Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Day 10: Going to Town!
Today we spent the day in town with Mike, Allison, and Tom. We got into town around noon and headed for the local fried fish joint, where we feasted on salmon and coffee milkshakes. Then it was off to the showers and the pool where we dove, swam and played basketball. We had a few hours of downtime where folks could wander around town, check e-mail and such, and buy souvenirs. Dinner was at the local Mexican joint, and we loaded up on numerous south of the border treats. As I write this, we are heading back to camp and out of touch for a few days.
Day 9: Geoblock Olympics
Today we slept in a bit, finally getting underway and to the worksite by 11 a.m. I thought that I had heard Andy and Gage on the trail around 8 o’clock, and my suspicions were confirmed when we got to the work site and saw him and Greg Sykes, a Coast Guard drop-master whom we had met the week before, stacking tools by the trailer. They had just finishing up laying some geoblock to connect the portion of the trail we had worked on with the portion that led to the parking lot. That had effectively completed the first leg of the trail which allowed us to now begin work on the second portion.
We hiked to the second drop site, and the majority of the students and staff began to assemble the geoblock there into the various configurations needed on the trail. Ethan, Justin, and Michael Shyer went ahead to help with grubbing and fastening geoblock to the trail. The rest of us quickly settled into a groove, rapidly assembling geoblock into larger and larger mats at a faster and faster pace. I was particularly impressed with the speed and accuracy of Haley and Emily, both of whom could assemble and fasten geoblock at twice the rate of what I could at any given time.
By lunchtime the drizzle and overcast had given way to increasingly clearer skies, and we were soon working in our shirtsleeves. It was nice to feel some heat and warmth after so much rain and chill.
Pretty soon it was time for Haley, Emily and me to depart and prepare some dinner for the rest of the team. After much debate, we finally decided to make some pasta with a meat and veggie sauce. Turns out that it was a hit!
That night, during our nightly ritual of discussing out favorite events of the day, we found out that Emily, Andy, and Allison had been holding out on us. During their paddle the night before they had seen a couple of sea otters and A HUMPBACK WHALE!!!! It swam within 50 feet of them, and treated them to some up close views of it’s blowhole, and it’s tail as it dove beneath the surface.
Needless to say, everyone wanted to paddle that night, and it was a veritable flotilla that set off an hour later. We paddled to the head of Anton Larson Bay after circumnavigating Larsen Island, which took us about an hour and a half. The water was calm and the conditions allowed for great views of the surrounding snow capped mountains. We saw numerous flocks of birds as we neared Puffin Island, and happened to catch a glorious view of the sun between two snow-capped island peaks.
We brought the kayaks to the take out and then Andy took us back in the skiff to camp. The kids stopped into the food hut to make hot chocolate and hang out, and then it was off to bed. Tomorrow we will be heading into town for a much needed day off and some showers.
We hiked to the second drop site, and the majority of the students and staff began to assemble the geoblock there into the various configurations needed on the trail. Ethan, Justin, and Michael Shyer went ahead to help with grubbing and fastening geoblock to the trail. The rest of us quickly settled into a groove, rapidly assembling geoblock into larger and larger mats at a faster and faster pace. I was particularly impressed with the speed and accuracy of Haley and Emily, both of whom could assemble and fasten geoblock at twice the rate of what I could at any given time.
By lunchtime the drizzle and overcast had given way to increasingly clearer skies, and we were soon working in our shirtsleeves. It was nice to feel some heat and warmth after so much rain and chill.
Pretty soon it was time for Haley, Emily and me to depart and prepare some dinner for the rest of the team. After much debate, we finally decided to make some pasta with a meat and veggie sauce. Turns out that it was a hit!
That night, during our nightly ritual of discussing out favorite events of the day, we found out that Emily, Andy, and Allison had been holding out on us. During their paddle the night before they had seen a couple of sea otters and A HUMPBACK WHALE!!!! It swam within 50 feet of them, and treated them to some up close views of it’s blowhole, and it’s tail as it dove beneath the surface.
Needless to say, everyone wanted to paddle that night, and it was a veritable flotilla that set off an hour later. We paddled to the head of Anton Larson Bay after circumnavigating Larsen Island, which took us about an hour and a half. The water was calm and the conditions allowed for great views of the surrounding snow capped mountains. We saw numerous flocks of birds as we neared Puffin Island, and happened to catch a glorious view of the sun between two snow-capped island peaks.
We brought the kayaks to the take out and then Andy took us back in the skiff to camp. The kids stopped into the food hut to make hot chocolate and hang out, and then it was off to bed. Tomorrow we will be heading into town for a much needed day off and some showers.
Day 8 – Hitting Our Geoblock Stride
Today we arose somewhat more refreshed, as there had been no rain last night, and the temperature was a bit higher. We left camp around 10:30 and proceeded back to our worksite. Haley, Jasmine, Emily, and Melanie assembled geoblock at drop site 1. Justin, Michael Shyer, and Shane stayed up at the head of the trail working with Tom and Mike, grubbing trail where needed, and placing geoblock onto the cleared turf.
