Leave No Trace Skits

Quote for February 28, 2006

“Despite perceived feelings of superiority over nature, humanity remains fully and totally dependent on the natural world. We need the bounty of nature to survive on this planet. We need the fresh air to breathe, the clean water to drink, the fertile soil to provide our sustenance.” – Daniel Sitarz

Quote for February 27, 2006

“We never know how the impact of our actions may ripple out. We never know who may be touched. That’s one more reason why, although the fruits of our labors can’t always be seen, they matter immensely.” – Paul Loeb

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

During class on Thursday, we had a visit from Halsted Morris with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. We learned a lot about avalache ingredients, slope and terrain, route selection, rescue techniques, and we even got to play with avalanche beacons! If you missed class, visit the CAIC website and read up on avalanches because there will be several avalanche questions on our final exam!

Web Discussion for February 24, 2006

I would like everyone to take a moment to reflect on our Action Project focusing on air pollution and alternative fuel. In general, how do you think our Action Project is going so far? Specifically, what is going well in terms of positive actions, behaviors, successes, etc. that you have observed? Specifically, what is not going well in terms of negative actions, behaviors, set backs, etc. that you have observed? What changes in your actions or in your behaviors can you make to help improve your experience and to be more efficient to help organize our project before the end of the quarter?

Quote for February 24, 2006

“Use joy as your life compass. When you’re feeling out of joy – stop. You are probably off track. The signals of pain say you’re violating one of the elemental forces. You’re existing, not creating; you’re stuck in the past, not being pulled by your purpose; you’re disconnecting, not openly connecting. Our feelings are nature’s compelling way of showing us a path into the uncharted domain of our future destiny.” – George Land and Beth Jarman

Quote for February 23, 2006

“Teamwork - A few harmless flakes working together can unleash an avalanche of destruction.” - Larry Kersten

Quote for February 21, 2006

Expedition Behavior is something that can make or break a course. It can bring people together as a group and as a team, or it can completely tear it apart. According to Harvey (1999), NOLS Instructor and author, EB addresses basic human needs: The most basic human needs [are]…food, water, shelter, and feeling of security…After the basic needs of the human organism are met, good expedition behavior springs from all the most decent of human traits: respectfulness, flexibility, tolerance of others, courtesy, politeness, direct communication, self awareness, open-heartedness, teamwork, sharing, and selflessness (p. 166-167).

Trip Log (TLOG) for February 18 - 19, 2006

The Community Adventure Program Trip Log (TLOG) is a tool that we use to document each trip. Students can use this as a reference and template for coordinating their own trips outside of this class and future CAP classes will use this information as a reference for future trips. This is also a reflective tool for students to document what worked and what did not work for future outings.

PRE-TRIP INFORMATION

Basic Trip Information:

• Trip name: Devil’s Thumb
• Dates: February 18 – 19, 2006
• Location: Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Tabernash, Colorado.
• Name of students on the trip: Rachel Bigos, Brant Clark, Kellen Cooper-Sansone, Griffin DeHoog, Samantha Emmitt, Brian Fauver, Sam Keilly, John Quinn, Cass Robertson, Astrea Strawn
• Name of adults on the trip: Ford Church, Tiffany Fourment
• Transportation used: Private vehicles
• Estimated round trip transportation mileage: 150 miles

Land Management and Permitting:

• Land agencies involved and contact information: Binning Family Foundation, Mike Goeglein, Program Director, (720) 506-0100
• Specific maps used: Winter Park/Tabernash
• Permit information: N/A because we obtained permission from the Binning Family Foundation to use the land.
• Land management rules and regulations: Practice Minimum Impact camping.

