I've been extraordinarily lucky: Traveling to more than 50 countries, guiding for 10 years in Alaska and Oregon, living in Central Asia and experiencing quite a bit along the way. All while managing to develop a few good stories. In between teaching, a 2 year old and a wife in grad school - I also started a new direction by starting a career in art. Here is art, travels and other aspects of my life.

Everest panorama

Everest panorama

Friday, February 15, 2008

9th grade winter trip

Lucky for me, part of Riverstone's mission is outdoor education. With the huge snow year we had it appeared our winter camping trip would never go through. Each time we planned it another giant storm would come through and cause avalanches on the road to the pass. We brought the trip a little closer to home and just headed up to Bogus Basin - knowing the road was always open. Even being closer to town, once we stepped out of the parking lot, it might as well been the backcountry. 

We took the entire 9th grade, dividing them into two groups. We were in pretty close proximity but they acted as separate entities. I worked with Tarah Elam and we had a great group of 9th graders. They worked hard and were committed to making some pretty mean quinzies / snow caves. 


Their mission: Pile the largest pile of snow possible. Get 6 or 7 motivated 9th graders and it only takes a couple of hours to make a monster pile. 
Relaxing before making dinner. In the newly constructed living room and kitchen. 
Tarah makin' dinner in the kitchen. The most important construction is a well designed kitchen. 
The "Monster Snow Cave" - Enough room for 9 Ninth graders. Pretty impressive, considering there were 4 other snow caves.