The work was hard but satisfying, and we took periodic breaks to enjoy the patches of sunlight that broke through the clouds. Our work was also punctuated by some stops to watch eagles fly by and to talk to several hikers and ATV riders passing through the trail. After lunch, the day seemed to fly by, and before we knew it, another workday had drawn to a close.
The dinner crew had prepared a pasta, veggie and hash-brown casserole for us by the time we returned to camp. We filled ourselves up, and once again split off to do our own thing, some opting to play cards, while others went kayaking with Andy, or went off to bed. The light rain beat a quiet tattoo on the roofs of the tent lulling us to sleep for yet another night of well-deserved rest.
The work was hard but satisfying, and we took periodic breaks to enjoy the patches of sunlight that broke through the clouds. Our work was also punctuated by some stops to watch eagles fly by and to talk to several hikers and ATV riders passing through the trail. After lunch, the day seemed to fly by, and before we knew it, another workday had drawn to a close.
The dinner crew had prepared a pasta, veggie and hash-brown casserole for us by the time we returned to camp. We filled ourselves up, and once again split off to do our own thing, some opting to play cards, while others went kayaking with Andy, or went off to bed. The light rain beat a quiet tattoo on the roofs of the tent lulling us to sleep for yet another night of well-deserved rest.
Day 7: Geoblock University
Today dawned wet and cold. Most of us had slept somewhat poorly on account of the rain and the lower temperatures. The rain did not get through the tents, but condensation inside the tents had dampened most everything regardless. Spirits were still high despite the weather, and folks set off enthusiastically for the trail after breakfast.
At the trailhead, we met Andy and the tool trailer, and talked briefly about the day. We went over to see the geoblock stash, and learn how it was put together. Geoblock is a hard plastic grid that measures about two feet by four feet and can be attached to form larger sections of a road like surface. The trail we were building was comprised primarily of this material, as the trail was being constructed for four wheelers, like ATVs, which the locals use for transportation in lieu of cars. The trail we were going to construct was the primary link between the local villages on this side of the island and the remainder of the Kodiak community. With that in mind we listened to the instructions intently, as we were responsible for providing one of the only links for this community to the outside world.
Once instructions wrapped up, we split into various teams to help assemble, move and install the geoblock on the trail. The work quickly took on an assembly line like rhythm, and as we found our groove, the trail began to grow quickly. Before we knew it, we had already eaten lunch, had a water and snack break, and laid another 500 feet of geoblock. Happy, hungry, and tired, we stumbled our way back into camp and sat down to quickly feed ourselves.
After dinner, Ethan and Shane fetched a couple of wood pallets from the work site and built a bonfire for folks. People split up a bit after that, some going to the tents, some to kayak, some to hang in the weatherproof kitchen area, and some to walk the rocky beach during low tide.
With the daylight gradually fading at 11:30 p.m., folks quietly drifted off to bed in preparation for another busy day tomorrow.
At the trailhead, we met Andy and the tool trailer, and talked briefly about the day. We went over to see the geoblock stash, and learn how it was put together. Geoblock is a hard plastic grid that measures about two feet by four feet and can be attached to form larger sections of a road like surface. The trail we were building was comprised primarily of this material, as the trail was being constructed for four wheelers, like ATVs, which the locals use for transportation in lieu of cars. The trail we were going to construct was the primary link between the local villages on this side of the island and the remainder of the Kodiak community. With that in mind we listened to the instructions intently, as we were responsible for providing one of the only links for this community to the outside world.
Once instructions wrapped up, we split into various teams to help assemble, move and install the geoblock on the trail. The work quickly took on an assembly line like rhythm, and as we found our groove, the trail began to grow quickly. Before we knew it, we had already eaten lunch, had a water and snack break, and laid another 500 feet of geoblock. Happy, hungry, and tired, we stumbled our way back into camp and sat down to quickly feed ourselves.
After dinner, Ethan and Shane fetched a couple of wood pallets from the work site and built a bonfire for folks. People split up a bit after that, some going to the tents, some to kayak, some to hang in the weatherproof kitchen area, and some to walk the rocky beach during low tide.
With the daylight gradually fading at 11:30 p.m., folks quietly drifted off to bed in preparation for another busy day tomorrow.
Day 6: Into the Backcountry….
Today we prepared to head to Anton Larson Bay to work on the trail system that Island Trails Network has been building all spring. We spent all morning packing and cleaning up the Island C. By noon we had driven to Andy’s house to pick up laundry and make sure that the kids were outfitted with packs and sleeping pads. We ate a quick lunch there and drove 45 minutes northeast across the island to the head of Anton Larson Bay. The students and trail crew leaders hiked in with their packs for about 30 minutes to the base camp, while Shane, Melanie, Andy and mascot Gage took a skiff over with the group gear.
