Sketch excerpt from Darin, Expedition I

Journal excerpt from Noon, Expedition II

Until the Light Touches Dawn

Only time can heal wounds
For hearts shattered and ruined.
Though tears and swollen eyes can ease the pain
The misery and despair remains.
When only night exists
And when visions blur in mist
One can only think of time
To feel confusion of one’s mind.
With hatred to condemn
One must face fear and revenge
But with love to cherish
True contentment will never perish
When one has a future to pursue
Then will one understand what is true.
Until the light touches dawn
There is still time to move on.

Journal excerpt from Sonady, Expedition II

Should this place be a life for me
When all my sense just comes to see
A picture, and image of a scenery
Where there’s no time to think of ol’ memories
A quiet place, for a quiet nite.
No sounds of fight, and no sound of fright.
A place where I belong
And peacefully sleep
In the minds whistling songs,
Of earth’s natural peak.

Tell me, is this a place that I should leave
Where all good memories just comes to me
Tell me, why it’s so peaceful, than life at home
It seems that all my memories, has been left alone
Is it home, is this life
Is there time that is needed to sacrifice
For a place of peace,
Where I can face in peace

Sketch from Sokkhom, Expedition 2

Journal entry from Sara, Expedition III

Being out here has been a hard challenge to overcome. At the beginning of the trip I was scared, lonely and tired. However, as we hiked in to the Merced Grove I was looking around. Something that really catched my attention were the beautiful trees. They stand still and straight like they weren't afraid of anything. I admire the trees because they carry so much snow in their arms. In this trip I have overcome my fears, I have listened to my self and learned from my doubts. Wilderness is just an amazing thing, wilderness is like the key to a human's heart. It opens a path to the real person that exists in your body. When I am out here backpacking, I learn to care, share and trust others. I feel very independent and responsible.

Journal entry from Efren, Expedition III

There is ice in my boots and boy is it cold
so quiet the scene and so white is the snow
the deer walk on by fearless of men
we've seen different groups in total about ten
wildlife leaves its tracks so clear in the snow
w're tired from walking that clearly can show
the smells and the sounds are different back here
the sounds of pure nature is all you can hear
it's kind of hard to walk and I've fallen several times
my guess before I leave is that I'll fall plenty more times
the trees are very big and so full of inspiration
to make it back to them that will take determination
snowshoes so wide and long
make me not stay up for very long

Collaborative effort from Expedition IV

Have You Ever...

A collaboration from Expedition IV

-been looking at the stars for a long time?

-woke up in the middle of the night to go with a friend to the restroom?

-drank water that looked like pee?

-ate out of the same bowl about four times without washing it?

-walked under the rain between beautiful views?

-heard Jessica laugh?

-woke up and can't find the zipper of your sleeping bag?

-had a hard time in trying to decide whether to feel good or bad because of something really important to you?

-eaten so much that after you stop you wish that food didn't even exist?

-seen so many stars at the same time?

-got confused with what you are wet with, rain or sweat?

-read under pouring rain?

-eaten peanut butter and jelly with cold tortillas?

-slept with a sharp rock bruising the side of you?

-had one of the best times of your life?

Gerardo, Expedition IV

Caminando Solo:

En este momento de caminar solo, entre los arboles, las piedras, a la orilla del rio, me pusa a reflexional sobre las cosas que tengo, sobre mi familia, sobre mis amigos, sobre todas estas cosas tan importantes que algunas veces no les damos importancia o que nos da agual lo que pasa con ellos. La familia, la escuela, los amigos, el comparter los momentos agradables con una persona especial es algo que hace sentirnos mejor con nosotros mismos. Durante este vecorido tambien venia observando todos estos paisajes que la naturaleza nos da, y que es muy dificil movar todas los dias. Bueno, esta experiencia es algo que dificilmente olvidara.

Ramon, Expedition IV

I am not a fan of goodbyes. I tried not to look back at the campsite but I did anyway. A part of me was left there. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the sounds of the non-stop rain and the river singing me to sleep every night. I am going to miss being there and the experience there. I’m trying no to look at this as a goodbye but as a first step. Even though I don’t belong in this place, I wish to come back and reunite myself with the sounds, smells and the part of myself that has been left behind.

Sketch by Claudia, Expedition IV

Sketch by Victoria, Expedition IV

Ricardo, Expedition V

Wilderness is:

Well, I think wilderness is a really big word but it’s a beautiful word too. I think wilderness is the life totally out of the civilization, is a place without fences, where the only borders are made of trees and river, where the air that you get is pure and where the water that you see is crystalline; is a place where you can hear birds, the sound of the waterfalls, the branches of the trees moving by the wind.

I think it’s where the sound of the nature combine one to each other and it forms a beautiful concert, and that concert is the one that you are hearing right now.

Hannah, Expedition V

Wilderness is:

Wilderness is unpredictable. One can’t control threes falling, rocks tumbling or water flooding. Animals are not caged, nor are they domesticated. They are as they have been for millions of years without human influence.

Nature is the reigning influence. The only tracks are natural tracks, such as: humans, bears, glaciers, raccoons, mountain lions, ants, termites, and even fires. The only sounds are: water, wind, animal sounds. However, there are many different combinations. There is water cascading down a mountain side, water slowly lapping in a pond, water sliding of drop by drop from a dewy leaf, and , of course, the water that your body gets rid of (which is also very natural). On to wind. There is the sound of wind in a tree, wind in a single blade of grass, and wind blowing across a meadow. Animal sounds can come from any number of species.

The point I’m making is that wilderness isn’t a place where technology is seen or heard. You can’t package it, or take it home, externally, with you.

Wilderness is a place that makes me shut up. I don’t what to talk I just want to look and hear and see. It’s really useful if other people understand that sometimes if you don’t have anything to say, it’s okay! Talking isn’t always needed, and I don’t mean in a sexual way, but in a very basic calm way.

Wilderness is someplace where you shouldn’t have to worry about mirrors, hair/makeup products, or how you smell. It’s a place to get away from what the media says you should be concerned with, and notice what’s really important.

Maria, Expedition V

You are an endless tune
Of beauty rhythm
You are the rock I can
Put myself against
You are the tree that calls
My attention
You hold among your you
My endless me
The numbers of leafs
You hold among are the
Number of thoughts that
Float through my mind.
You are the sky that keeps
Me alive, the water that
Helps me out.
To see you get hurt will
Destroy me because I can
Relate to you.

Ignacio, Expedition VI

Water runs into the rocks, softly
Whispering “Excuse me.”

Smoke is let off from the burning wood,
Slowly floating into the night.

Birds chirp a cheerful melody,
Saying how good ti is to live another day.

Water is life. Without it, everthing
Would die.

Fire is nature’s way of lighting
Our way.

Close your eyes, go to sleep…

Oliva, Expedition VI