Emergency Information:

• Identify students and adults with medical training and indicate current level of training: Ford Church – Current Wilderness First Responder. Tiffany Fourment – First Aid.
• Evacuation options: Call 911, dispatch ambulance or search and rescue, hike/evacuate.
• Contact information for nearest hospital: Granby Medical Center/Centura Health, 24 hour emergency care, 970.887.2117. Boulder Community Hospital, Boulder, CO, 303.440.2273. Lutheran Hospital, 8300 West 38th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033, 303.425.4500.
• Contact information for nearest Sheriff’s office: Grand County Sheriff’s Department/Grand County Search & Rescue, 970.725.3343

• List of emergency contacts in order of priority:

1. 911 for emergencies
2. Rona Wilensky:
3. Diana McKnight:
4. Grand County Sheriff’s Department: 970.725.3343

Extended Field Trip Forms:

• Extended Field Trip / Activity Trip Request Form: Completed
• Consent for Excursion or Extended Trip & Release Waiver and Indemnification: Completed
• Medical Emergency Form: Completed
• Private Vehicle / Driver Form (if applicable): Completed
• Printed Roster / List of Each Student Attending Event: See above
• Complete detailed itinerary of trip: See attached itinerary
• Copies of all written correspondence to parents: See attached
• List of emergency information and contact phone numbers: See above
• List of sponsors / supervisors: See above
• Copies of any additional insurance policies / Coverage’s (Rental Car Insurance): N/A
• Proof of travel insurance on each participant: N/A
• Written explanation of educational purpose of the trip: See attached itinerary.

POST-TRIP INFORMATION

Specific Trip Information:

• Describe weather:  Fair, some sun and a few clouds and a bit of wind, highs in the low 20’s, lows in the single digits.
• Describe trail conditions: Packed snow
• Total miles hiked: about .2 to the Yurt at Devil’s Thumb
• Identify major water sources: Melted snow
• Describe group dynamics: The group as a whole worked well together. When Building snow shelters the students worked efficiently and happily. There were a few occasions where some students rubbed shoulders.

Provide outline of daily activities:

• Saturday: We hiked in around 10am; around 10:30-11ish we reached the site; we dropped packs, had a bit of lunch and then paused to “drop into our surroundings”; then we finished lunch and got to work on our quinzhees; then we stopped to collect wood for the fire; when dinner was finished we dug out quinzhees; then chilled in the yurt. Temperatures were a little low that night. Around 11pm or so students drifted of to bed in their quinzhees.
• Sunday: We were all up by 8:30, everyone  went straight to the yurt to warm up and dry cloths, then some people made breakfast while others pulled their stuff together and began to pack, then people switched.

Describe outdoor and environmental issues observed: Devil’s Thumb had done some clearing for fire mitigation and had burned slash piles. They could have chipped the wood instead of burning it by sending the wood chips to a biofuel center.

Food:

• Describe breakfast food and how many meals were planned for: there was only one breakfast, some people ate: granola and yogurt, or chocolate chip cookies, grits.
• Describe lunch food and how many meals ere planned for: there were two lunches, some people brought: Cheese and bread w/ tuna, or bagels, or sandwiches from home, or bars, or chocolate chip cookies.
• Describe dinner food and how many meals were planned for: there was one dinner, some people ate: Beans and rice, mac and cheese, miso soup and rice, quesadilla’s, and chocolate chip cookies.

Financial Information:

• Total transportation rental costs: None, we used private vehicles
• Total transportation gas costs: None, we used private vehicles
• Total food expenses for each group: Approximately $20 per person
• Total gear rental expenses for each group: Students who had to rent gear spent an average of $20 for the weekend
• Total Expenses for Trip: None
• Total Contributed by Students: Students were responsible for food and equipment rental fees
• Total Contributed by School: The school reimbursed Ford for mileage. The school also paid Tiffany $100 as co-instructor for the weekend.
• Total Contributed by Other Sources: None

Medical/Evacuation Information:
Describe any medical issues, first aid administered, evacuations, and provide detailed information about each incident:  None.

Next Time Notes:
Describe anything you would change if you did this same trip again and document any lessons learned:

• Come packed and ready to go
• Bring more/better food
• Don’t get wet with snow
• Bring more layers
• Drink more water
• Pitch in and help others more

Quote for February 16, 2006

“People’s perceptions of comfort often change as they spend more and more time out camping. The cold becomes less cold, the hot less hot, and the mosquitoes less annoying. It is not a matter of being tough and taking it. Rather it seems as though reality gradually redefines itself until you are comfortable with less.” – Thomas Elpel.

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