We unloaded the gear and then set about pitching the tents, which would serve as our homes for the week. After the tents were up, we took a quick tour of camp, and then had dinner. The constant rain did not make any of these tasks easier, but we persevered.
Eventually the rain tapered off, and we tried to light a fire down by the beach. Unfortunately, there was not enough dry wood around, so our fire was short lived. Around 9 p.m. Andy organized a group paddle in the sea-kayaks he had been storing on the beach. This was the highlight of the day for most of us. All of the students and Shane went off with Andy to circumnavigate Puffin Island out in the middle of Anton Larson Bay. After getting our gear, shoving off and getting a quick safety talk from Andy, we set out into the bay. There was a slight swell from the ocean that gently greeted us as we cleared the protected inlet where camp was pitched. The clouds had lifted enough for us to see about 4 miles out into the North Pacific. The edge of the bay is ringed with countless cliffs and innumerable birds that make their nests in the craggy stone. As we paddled past the small islands that dotted the bay, birds would spring from their nests or burrows in an effort to avoid us. In some cases that could cause them to pass almost in front of you, as was the case with a puffin that Shane inadvertently spooked. In addition to puffins, we also spotted cormorants (a type of diving bird), gulls, a full-grown bald eagle and an otter.
We headed back in a slight drizzle, our hearts lightened by our close encounters with nature. Upon hitting the beach folks promptly headed for their tents, exhausted yet happy. A wet day, but all in all a good one.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Day 5: Guardians of the Last Frontier
[Don't forget to check our photostream. We just uploaded a new batch of pictures. Find the link at the bottom of the Day 1 entry! This will be where any new pictures will get attached in the days to come.]
The day started with a surprise visit from Andy, who came by to make us his special banana pancakes for breakfast. After dining on both pancakes and Jon’s blueberry muffins, we were ready for our last day of trail building on Near Island.
We walked up to the gazebo, stretched, got our tools, and listed to Andy give us a brief on the day. Ethan, Shane and Melanie started on transporting gravel, while Justin and Jon spread the stone once it was brought up to the cleared section of trail. Emily, Haley and Michael grubbed trail, while Andy and Gage (our crew’s mascot) walked up and down the path helping out and directing operations when needed.
We made great progress, and by the end of the workday we were able to sit back and proudly gaze upon 150 feet of graveled path, and another 200 feet of freshly grubbed trail. Not bad for missing our three trail leaders, Mike, Tom, and Allison, who were taking a much-needed day off.
After congratulating ourselves on a job well done, we walked to the trail head and hopped into the van. Andy had secured a tour for us this afternoon at the Kodiak Island Coast Guard Station, the largest Coast Guard base in North America.
We managed to make it through security without raising too many eyebrows due to our scruffy appearance, and went to the Coast Guard Fisheries Training Center. At this school, Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel received training in how to properly board and inspect fishing vessels for the proper safety gear and to see if they were catching the correct numbers and species of fish.
We were able to see examples of over 28 different species of fish that make up the Alaska fishery. Included in the presentation was a description of factory trawlers. Trawlers are fishing vessels over 400 feet long, that catch, process, freeze, and package fish round the clock in the waters of the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. They haul massive nets called Otter trawls, which are as long as the main span of the George Washington Bridge, and whose opening can fit the entire Statue of Liberty.
The next stop was an entire room filled with the different types of safety gear that could or should be on board fishing vessels. We got to sit inside a life raft, and sample some of the emergency rations stored inside of it. They tasted like coconut flavored cardboard, but had enough calories in a square inch to meet the requirements of an adult for one whole day.
Our last stop was to the airlift wing, where we got to meet some of the pilots and rescue divers. The Coast Guard in Kodiak has to patrol and respond to emergencies in an area equivalent to the size of one half of the United States. They do this with only 5 fixed wing aircraft and 12 helicopters. Quite the feat.
We were able to walk around and through a C-130 Hercules, and a rescue helicopter, and meet the both the drop master of the C-130 and the rescue diver of the helicopter.
The students peppered the officers with questions about the gear, the machinery, their jobs, and life on the base. They managed to answer them all, and show us around and through all of the various parts of the aircraft at the same time.
We left with a new appreciation for the hard work that these men and women do everyday in order to keep the mariners of Alaska safe.
After Melanie tried to recreate the flight deck scene from “Top Gun”, we piled back into the van and headed off to the Island C for our cookout on deck.
Burgers, chicken legs, watermelon, and brownies made up the last dinner on board ship for the week. Quite the feast, and our hats go off to Mike, Allison, and Melanie for making a meal worthy of any summer BBQ.
Sadly, this is Ralph’s last night, and we celebrated by playing a marathon round of Rummy (which of course he won – again). Tomorrow brings new adventure as we will be preparing to head to Anton Larson Bay right after breakfast. So we sign off, and head to bed, dreaming of the challenges that await us in our new back country home.
