared for the cold on Wednesday morning.

Looking Ahead to Thursday

Tomorrow it is supposed to get rather cold (high of around 30°F) and there is some discussion about cutting the planned all-day Discovery Group outings short (but we are still setting out in the morning!). Under those conditions, most kids will not mind a little extra cabin time.

Wanna' buy some quartz?

“People’s lives are like trees, always growing and slowly changing.”

“Everything that surrounds me, is everything I wish for.”

“Though words were invented to describe, words cannot describe everything. Don’t feel bad, if you just can’t  explain it.”

“As I sit up here on this mountain, I see the world in a different way. When I sit here, I don’t see cities and cars, I see and feel peace.”

“Many places can be explored, you just have to look for all the treasures along the way.”

“When I came, I thought, a week without electronics, I might not make it. Now in my special spot it reminds me that the outside is just as good as the inside.”

“The most important thing, is to have fun.”

“My spot makes me feel like nothing else exists.”

“The aspens, with no leaves, look like skeletons dancing.”

“Right as this very moment I can tell that High Trails is going to be awesome.”

“Even though it is cold out, nature’s still awesome. I love all of the mountains, sunsets and trees. Everything is beautiful.”

“To say what you are going to do means nothing, doing it means evrything.”

“Climbing the mountain was pretty hard, but when we finally reached the top and saw the unbelievable view, it was all worth it.”

“I feel freezing cold on the outside, but warm and happy on the inside. I feel like I accomplished something.”

“Pike’s Peak is right in front of me, with clouds surrounding it. This is all a person can ask for.”

“It is so quiet, only the whistles of pines. Looking in front of me I see the big mountain Pike’s Peak. Looking down I see a big valley. Right now I see something that pioneers saw. I wonder how long it will be here.”

“The mountain heights shall clear the mind as well as refresh it.”

It’s a different day. The snowy peaks of the Sangre de Cristo’s are clearly visible to the West. To the East I only see the tops of two tall spruce trees, just visible over a boulder.

I take off my coat to radiate away the heat that I generated during the climb up. Now I have to put it back on to defend against the wind.

I didn’t have to come back here. My legs hurt on the way up. “One step, then another,” I told myself. I could have turned around. No one would have known. How often would I get to do this again? With reasonable luck, maybe 5, 10, 20, 30 more times? With bad luck, never. “Better keep going,” I told myself.

SUDDENLY, the sun has had its affect. Snow and ice fall from the nearby branches with crackles and tinkles. Voices burble up from the trail below. A few sniffles emanate from hidden spots among the rocks. Other than that, it’s just a few hardy birds. The wind. Me.