Day 18 Salt Lake City, Utah- Philadelphia Airport, Pennsylvania

While some of us paid for our night before we all were at the vans on time and ready for a 7-hour drive to Salt Lake City Airport. The last drive in the van was spent by most of us trying to finish our notebooks or try to get some sleep. Finally we arrived at the end. The vans pulled up and there we left the trip of a lifetime. We all said our thank you to Tait and Hossay and then made our way to the gates for our flight. After landing in Philadelphia we all stood waiting for our bags. As the bags came strolling across we each said our sad goodbyes to each person that left. We all left that airport that day leaving a new found family. A family that over the past 18 days we had a chance to share laughs with, fight with, see amazing sights with, and learn about the impact we all have on the environment. It was sad to say our last goodbyes, but it was nice to know we would see each other again once school started back up; and no matter how far apart we lived we all shared a great experience with each other.

House outside Glacier National Park

The group at Mt. Saint Helens 

The group at Bryce Canyon

Things to Note:

• Stay in contact with the friends you make on the trip.
• If you want to see some breath taking sights while learning a lot about the environment and issues that plague the western part of the United States, go on this trip

Day 17 Hoover Dam, Arizona- Las Vega Nevada

The Parabolic Mirrors at Nevada Solar One

Inside Hoover Dam

The hydraulic turbines. 

With most of the events of our trip now in the past there was certain somberness to our morning. We all packed our bags and headed on out to Hoover Dam. With a rather interesting and rushed tour of the dam we hurried to get to Nevada Solar one Project and then to our guided tour of Corn Creek given by Amy Lavoy. The Nevada Solar One Parabolic Mirror Power Plant Is a huge facility where they use the suns light to reflect off of mirrors and heat pipes of oil The super heated oil then passes into water towers that then heat water and create steam. The steam then spins turbines that produce energy. We then took a drive through Las Vegas and to Corn Creek where we were given a tour. We learned about the local springs that produce very fragile and unique ecosystems. Amy Lavoy and her associates work at Corn Creek to teach people about how fragile the ecosystems are and to try to preserve the local plants and animals that call the spring’s home. After our tour of the ground we said our goodbyes and made our way to Las Vegas. After Tait and Hossay laid out some ground rules for us we were free to do what we wanted for the night, we just had to be back in our rooms at midnight. After enjoying the area and having a great time in the city all of us went to our respective rooms and called it a night.

Corn Creek, Nevada.

Things to Note:

• When Tait and Hossay set up rules follow them. If they have gone our of their way to make the trip fun for you have respect and abide by there rules. It will make the trip better and help with your grade.
• Sometimes you will be really behind schedule on the trip, just do your best to not slow the group down.

Day 16: Route 66 Motel, Arizona

The long path to the top.

After my own painful shivering night of sleeplessness the group all woke up around 6 am to try to beat the heat of the desert and complete most of the hike out. We made it within and hour to the area where we left the other group. With no one in sight we all made our own pace up and out of the canyon. Switch back after switch back, legs burning, and heart pounding each step felt heavier than the last. As we passed visual markers that we noted along the way that and the idea of air conditioning kept us moving. The first of us made it up at an increasing rate as we saw more people unsuited for a long hike making their way down the trail, we knew we were getting close to the top. With a few more pictures taken before our final accent we caught our breath and enjoyed the area. Four hours later with the sun burning down our backs already the very first of us made it to the top. I’m sure we looked near death to people at the top, but the smiles on all our faces told the story of our accomplishment. Over the next five hours more of our group would come drudging out of the canyon. Finally we all made it and the vans were on the way to get us. Our energy increased as we each told stories of the nights events, and finally we were back in the vans cooling off and back to our usual selves. A short drive later that was taken up mostly by napping, we arrived at our motel. Unloading our bags we all did what we wanted for the evening. Finally at night we had a meeting to go over the trip a whole and talk about what we did and didn’t like. We all stayed up rather late that night having fun with our classmates. Finally as the night went on we all made our way back to our rooms and fell fast asleep.

The last photo before we came out of the canyon. 