As of this post we will be headed into the back country for a week, and probably will not be able to publish anything new for a week. There is a possibility that we may be able to come in mid-week for showers, and if that is the case we will publish then.
The day started with a surprise visit from Andy, who came by to make us his special banana pancakes for breakfast. After dining on both pancakes and Jon’s blueberry muffins, we were ready for our last day of trail building on Near Island.
We walked up to the gazebo, stretched, got our tools, and listed to Andy give us a brief on the day. Ethan, Shane and Melanie started on transporting gravel, while Justin and Jon spread the stone once it was brought up to the cleared section of trail. Emily, Haley and Michael grubbed trail, while Andy and Gage (our crew’s mascot) walked up and down the path helping out and directing operations when needed.
We made great progress, and by the end of the workday we were able to sit back and proudly gaze upon 150 feet of graveled path, and another 200 feet of freshly grubbed trail. Not bad for missing our three trail leaders, Mike, Tom, and Allison, who were taking a much-needed day off.
After congratulating ourselves on a job well done, we walked to the trail head and hopped into the van. Andy had secured a tour for us this afternoon at the Kodiak Island Coast Guard Station, the largest Coast Guard base in North America.
We managed to make it through security without raising too many eyebrows due to our scruffy appearance, and went to the Coast Guard Fisheries Training Center. At this school, Coast Guard officers and enlisted personnel received training in how to properly board and inspect fishing vessels for the proper safety gear and to see if they were catching the correct numbers and species of fish.
We were able to see examples of over 28 different species of fish that make up the Alaska fishery. Included in the presentation was a description of factory trawlers. Trawlers are fishing vessels over 400 feet long, that catch, process, freeze, and package fish round the clock in the waters of the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska. They haul massive nets called Otter trawls, which are as long as the main span of the George Washington Bridge, and whose opening can fit the entire Statue of Liberty.
The next stop was an entire room filled with the different types of safety gear that could or should be on board fishing vessels. We got to sit inside a life raft, and sample some of the emergency rations stored inside of it. They tasted like coconut flavored cardboard, but had enough calories in a square inch to meet the requirements of an adult for one whole day.
Our last stop was to the airlift wing, where we got to meet some of the pilots and rescue divers. The Coast Guard in Kodiak has to patrol and respond to emergencies in an area equivalent to the size of one half of the United States. They do this with only 5 fixed wing aircraft and 12 helicopters. Quite the feat.
We were able to walk around and through a C-130 Hercules, and a rescue helicopter, and meet the both the drop master of the C-130 and the rescue diver of the helicopter.
The students peppered the officers with questions about the gear, the machinery, their jobs, and life on the base. They managed to answer them all, and show us around and through all of the various parts of the aircraft at the same time.
We left with a new appreciation for the hard work that these men and women do everyday in order to keep the mariners of Alaska safe.
After Melanie tried to recreate the flight deck scene from “Top Gun”, we piled back into the van and headed off to the Island C for our cookout on deck.
Burgers, chicken legs, watermelon, and brownies made up the last dinner on board ship for the week. Quite the feast, and our hats go off to Mike, Allison, and Melanie for making a meal worthy of any summer BBQ.
Sadly, this is Ralph’s last night, and we celebrated by playing a marathon round of Rummy (which of course he won – again). Tomorrow brings new adventure as we will be preparing to head to Anton Larson Bay right after breakfast. So we sign off, and head to bed, dreaming of the challenges that await us in our new back country home.
As of this post we will be headed into the back country for a week, and probably will not be able to publish anything new for a week. There is a possibility that we may be able to come in mid-week for showers, and if that is the case we will publish then.
Day 4: “Our Trail”
Our wake up was an hour earlier this morning, and I’m pretty sure I was among the many that felt it. The oatmeal was hot, though, and the freshly baked bread that Emily and Jon made the night before was sliced and ready for lunch sandwiches.
We headed out around 9:30 and hiked to what has now become “our trail.” We have found a rhythm now, and the assembly lined formed quickly. We were soon working hard to clear and gravel another section—one which had a particularly beautiful overlook of the bay and the ocean beyond it. Seaplanes flew overhead every now and then, and the sun heated us up in the morning.
Jon was the “Leader of the Day” and he took it quite seriously. We had well placed snack breaks and he led a very fun and feel-good stretching session. In the afternoon, Jon realized that his peeps were feeling the hard work from the past two days. Sore backs abound, we knocked off around 3PM and headed to the “touch tank” at the Kodiak Fishery Research Center.
The touch tank, along with the giant cylindrical enclosed tank, was, in short, AWESOME. Salmon, Cod, and Halibut whipped around the tank. Starfish, sea cucumbers, huge crabs, and flounder inched along the bottom. The touch tank, however, was another matter entirely. A long, narrow, shallow tank lined the back wall. You could be holding a rose starfish in one hand and a sea urchin in the other while looking out at the snow capped mountains on the other side of the bay. Ahhh…Alaska.
