This page is dedicated to the exceptional pieces of art work and journaling done by students in 2007-2008 WildLink expeditions. Their artistic interpretation of their personal wilderness experiences is evident in their quality of work in journaling and sketching activities.

amada, Expedition I | yesenia, Expedition II | jack, Expedition III | brian, Expedition IV
victor, Expedition V | maiko, Expedition VI | coday, Expedition VI | norris, Expedition VII
demitric, Expedition VII | felipe, Expedition I SEKI |

amada, Expedition I

Right now I feel like the river, slowly moving, but feeling every wave. I feel part of the earth where anything can happen. It's like you can't feel the rotating earth underneath but you trust nightfall will come. Blind belief.

I see an ant searching about for a purpose, just like us. A small thing in a big universe. I hear a bee buzzing around my ear, sending fright into my body. I hear the trees whispering to each other the secrets of Cloud's Rest. I feel tiny frightened muscles around my body, the cold touch of the air around my uncovered skin. I feel my heart becoming one with the earth. I feel the rock underneath me, hard yet welcoming. I smell the dirt that we don't fully appreciate. I taste the aftermath of pretzels in my mouth. I taste Yosemite. I feel wonder and love, like a bird that can soar to the highest mountain!

On cloud’s rest, 10,000 feet:

By far the most challenging and hardest thing/obstacle I have ever done in my life! Although at the very beginning I felt like quitting (5 minutes), I know somewhere deep down I had the will power to keep going. At the end of the day, I felt so proud of myself and through the aches and pains, it felt so rewarding.

From nature I have leaned that life may not always be beautiful but it’s a beautiful ride. The scenery is absolutely gorgeous regardless of the obstacles we face to reach that scenery. When you are at the point of giving up and don’t have it in you to push yourself, always remember that the end result is amazing. Appreciate your achievements, because there may be someone who is not as capable and yet feel as if they are at the top of the world.

Two weeks ago no where in my mind would I have been caught dead coming to this wonderful once in a lifetime trip. I was asked about a month ago and without thinking twice I automatically said NO! There is no way on earth I would miss two days of school because I saw this as a waste of time. One of the reasons for why I am here is because I have never taken any risks, hardcore challenges, or just simply adventures. I didn’t want to go the rest of my life thinking that the only stories I was going to tell my children & grandchildren are of me being a school nerd. Now, I have something to look forward to and I am extremely grateful we got the opportunity to do something like this. I knew I wanted to experience something like this but the chance was never there nor was it going to be.

jack, Expedition III

Our hike today was breathtaking! The view was so beautiful. The river was the best part of it. During the water breaks, I closed my eyes and the only thing I heard was the sound of the river and I felt like the stream was taking me, flowing through my body; taking me with it. That’s something to remember.

brian, Expedition IV

Wilderness to me is all that is truly left beautiful. Here in the wild you are a more basic kind of person. The “Real You” comes out of “hiding” and shows itself. The wild is a peaceful place that we must co-exist with and love…
The wilderness brings people together in Mind, Body, and Spirit. Nature is where we originate, where all life begins, and in the end our roots are the most valuable thing to me.

victor, Expedition V

Saving mother earth is why
We were put here on earth,
Even destroying a little grain of rice
She is surely to pay the price.
So protect everything that is hers
Like rivers, animals, and trees
To the bears and the bees
To the biggest things on earth
Like the great sequoias
To the littlest thing
Like a mouse
Our job is to protect her
Not later, not tomorrow,
But now.

maiko, Expedition VI

As I got on the shoulder of Half Dome, I could understand the meaning of the word “wilderness”. It is not a place where there is no feelings and emotions. It’s a place where you can feel the love of the mother earth and enjoy the happiness that Yosemite National Park wants us to get. Wilderness is a special place that everyone can feel free and safe and can take a step forward in their lives. Even animals, birds, reptiles, insects and plants are safe in the wilderness of Yosemite National Park. Wilderness is the heaven of every living thing and it’s a place where you can chat with your heart and your soul and know exactly who you are.

coday, Expedition VI

Wilderness [is] undiscovered beauty waiting to be found. Freedom. My own amazing escape. My home away from all the cars, buildings, and refineries. My release, my freedom. I feel like my problems, my sorrows have disappeared. It’s amazing, the intensity and the beauty overwhelms me. The soft breeze, the roaring of the waterfall, the chirping of birds-its all like magic.
Seeing all the waterfalls, the snow, and the water, makes me feel so connected to everything, like everyone here is my family and this is our home. I feel cleansed and awakened.

norris, Expedition VII

Well to me wilderness means to stay natural, where like there is no thing man made. The wilderness is also a nice place where you just have beautiful views and hear just wonderful sounds…You also feel things, like you’re ontop of the world and no one can hold you down. When you climb or hike that’s the time your free. You think about whatever you want and can just get away from home. It is so beautiful, I never thought that there could be so much beauty.

demitric, Expedition VII

Wilderness to me means no distractions, it is a sense of peace and all around calm. I believe that doing the thing that we did today is what every person needs in their life, stepping outside of your comfort zone and accomplishing something, that means more than I can say and is what we should all life for. The feeling that I have now is a nonstop smile from within…

felipe, Expedition I SEKI

Nature is a beautiful thing we have in this world. These three days I was able to change my life which feels so repetitive; I also started thinking why god really made this place. I know it wasn't fairies and made it just appear. I found out life isn't just in the cities. It is everywhere. I really wish I could just stay here by myself without nothing to worry about.