Memoirs Of A Mountain High Essay, Research Paper

It was the summer of 94

when I took a Wilderness Leadership Semester from the

Colorado Outward Bound School . Needless to say that it

was the most emotional, challenging, and rewarding

experience that I have had in all of my 19 ears of existence.

One week spent running the Upper Green River in

western\Colorado and northern Utah. Through The Gates

of the Ladour Canyon and Dinosaur National Monument,

we floated to end where the Green meets the Colorado

River just beyond Echo Canyon. The high desert canyons

echoed with rapids ovarious classes; Hells Half Mile and

Disaster Falls were the most memorable. Upon completion

we headed to climbing camp in Wyoming at a place called

Vedauwoo (va-da-vu).Two weeks of vigorous climbing

these granite towers left many scars both physically and

emotionally for this rock was indeed as sharp as knives.

Somehow no matter hard climbed; even if successful, this

rock always seemed to have the last say. By this time a

month had passed and I was very grateful to have that one

shower on the way to the Gore Range in Colorado. This

section of the course was by far the most demanding, the

mountaineering section. Stepping off the bus in Frisco,

Colorado we looked back knowing that we were not to

see civilization for at least a month. There were 8 men and

women in my group from all over the country. Each one

had a unique personality not knowing that we would all

become closer to each other than family, possibly being

dependent during life threatening situations which we

experienced on many occasions. This in itself could be

another long story. By the end of this section we were

required to do what they call a solo. In addition to rest up

for the 15 mile marathon and finals, (a week of travel) this

was also used for reflecting on our experiences. The solo

was for three days. During these three days we were all to

be separated about a quarter to half mile apart, alone. All

of our flashlights, candles, and watches were taken away

along with any books which were left at base camp. All we

were allowed to take was our clothes, a tarp(not a tent)

which wasn’t but 5ft by 2ft, a water bottle, a pencil, paper,

and our iodine to purify the water.I also want to note that

we had the choice to fast or take a survival pack which

consisted of a few crackers and raisins. I wanted the full

experience so I chose to fast. This was a trip in itself, no

food for three days. My spot on this solo was at around

12000 ft, the highest of my group. the only water I had was

from an alpine stream which dried up on me the first day,

after searching for a while I did find another stream. The

first day it rained all day, the next was clear, I didn’t do

much…just thought allot. I have never been this long

without seeing or talking to another person,not even

pictures…everything I had was in my mind.No toys…no

material possessions…..no problems….just me….at this time

I felt the true essence of the wilderness and everything that

is so sacred to me, It is much too difficult to explain, I

didn’t feel human in some respect, truly a wild

creature….possibly like a wolf…..this is where I thought of

Of the Wolf, every goal I stated on this solo has come true

so far. There is much, much more to the story but due to

time I will condense it. On the second day it was rather

warm so I decided to wash my clothes in the stream, yes I

spent the whole day naked, clothes…as natural as one can

get….of course I didn’t think much of it because I was far

from any other living creature. Not much lives that high.

While my clothes were drying I sat naked on a rock…. the

view was incredible…. absolutely stunning……and I

wrote…..A crack in the glass and I’m thinking….Alone in

the field and I’m sinking, Soaking in breeze on a rock and

I’m hypnotized, the world inside me Cranking the weight off

of my mind…testing the strength of a fine line Relative

thoughts… no control… become justified, the world defied

me Tasting the sweat off of my lips…feeding my soul with

the suns kiss laughing out loud I’m remembering

everything… foolishly sighing Now I’m lost inside these

words that speak so loudly in my head Honestly I’ll take

the vow to cut these chains off of my wrist This freedom

feels just like a bird soaring onto a higher plain Overcome

my fear of falling….standing on my feet again.