Andy also introduced us to the aquarium’s resident Biologist who knew everything about octopi. He was quiet and humble, but full of fascinating information. One story that was particularly shocking was that if they put the 25-pound octopus in the fish tank with the giant fish and monstrous crabs, it would eat EVERYTHING in the tank within a few days (except the starfish and sea urchin)! Eventually he offered to bring out one of the baby octopi, Christina, he had in the back. We were astonished when he brought her out in an open bucket and let us hold her. She wrapped herself around Jasmine’s wrist and sucked her tentacles onto Hayley’s hand as well. We were completely enamored with her.
We left there wide-eyed in amazement and headed back to the boat for pizza and pasta made by Ethan, Emily, and one of the trip leaders—Mike. Rummy has become the card game of choice and it went late into the night. While Ethan won the night before, Ralph (the trip leaders’ father—also a teacher) took home the gold for Wednesday night. We were promised another early morning and long day of trail building, so everyone turned in by midnight.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Photo Update
As we get pictures taken and get more familiar with linking them to this site, we invite you to go back to earlier posts and look for the link to our photo albums on Flicker. Be sure to click on the link to Coumbia Prep's Photostream.
Day 3: Roots, Rocks, and Bears
This morning we were treated to a pancake breakfast courtesy of Ethan and Jonathan. Those two are quite the chefs. After stuffing ourselves to the limit with flapjacks, we packed up and hit the trail. This time we walked into the park via the main entrance, and up to a gazebo that the Kodiak Rotary Club had erected ten years ago. There we met Andy and the one-ton pile of gravel he had deposited at the trail head. The plan today was to work from two directions. One team would start from where we left off yesterday, continuing to carve a turn through the trees, roots and stones that comprised the lower third of the trail. The other team would start from the gazebo, grubbing through the more forgiving soil of that part of the trail, as well as cutting down trees and laying down gravel on the trail surface.
Justin and Jonathan got to play lumberjack, cutting down trees together by running a bow saw in tandem. Their personal record was cutting down a pine tree with the circumference of a fire hydrant in about 45 seconds. Watch out Paul Bunyan!
The rest of the gang helped to create back slope and lay gravel. Back slope refers to the “upper” part of the trail, usually the portion that trail crews cut into to help create the path. If there is not enough of a slope to it, then hikers will walk on the outer portion of the trail, and cause undue amounts of erosion.
Ethan, Justin, Jonathan, and a local high school student from Kodiak named JC, laid gravel with Andy. They used a wheelbarrow and shovel to load and transport the gravel, and the MacLeods to help rake the gravel into place and tamp it down. Allison and Mike, two of our trail crew leaders helped to coordinate and instruct our efforts. Each inch of the trail needs at least 4 inches of gravel covering it, so you can imagine how much gravel it will take to cover our 2 mile section!
Michael, Emily, and Haley were on grub patrol on the lower third of the trail with Shane, Ralph and Tom. Tom is the third member of the trail crew team, and the younger brother of Mike. Ralph is their father, who is visiting for the week in celebration of Father’s Day. Together they all worked their way through a particularly root infested portion of ground cover. The roots, trees and rocks put up a valiant fight, and we wrestled with them for the better part of the day. Finally we stopped after we had carved out another forty feet of trail.
The two teams met back at the gazebo and hiked out to the van. We rode down to the Kodiak Island National Refuge Visitor Center, where we watched one video on wildlife in Kodiak and another very informative video on Bear behavior and safety. We also toured around the center, trying out hats shaped like animals from Alaska, and prying Shane away from books on geology and earthquakes.
Finally it was back to the Island C for dinner, relaxation and some more zany songs about tortillas from Mike and Tom. Goodnight for tonight!!
Justin and Jonathan got to play lumberjack, cutting down trees together by running a bow saw in tandem. Their personal record was cutting down a pine tree with the circumference of a fire hydrant in about 45 seconds. Watch out Paul Bunyan!
The rest of the gang helped to create back slope and lay gravel. Back slope refers to the “upper” part of the trail, usually the portion that trail crews cut into to help create the path. If there is not enough of a slope to it, then hikers will walk on the outer portion of the trail, and cause undue amounts of erosion.
Ethan, Justin, Jonathan, and a local high school student from Kodiak named JC, laid gravel with Andy. They used a wheelbarrow and shovel to load and transport the gravel, and the MacLeods to help rake the gravel into place and tamp it down. Allison and Mike, two of our trail crew leaders helped to coordinate and instruct our efforts. Each inch of the trail needs at least 4 inches of gravel covering it, so you can imagine how much gravel it will take to cover our 2 mile section!