Things to Note:

• When doing long hikes keep a pace that is good for you. If you are a slower hiker don’t worry about it, just do not complain.
• As sick of the vans as you may be, once you are done with a hard hike, they seem like the perfect place to be. 

Day 15 Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

At the start of our hike, our camp is actually to the left of the ridge behind me

Quarter of the way down.

It was before 10 am that we were heading down the trial to enter into the expanses of the Grand Canyon. We packed up our tents and minimally packed our backpacks the night before for our decent into the canyon. While trying to keep a good quick pace while taking pictures and soaking up the landscape we made it half way down within an hour or so. There everyone that descended into the canyon met up and every gathered their energy. Half of the group of more experienced hikers gathered our bags and continued our further hike towards our camp. We stopped to have lunch overlooking the Colorado River. Well within the first section of the canyon but still with the lower portion far below our lunch spot, a lot of us wanted to make our way down to the river. The area we were told to hike though did not allow access to the river though. We hiked another hour to our camp and dropped our bags off to explore around. We found little pools of water that were still flowing so our evenings consisted of soaking in the cool pools and venturing around the area. Night fell fast within the canyon and we all ate our pre-made dinners and laid down for bed. With all of us lying on the ground with nothing but the stars overheads we all talked about past experiences and the events of the day. Slowly the conversations dwindled and sleep fell over the group.

Colorado River and the reason we could not get down to it.

The freshwater pools

Things to Note:

• When you hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, bring plenty of water and iodine tablets just incase you need to find extra water to drink.
• Bring a sleeping bag down with you. I failed to do so and I paid with a sleepless shivering cold night.
• If you have the energy explore the area. 

Day 14 Glenn Canyon Dam, Arizona- Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

Glenn Canyon Dam, Arizona

Everyone got up rather quickly the following morning because of prospects of what the next couple days would hold. We spent the first couple hours in a lecture with Hossay where we learned about all the impacts humans have had on the local plants and animals of the Grand Canyon area. Ever since humans have constructed the dams the landscape has been dramatically altered in the surrounding areas. Tassel eared squirrel, white owls, California condors and many native plants are impacted by these changes. Humans have also changed the natural floods and erosion of the canyon, further altering the landscape. Many people want to take down the dams, but then people will have to find a new source of power for the area. After the lecture concluded we all got up and drove right outside the camp where we spent the next couple hours showering, doing our laundry, and making lunch. Like always we were back on the road heading off to another location. About six hours later we finally arrived to see lake Powell and the Glenn Canyon Dam. With only a few moments spent to take in the sights we were back in the vans to take a look at horseshoe bend. We spent a couple hours eating and taking in the views, and it was then that we began to see how huge the Grand Canyon would really be. A short drive later and we were at the Grand Canyon. We did a small lookout point where some of us hiked down a little ways to see the massive size of the canyon. Even more excited about the hike we went to camp and enjoyed an evening of showers and dinner. Within the next 24 hours we would be settling down at the bottom of the canyon looking up at the night stars.

Horseshoe bend, Arizona

Finally at the Grand Canyon

Things to Note:

• Two things you must never pass up when you are camping, a chance to shower and a chance to do laundry.
• Easy meals like hot dogs or freeze dried food are a wise choice before and after big hikes.

Day 13: Zion National Park, Utah- Dixie, Utah

Morning in Zion National Park

Sunset at Dixie, Utah

Several hours later by first day light we were back up again to packing up the vans and starting yet another busy day. We had another lecture at the Zion visitor center to learn about the green architecture the park used to minimize their impact on the surrounding area. The park uses simple techniques in their visitors’ center to make it both comfortable for people, but not invasive to the area. Also there is a public shuttle that you have to take around the park, which further minimize human’s impact on the area. We took one last look around the area to take in the natural beauty and we were off to Pacific Corp Energy to view their geothermal power plant. Mike Smith showed up the control room of the power plant and where the uptake wells were. He told us how they pull out all the gasses that come up with the water before it hits the turbine, mainly because one the gases expand it could be detrimental to the turbine. He went on to show us the second faze of the power plant where they pass the cooler water to spin yet another turbine. The water passes over liquid isopentaine, which has a lower flash point. The isopentaine spins another turbine and both the water and isopentaine are allowed to cool and re-condense in separate cooling/condensing towers. The water is then sent back into the ground via two injection wells. After the tour of the facility they showed us some open geothermal features much like the ones that were around Yellowstone. After the tour concluded we pilled back into the vans and headed on out to Dixie, right outside of Bryce Canyon, to set up camp. We had a meeting to talk about the day’s events and were amazing by a brilliant sunset that concluded our meeting. Each group made their dinner and slowly everyone made their way to bed.

Things to Note:

• Whenever you can get some extra sleep take advantage of it.
• Participate with group discussions it shows that you are learning and know what you are talking about. 

Day 12: Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah- Zion National Park, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah Prairie Dog town.

The Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon.

I finally made it out

After a great night sleep in the dry Utah air we all got up bright and early and packed up the vans to start the marathon of a day. We started the morning learning about the Utah prairie dogs. The prairie dogs have been pushed to the brink of extinction because local farmers use to kill them because of their pestilent burrows. If the farmer’s cattle walked through the prairie dogs towns they would slip their huffs into the burrows and break their legs, the farmer would then have to put their tainted cattle down. This mass extermination almost wiped out the Utah prairie dogs, but environmentalists were able to protect them under the endangered species act. Now with the last town located in Bryce Canyon National Park we were able to see the harmful effects humans can have on yet another species. While trying to reintroduce the species is proving difficult because the animals needs a large population to thrive and they like to live and feed on particular grass roots, some dedicated environmentalist are still trying to save and relocate some of the species. After the lecture we went to on a hike through the towering hoodoos that symbolize Bryce Canyon. A few hours after our decent we emerged back at the vans to head over now to Zion National Park. Two hours later we were surrounded on all sides by towering red rocks. We parked the vans and embarked on one of the hardest but most rewarding hikes offered at Zion called Angels Landing. After countless switchbacks we arrived at the top to take in the view of the land. We all took some time at the top to take in our accomplishments and enjoy the end of the hike. Excited and revitalized by the magnificent views that canyon had to offer the group made their way down to get back to do one more hike then set up camp. Setting up camp in the sun was a nice change of pace and the evening would get even better with savory camping food, good conversations, and a picture perfect sun set. After working in the journals we all went to bed, gazing up at the night sky.

Zion National Park, Utah

Just the start of the switch-backs going up to Angels Landing.

Top of Angels Landing, left-right: Mike, Me, Donny. 

Our View from camp. Perfect.

Things to Note:

• If there is any hike you think is too hard to complete, don’t do the hike. But you should push yourself on this trip because chances are there is at least one other person on this trip that is at your hiking level that you can hike with.
• If there is a clear night that you know it will not rain, camp under the stars.
• Don’t forget to stretch before and after each long hike.
• Once you are in the desert you will be loosing a lot more water, drink plenty of water. 

Day 11: Salt Lake City, Utah- Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Teton National Park, Wyoming

After waking up and packing up camp we were back to the old grind and driving to our next destination. On the way out, we drove past the massive mountains in Teton National Park. Some of the clouds decided to open and show us a brilliant glimpse of the massive mountain range. After several hours of driving we were back in Salt Lake City Utah to pick up professor Hossay. With a little extra time to spare we parked the vans and took a walk around the grounds of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints. A few of us got to hear the Mormon faith from a few followers and were shown some statues of important people in their religion. Within a few hours we were back in the vans with Hossay telling us about his flight and heading down to Bryce Canyon National Park. Arriving to our camp after dark we all spread out and set up our tents. With the warmer and drier air the evening felt like a whole new experience, from here on out no more wet and cold mornings. After a quick dinner we all turned in for the night because of the early morning and busy day that was about to follow.