Michael, Emily, and Haley were on grub patrol on the lower third of the trail with Shane, Ralph and Tom. Tom is the third member of the trail crew team, and the younger brother of Mike. Ralph is their father, who is visiting for the week in celebration of Father’s Day. Together they all worked their way through a particularly root infested portion of ground cover. The roots, trees and rocks put up a valiant fight, and we wrestled with them for the better part of the day. Finally we stopped after we had carved out another forty feet of trail.
The two teams met back at the gazebo and hiked out to the van. We rode down to the Kodiak Island National Refuge Visitor Center, where we watched one video on wildlife in Kodiak and another very informative video on Bear behavior and safety. We also toured around the center, trying out hats shaped like animals from Alaska, and prying Shane away from books on geology and earthquakes.
Finally it was back to the Island C for dinner, relaxation and some more zany songs about tortillas from Mike and Tom. Goodnight for tonight!!
Day 2: Happy Summer Solstice! Our first day of work…
Outfitted with gloves and briefed about which tools do what, we grabbed an assortment of sharp MacLeods, Pulaskis, pick mattocks, machetes, bull saws, bow saws, rock bars, and pole saws and hiked to where the last trail crew left off a few weeks ago.
Three or four students were posted in an advance team up the trail, downing small trees and limbs as well as prying out large rocks and stumps in preparation for the rest of the team to do what’s called “grubbing.” This is done with a Pulaski, a tool that breaks up roots, rocks, and soil, making it easier to remove this material off the path of the trail. A Pulaski is best described as a tool that you would get if you crossed an axe with a hoe. The axe side breaks up the roots and soil, and the hoe side pulls the clumps of soil out of the way.
Students and staff wielding MacLeods follow the Pulaskis to smooth out the earth and pat it down making a flat wide surface called “the bench.” Hayley and Melanie were really into the MacLeods while Emily swung the pick mattock like a lumberjack. Jasmine and Justin teased each other all day while downing trees, and Ethan sawed and axed his way through a giant tree stump with unreal stamina. Jonathon’s tool of choice was the machete; he hacked through salmon berry bushes and other scrub with much satisfaction. Shane filled in wherever needed and tried to find a reason to use the Japanese pole saw. We took breaks at Ethan’s call—he was leader of the day—and ate our homemade trail mix and lunch sandwiches under the trees at the head of the trail.
The students and crew leaders were simply amazing to watch. We cleared approximately 270 feet of trail in 4 to 5 hours, which according to the returning interns, was quite the accomplishment. It was tiring work. Between trying to stand and swing tools on the uneven ground, uproot and cut down trees, move rocks, soil and brush, we were pretty tuckered out by the time 4:30 came around.
It was with a deep sense of satisfaction that we gathered our tools and personal gear and headed back to the Island C for dinner. We ended the day all feeling a bit sore and tired, but a bit closer to each other as a result of our labors together. All in all, a great way to spend the longest day of the year.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Day 1: It Begins
Quote of the day: “I woke up and the wolf was looking at me like he was wondering if he should give me back the blanket or eat me”
-Justin describing a tough night of dreaming
I haven’t had a dog in my life for a while.
-Shane
We kicked off the day with Andy’s two big skillets of eggs & potatoes and then set out on our first hike of the trip. The sun came out on cue, and we were told that we were incredibly lucky to see it. It beamed all day, in fact, so we are counting our blessings.
As we hiked up the slope deeper into the middle of Near Island, the forest grew tall and the electric green moss carpeted the ground thick and spongy. It wrapped around the trees and hung off its branches. The sunlight peeped through making cylinders of light that polka dotted the trail. Andy stopped us a few times to teach us the anatomy of trails and introduce us to the art of trail building. We also walked the trail the CGPS students made last year. The picture with Jasmine smiling on a gravel-covered trail marks the proud moment.
We returned to the boat to meet Tom, Mike, and Allison—the rest of Andy’s crew. Good-natured, enthusiastic, and fun, we were immediately drawn to them. We jumped in the van and headed into town for lunch.
Andy, forever thinking of providing the best experience, suggested a drive up to the wind turbines at Pillar Mountain. We could see all of Kodiak from there. Some of the mountains still had patches of snow, but most of them were a lush green. We hiked to the far side of the peak to look down on town and The Island C—our temporary home.
In the late afternoon, we went to Andy’s house to get these very cool boots called “Xtra Tufs.” Alaskans take great pride in these things, so I suppose we’ll learn why soon enough. We then took a short hike to a black gravel beach for a little R&R. The most popular activity was rock skipping. The beach was full of round, slender rocks, and it was clear that Mike and Tom had put some time into perfecting their tosses.