Mormon Church, Utah

Things to Note:

• Once Professor Hossay comes on the trip the amount of notes that you are taking will double. Keep up with them because Tait and Hossay both have their own fields that they are really knowledgeable on. If you combine them you will be getting more out of the class and more information for your paper.
• If you are into anything in the outdoors strike up a conversation with Hossay, he knows a lot about getting back to nature and how to survive.
• When you are in the northwest you have bears to worry about. When in the southwest you have ground squirrel. To keep both animals away from you, your tent, and your bags do not keep anything in your tent that has a smell to it. 

Day 10: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming-Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

Geothermal hot spring

With another two inches of snow covering the ground we got up in our groggy morning state and packed up all our tents and piled into the van to see old faithful. After two eruptions from the geyser Old Faithful we piled back up into the vans and head out for Grand Teton National park and the greater Yellowstone area. While driving out of Yellowstone the fresh white landscape gave a new lure and freshness to the area. After a couple stops we were finally driving past the vast mountains of Grand Teton National park. Although cloud covered the epic size of the mountains could still be grasped by the amount of miles we drove from one end of the mountain base to the other. When we arrived at camp we were greeted by a herd of buffalo that were using everything around the camp to scratch their winter fur away. Depsite our rather clumsy neighbors the camp office said we have nothing to worry about and we set up camp. After a quick trip to the grocery store we camp back to cook dinner, talk in a large group about anything and everything, and build a really big fire. Late in the night our voyage caught up to the group and all of us turned in to catch some sleep.

Our rather large and lumbering neighbors

Things to Note:

• When the weather prevents you from doing an activity that the group is suppose to use that time to recharge and catch up with your work.
• When Tait throws half a tree onto a fire, just let him be. He will do it at some point on the trip and despite the rather intimidating size of the flames; he knows what he is doing.
• Sometimes wildlife likes to come and see you.

Day 9 Yellowstone National Park cont...

The open planes of Yellowstone National Park

Waking up with a light sprinkle of snow over the surrounding area was a refreshing way to start our packed day around Yellowstone National Park. We started the morning talking about the issues of the wildlife in the area and the impact it has on the greater Yellowstone area. Local farmers are against the wildlife being in the park because of how much it impacts their livestock and income. When elk leave the park grounds they can find there ways onto farmers land, and while this doesn’t seem like a big deal it can cost the farmers there entire herd of cattle. Elk carry a virus called brucellosis, if the farmer’s cattle are exposed at all to the elk they have to be exterminated. Other animals that cause the local communities alarm are buffalo, wolves, and bears. . Farmers are also concerned that buffalo will spread brucellosis to their livestock and try to contain the situation by shooting the buffalo once they are off the federal land. This creates a lot of controversy between farmers and environmentalists and park rangers. Wolves were extinct from the area after farmers hunted them to protect their livestock. The park reintroduced packs from Canada in an effort to rebuild the wolf population. The reintroduction worked, but just like before the farmers do not want the wolves there. Bears and wolves are also a concern for communities with younger kids. Other issues discussed during the day were issues around surrounding snowmobile access to the park, public usage of the grounds, and wildfire management techniques. After driving around all day and covering all the major issues surrounding Yellowstone we called it a night and made dinner in camp with snow gently falling form the sky.

Yellowstone's "Grand Canyon".

Wild Elk grazing 

Things to Note:

• Whenever you can talk to anybody that works at any of the parks you go to, they are your best and most knowledgeable resources.

Day 8 Glacier National Park, Montana-Yellowstone National park, Wyoming

Glacier National Park, Montana

A glacial lake

To compensate for the prior days emergencies we took a quick and early ride into Glacier National Park. We drove through and did a small hike and took pictures along the way. Before we knew it we were back on the open road with Yellowstone in our sights. We came into the park early in the afternoon and did a hike around some of the thermal pools. During the hike we took time to stop and talk about the effects of the thermal pools. The thermal pools are super heated and full of extremophiles. With little oxygen in the water, wood and leaves stay perfectly preserved for many years standing as a silent tribute of the past. We also learned about how the thermal pools affect the local buffalo population. The buffalo are large lumbering animals and when they find themselves around thermal pools they often take the time to hang around and warm up. While they are there they inhale a lot of sulfur-di-oxide, this scars their lungs and can kill them if they are around the tainted air to long. We also learned about bio prospecting in the area where companies take samples of the water from the thermal pools and try to privatize the pools and thermophiles that embody them. We then traveled to our campsites and had a relaxing evening making dinner and enjoying our surroundings.

Yellowstone National Park hot springs

Yellowstone

 Things To Note:

• While traveling to the bigger national parks abide by the rules set up by the parks and Tait.
• Watch out for the wildlife in each area. While it may be tempting to try to feed, pet, or get a closer picture of the animals it is in your benefit to not get close. Remember the animals are wild. 

Glacier National Park, most of the gang.

Day 7 Glacier Wind Farm, Montana-Glacier National park....kinda...

Glacier Wind Farm, Montana.

After waking up early, packing our vans and giving Mark and his family a very grateful thank you we headed off for Glacier Wind Farm in Montana. After breathtaking views and a couple hours of driving we arrived at the wind farm. Aron Boles gave us a lecture on the energy plant and gave us a tour around the facility. The wind farm owned by Nator Ener sits on 37,000 acres of land that is borrowed form local farmers. The farmers get a stipend for the land used by the power plant and are able to still use most of it for agriculture. there is a total of 140 turbines that each put out about 1.5 megawatts of power. The turbines are entirely self regulating and can alert mechanics when there is any issue within the turbine. The power plant actually does not have a large enough grid to power, so the turbines are not operating at maximum output. After showing us the shop and control center for the power plant, Aron and his crew took us out to see a turbine up close. We got to go into the turbine and see the super computer that self regulated the turbines and relays information back to the control center. Once the tour was over we headed on out to Glacier National Park. Once we arrived at the motel we all settled in and a student had a medical emergency. The emergency prevented us from being able to go to the national park, but the group made the best of it. We used the new found time to write in our journals, catch up on sleep, or exchange stories of life with people. After a short lecture we all turned in for the night and prepared for yet again another early morning.

Approaching the wind farm

Turbine up close and personal

Things to Note:

• Some lectures might not be all that captivating for you, stay focused and take good notes. The information you may chose to omit may be something that you will need of the final paper. 
• Expect things to go wrong on the trip. Despite the itinerary life happens, something you may want to do sometimes cant happen because of issues that come up. Trust that Tait and your teachers assistant will do the best they can to make sure you do all the activities that were established. 
• Talk to the locals in the area, you can usually get a really cool story or a really creepy one. 

Day 6 Spokane, Washington

Hydroelectric on the spokane river

With a night of sleep putting a spring in our step for the following day we all set out to learn about the effects of mining in the area. The local lake, lake Cordelane is another site where humans have unintentionally polluted the water ways. Local miners in the area sifted the excavated earth from the 1880's to the 1900's for lead, copper, and gold. Without knowing what damage they were causing they pumped the mined dust down the river where over the years lead has been bio-cumulating. Lead is a harmful metal that can cause serious damage to the nervous system and is not soluble in water. Year after year the lead has been killing off local aquatic, and avian life and is now effecting humans living in the area. Currently the mud banks along side the lake and river are about 1,000 parts per million lead and this covers about 75% of the flood plane. The site is under heavy environmental watch, but not much action is being done to clean the area. The issue with the area is the lead is not in the water but in the soil, so to fix the area the soil needs to be removed. If the soil is moved then there is a large amount of lead that will be resuspended into the river and polluting further down stream. after a full day of learning about the area and mining history we all had dinner at the famous Snake-pit restaurant, where we were treated to some unique people and even more unique foods. we all went back to the house and had a short discussion and crashed for the night. 

Things to Note:

• Some days will be crazy with all the driving, getting out of the vans, walking around, and piling back up into the vans. The days feel terribly long, but just remember it is only one day and try to stay positive. 
• Try the local cuisine, no matter how strange it is, push the limits of what you will try. It makes for good stories later in life. 

What we tried was "Colorado Oysters", you do the math...