To our disbelief, it was already time to head back to the Island C for dinner. Mike, Tom, and Alison teamed up to make us freshly baked cheese bread, pasta with a meat and vegetable tomato sauce, and spinach casserole. We were all able to fit around the long table in the main salon, and we ate to our heart’s content. Shane read a fitting passage from Jack London’s In a Far Country about pulling away from the “comforts of civilization” and embracing “unselfishness, forbearance, and tolerance,” in hope of thereby finding “true camaraderie.” We also shared our favorite part of the day. Hiking on the trail they made last year topped the seniors’ list, while Hayley loved coming out of the forest on top Near Island to see that first spectacular view. Jonathon told the story of reaching new heights on the buoy swing outside of Andy’s house while Emily remembered our rock skipping session. Michael loved looking up at the wind turbines, and I just can’t get over that electric green moss! Shane told a funny story of bonding with Andy’s dog, Gauge.
So now it’s 10:30 and it is still perfectly light out. I’m signing off to heat up some water for a makeshift shower of sorts, and then I’m heading to bed. The boys are playing cards and the girls are reading and chatting. It’s a good vibe.
-Justin describing a tough night of dreaming
I haven’t had a dog in my life for a while.
-Shane
We kicked off the day with Andy’s two big skillets of eggs & potatoes and then set out on our first hike of the trip. The sun came out on cue, and we were told that we were incredibly lucky to see it. It beamed all day, in fact, so we are counting our blessings.
As we hiked up the slope deeper into the middle of Near Island, the forest grew tall and the electric green moss carpeted the ground thick and spongy. It wrapped around the trees and hung off its branches. The sunlight peeped through making cylinders of light that polka dotted the trail. Andy stopped us a few times to teach us the anatomy of trails and introduce us to the art of trail building. We also walked the trail the CGPS students made last year. The picture with Jasmine smiling on a gravel-covered trail marks the proud moment.
We returned to the boat to meet Tom, Mike, and Allison—the rest of Andy’s crew. Good-natured, enthusiastic, and fun, we were immediately drawn to them. We jumped in the van and headed into town for lunch.
Andy, forever thinking of providing the best experience, suggested a drive up to the wind turbines at Pillar Mountain. We could see all of Kodiak from there. Some of the mountains still had patches of snow, but most of them were a lush green. We hiked to the far side of the peak to look down on town and The Island C—our temporary home.
In the late afternoon, we went to Andy’s house to get these very cool boots called “Xtra Tufs.” Alaskans take great pride in these things, so I suppose we’ll learn why soon enough. We then took a short hike to a black gravel beach for a little R&R. The most popular activity was rock skipping. The beach was full of round, slender rocks, and it was clear that Mike and Tom had put some time into perfecting their tosses.
To our disbelief, it was already time to head back to the Island C for dinner. Mike, Tom, and Alison teamed up to make us freshly baked cheese bread, pasta with a meat and vegetable tomato sauce, and spinach casserole. We were all able to fit around the long table in the main salon, and we ate to our heart’s content. Shane read a fitting passage from Jack London’s In a Far Country about pulling away from the “comforts of civilization” and embracing “unselfishness, forbearance, and tolerance,” in hope of thereby finding “true camaraderie.” We also shared our favorite part of the day. Hiking on the trail they made last year topped the seniors’ list, while Hayley loved coming out of the forest on top Near Island to see that first spectacular view. Jonathon told the story of reaching new heights on the buoy swing outside of Andy’s house while Emily remembered our rock skipping session. Michael loved looking up at the wind turbines, and I just can’t get over that electric green moss! Shane told a funny story of bonding with Andy’s dog, Gauge.
So now it’s 10:30 and it is still perfectly light out. I’m signing off to heat up some water for a makeshift shower of sorts, and then I’m heading to bed. The boys are playing cards and the girls are reading and chatting. It’s a good vibe.
“Welcome to Alaska”
As if from a foggy dream I heard the 5 words I’d been anticipating all night: “It’s time to get up”. Ms.Clore and I groggily stumbled around our apartment, packing a few last minute items and getting ready to say goodbye to our little home for the next 4 weeks. Before we knew it, the car service had pulled up outside the door and it was time to go.
We met the students and parents at LaGuardia around 5 am. The line for American Airlines was already filling up and moving quickly. Our students were already in line, bags in tow, the excitement all over the faces. Pushing into the line behind our students, we quickly took stock of what was turning into a fast-paced situation and secured our boarding passes. After quickly going through security we got some breakfast and headed off to the gate. Everyone was in high spirits despite not having slept much the night before.
Cramming onto the flight, we mostly slept our way to Chicago. Landing at O’Hare around 9:30 am, we found out our connecting flight was delayed for an hour. We spent the extra time chasing down a missing wallet and scaring up some lunch before we finally boarded our connection to Anchorage. Six more hours of being crammed and pinched in steerage ensued before we landed in Anchorage. Getting our luggage, we realized that Justin’s sleeping bag, which had been tied to his backpack, was now missing. We filed a lost bag form, and then we were off to security check in again. After our crew was stopped no fewer than 3 times for liquid violations (and realizing we had lost some film) we finally got through the overzealous TSA agents and off to our first meal together.