Day 5 Hanford Nuclear site, Washington-Spokane, Washington

With a five and a half hour drive at our backs we were embarking on the Hanford Nuclear site. The grounds were nothing more than open desert with a high fence and barbed wire on top. The area had been a top secret government location for the production of plutonium up until the 1980's. The land was picked because it sits adjacent to the Columbia River and the waters could cool the nuclear reactors. The produced plutonium from the four reactors was then used for the Manhattan Projects atomic bomb in world war two. The site has long since been abandoned the the effects are still ever present in the area. today this super fund site is one of the biggest in america. and is still only expected to be fully finished in 2062. Seeing how much power humans can manufacture was an amazing site alone, but seeing also how much mankind can cripple nature without even thinking twice about it was something that cuts to the core of any environmentalist or naturalist. After the lecture at the Hanford site we drove out to Spokane Washington where we met up with one of Taits old colleges from Stockton, Mark. We were able to take a tour of the local city and see an old dam. Food shopping, lectures in some cozy couches, and barbecues was our nights events. followed by another early morning.

Spokane River

A view of the water that once powered a hydroelectric dam.

Finally some blue skies and warm weather.

Things to Note:

• Some lectures will be interesting and some will be dreadfully boring, be conscious of the speakers and be inquisitive. 
• Some days the notes will seem to be never ending, make sure you take your time with the journal entries on these days.
• If you stay at Taits friends house, he has a wonderful house and he and his family are the kindest people you will ever meet. Dont do anything stupid here, its not your home. If you have a chance sleep on the couches upstairs, they are amazing. 

Day 4 Mount Rainier National Park

with a three and a half hour drive under our belt we finally parked the vans in the parking lot of Mount Rainier National Park. After we further perfected how quickly all of us could pile into our respective bathrooms relieve ourselves a meet back at the van to discuss the area was soon underway. We learned about how the high altitude in the area coupled with the increase of acid rain is killing off large amounts of this alpine forest. We also learned about glaciers impact on the surrounding climate. They keep the earth much cooler because they do not absorb any ultraviolet radiation, but rather reflect all of it back out of the earths atmosphere and back into space. We went on a hike where the looming rain clouds over head decided to cut us a brake and hold up until our hike was over. During the hike we got to take in a lot of majestic views and get to know a lot of people; also go to make a few snow angels.

A view from the trail

We took a ride down and out of the park while it was raining and arrived at a very nice, but creepy lodge where we had the place to ourselves. There we spent the night talking about our next day at the nuclear Hanford site in Washington.  

A funky tree on the hike down

Things to Note:

• Rain is something that you can not control, you have to accept that fact you are going to be cold and west for most of the time your are in the northwest. Save yourself the trouble and invest in a good rain jacket, water resistant or quick drying pants wont hurt either. 
• While hiking in the group and talking is fun take some time to hike alone and take in the beauty that is all around you. It will all be gone before you know it.
• Take notes during lectures and use them when you do your reflections.
• Do your reflections each day, dont push them off. It only gets harder.

Day 3 Mount St. Helens, Washington

After a quick stop at a mechanics shop and picking up some people that missed the initial flight out, the group split in half to do food shopping and walk around Portland. We packed into the car there after and drove several hours to Mt. St. Helens. With a heavy set sky we took a small hike to get a crappy view of the Volcano. Still with the heavy clouds you got to see the devastating effects the eruption had on the landscape and the vast size of this volcano, a real humbling experience.

Mt Saint Helens, right before the clouds opened up

Soon the clouds opened up on us and there with the onslaught of rain we learned a little about the environmental impact of the eruption. (the Nitrous-di-oxide effects on the local vegetation dying from the bottom up and inside out, the deterioration of ozone and the pyroclastic flow covering leaves and clogging the stomata and killing off the plants over time.) we walked back to the cars and made a wet drive to our campsite. We set up camp in the rain and most of us just crashed without dinner.

A wet but beautiful morning out west

Things to Note:

• Expect plenty of rain
• Setting up camp is something that you are only good at with practice, so if you dont camp, expect to have a wet night. And dont be the one that sleeps near the walls of the tent, your guaranteed to get wet.
• while you might want a postcard view of everywhere you go, realize it is nature and something it just doesnt want to work for you. Take what you can and make the best of it.