We stuffed ourselves with nachos, buffalo wings and French fries, before we checked in with our commuter flight to Kodiak Island. We could finally clearly see the landscape through the airport windows. We could faintly see snow covered mountains through the haze, and a green mat of coniferous trees carpeting the landscape. Our twin prop commuter flight was finally called, and we were loaded onto the plane. I think that we overwhelmed the usual commuters with our boisterousness and excitement. Glimpses of the wild, rough landscape could be seen through the snatches of the clouds below, and our anticipation grew.
Finally, we touched down in Kodiak Alaska, in a mist of clouds and rain. The air that swept over us as we deplaned smelled wild, salty, and fresh. We looked around us in wonder, at the mountains rising out of the clouds, and the small village covered in mist. Inside the terminal we met Andy, the executive director of Island Trails Association, a tall, lean muscular fellow, with hands like dinner plates and a grip like a vise. All smiles, he helped us get loaded into the van, and took us on a windshield tour of Kodiak. The town was small, and mostly located on the waterfront, with what seemed to be two fishing boats for every one person. We made our way to the city dock where the M/V Island C, our home for the next week, was tied up.
After a quick tour of the ship, we settled in, and got a quick safety and life aboard ship briefing. Daylight was still streaming through the windows at 10 pm as we wound down the night with a game of Uno. Finally we drifted off to bed, looking forward to the day ahead.
As if from a foggy dream I heard the 5 words I’d been anticipating all night: “It’s time to get up”. Ms.Clore and I groggily stumbled around our apartment, packing a few last minute items and getting ready to say goodbye to our little home for the next 4 weeks. Before we knew it, the car service had pulled up outside the door and it was time to go.
We met the students and parents at LaGuardia around 5 am. The line for American Airlines was already filling up and moving quickly. Our students were already in line, bags in tow, the excitement all over the faces. Pushing into the line behind our students, we quickly took stock of what was turning into a fast-paced situation and secured our boarding passes. After quickly going through security we got some breakfast and headed off to the gate. Everyone was in high spirits despite not having slept much the night before.
Cramming onto the flight, we mostly slept our way to Chicago. Landing at O’Hare around 9:30 am, we found out our connecting flight was delayed for an hour. We spent the extra time chasing down a missing wallet and scaring up some lunch before we finally boarded our connection to Anchorage. Six more hours of being crammed and pinched in steerage ensued before we landed in Anchorage. Getting our luggage, we realized that Justin’s sleeping bag, which had been tied to his backpack, was now missing. We filed a lost bag form, and then we were off to security check in again. After our crew was stopped no fewer than 3 times for liquid violations (and realizing we had lost some film) we finally got through the overzealous TSA agents and off to our first meal together.
We stuffed ourselves with nachos, buffalo wings and French fries, before we checked in with our commuter flight to Kodiak Island. We could finally clearly see the landscape through the airport windows. We could faintly see snow covered mountains through the haze, and a green mat of coniferous trees carpeting the landscape. Our twin prop commuter flight was finally called, and we were loaded onto the plane. I think that we overwhelmed the usual commuters with our boisterousness and excitement. Glimpses of the wild, rough landscape could be seen through the snatches of the clouds below, and our anticipation grew.
Finally, we touched down in Kodiak Alaska, in a mist of clouds and rain. The air that swept over us as we deplaned smelled wild, salty, and fresh. We looked around us in wonder, at the mountains rising out of the clouds, and the small village covered in mist. Inside the terminal we met Andy, the executive director of Island Trails Association, a tall, lean muscular fellow, with hands like dinner plates and a grip like a vise. All smiles, he helped us get loaded into the van, and took us on a windshield tour of Kodiak. The town was small, and mostly located on the waterfront, with what seemed to be two fishing boats for every one person. We made our way to the city dock where the M/V Island C, our home for the next week, was tied up.
After a quick tour of the ship, we settled in, and got a quick safety and life aboard ship briefing. Daylight was still streaming through the windows at 10 pm as we wound down the night with a game of Uno. Finally we drifted off to bed, looking forward to the day ahead.
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Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Welcome
Over the next few weeks, students and faculty of the Columbia Prep community will be traveling to Kodiak Island, Alaska to engage in approximately 3 weeks of community service centered around trail building and marine conservation. This blog will serve as a record of our adventure. Here you will meet all of the participants, hear their stories, and see pictures and video to prove them! In just a few short days we will be leaving New York, and starting our journey. We are SO excited to begin, and glad we can bring you with us virtually.
Check this link often, as we will be uploading our daily posts whenever we have internet access, which will be every few days. Thanks for all of your support, and we look forward to sharing our adventure with you all.
Check this link often, as we will be uploading our daily posts whenever we have internet access, which will be every few days. Thanks for all of your support, and we look forward to sharing our adventure with you all.
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