Time to move on once again

So good news....I go a permanent job back in Pennsylvania! Bad news, I have to leave all my friends in Georgia as I will not be coming back for the spring season. I've only been here two months but it feels like much longer. I've learned so much and had an amazing time here! I felt just like this 2 months ago when leaving Utah and now have to pack up and do it all over again. Unfortunately these feelings will probably tag along with me my entire life, because I love to keep moving and keep changing elements around in my life. As much as I love it, moving on is so hard when you have made a connection to a new place and start to make attachments. I'm going to miss all the great times playing with animals, commuting to work across a lake everyday, taking kids out in the woods on canoeing on the water, playing games, etc. I mean I got paid to dress up like a beekeeper and harvest honey!



Just last week a group of us took the canoes out at dusk and paddled around for an hour while we waited for it to get dark. There was a conference going on and they planned fireworks that evening. Sitting in the lake surrounded by my friends while the fireworks lit up the lake and the woods around us was incredible. Probably the best fireworks show I've seen. It was beautiful! Everything is just so pretty here right now because Georgia is finally coming full swing into fall. The weather is cooler now and the leaves have really started to change. I just love autumn and am glad that I can hang on to it a little longer than I would have been able to if I was back in PA. The office life will certainly not be as much fun or around so much natural beauty but I'm looking forward to moving home,being surrounded by old friends and getting some experience on my resume. It will be a nice, steady change for a bit...until I move on to my next adventure of course!

Bees!

Last week I helped to harvest honey from our three bee hives. It was a load of fun and tasty too! Only a few of us got stung... those bees were not happy!

Training

Right now my job is really fun because I get to attend every class that the kids will get to do and learn how to teach each one. My favorite part has been playing with all of the animals while getting to know my co-workers. I have yet to explore any of Georgia except for the forest that I work in, but I think this weekend I might be going to Atlanta for a bit!

Hello from Georgia!

Hi y'all-

Well I've made it to Eatonton, GA and am slowly settling in. This past week has been jammed with training, so I've been so exhausted. I must admit I have a bit of culture shock but I am getting used to it. You should be jealous that I have a lake, a swimming pool, water slide, mini golf and a forest in my backyard. I see deer practically everyday. More updates to come.

And I'm off!

Today I am leaving Hovenweep. I'm leaving this place kicking and screaming because I feel so deeply connected to this place and the people. They have transformed me in ways I do not even understand yet.

It is a sad day for me as I make preparations, pack up my car, and say goodbye to my Hovenweep family. I have learned so much but only feel like I have just arrived. But new adventures and new faces await me in Georgia so I must move on. Maybe one day I will be back. You never know where the wind might blow me next :-)

Firefighter Girl

Me and a few of the rangers got together to do some fire training with our old fire extinguishers. I got to play dress up with the firefighting gear and practice lighting fuses, carrying a water pack, using a hose as well as an extinguisher! Maybe one day I will be a real firefighter. I'm almost on my way!

Here are some actions shots:





Oh and for good measure, Neal let me try on his helicopter flight suit!

Hopi Land

This past Saturday I was invited to go to the Snake Dance Ceremony on Second Mesa of the Hopi Reservation. What a wild time! I was informed that it has been years since a non-native was able to see this dance, so I am incredible lucky to have been a part of it.

There were hundreds of Hopis gathered all around, sitting on the rooftops of the pueblos, peering over the edge into the plaza where the dancers of the antelope and snake clans were. The dancers were all dressed up and painted, singing in Hopi and circling around, stomping on the foot drum and dropping corn meal on the ground. Eventually the snakes were passed out and men would take them in their mouths for a little while until releasing them on the ground,where other members of the clan would keep them in check. Near the end of the ceremony they gather the snakes in a pile and grab them by the handfuls to take them outside the village and disperse them to the four directions.

Of course I do not have any photographs, as they were not permitted. The dance centers of course around the snakes, which the Hopi believe are their brothers and will be able to carry their message and plea for rain. The snakes take their message back to mother earth, the ground from which the Hopis emerged.

Seeing this ceremony and the villages of the reservation made me better understand the ruins at Hovenweep and how a village might have looked and operated. The magical thing about this...is that it did begin to rain about halfway through the ceremony. Who is to say that prayers don't work?

I was also able to visit some of the other Hopi villages, learn some Hopi words, eat some Hopi food and view Prophecy rock. It was a very good time!

Three sisters

Corns, beans and squash- also known as the three sisters in the southwest.

The three are always grown together and form a complete diet for survival here in the desert. The ancestral Puebloans were dry farmers, relying only on rainfall and snowmelt to water their crops (although we only get about 10 inches of precipitation a year)! The also grew cotton for weaving clothing, amaranth for grain and for red dye.




Unfortunately, I will not be here for the harvest of our Hopi blue corn, but I am able to take a squash with me!

The Essence of the Corn

Shortly after Hopi emergence into the forth world, there was a gathering of all Native American peoples. Spread before them was a variety of corn, all colors and sizes. The spirits, or kachinas, gave each tribe a task was to choose a variety of corn that would sustain their tribes on all their journeys through life. At once, all of the tribes quickly grabbed the largest, brightest, most succulent varieties. Meanwhile, the Hopi representative just stood back waiting and watching. He wanted to see what motivated each tribe to pick the ear that they did. Eventually the chaos and fighting died down and only one ear of corn was left. It was small and dark blue in color. This corn was much like the kind that the Hopi representative knew came from the First World in the beginning of time. He knew of its deep, spreading roots which would enable the corn to thrive in the harsh desert climates. The spirits looked upon him and were approving of the Hopi's choice. They said that those tribes that were greedy and picked the largest for themselves would fade away with time, but the Hopi would live long, full lives. They may have to work hard, but their tribe and culture would live long and they will be a happy people.

That is the beginning of the interpretive presentation I give at our campground amphitheater every Wednesday night. My program focuses on the Hopi and the role that corn plays in their everyday life, both physically and spiritually. I talk about metaphors such as "people are corn" and "the corn is our mother" as well as introduce some of the major spirits involved in the ceremonies.




The Hopis have given me a nickname, "Corn girl". I'm not sure how to spell it but it sounds something like "Kahenema". Oh and they especially love to make fun of my mudhead!

My last weekend here I went back to explore Canyonlands once more before moving to Georgia. Canyonlands has three districts and while in Moab I visited Island in the Sky. This time I had a chance to see the Needles district.


Unfortunately there were about three storm fronts surrounding me with thunder and some spectacular lightning. I wasn't about to take chances and every place that I wanted to hike was extremely exposed to the elements. I stayed for a little while to see if it passed, but after a little while I knew it was time to just head home. I know better than to test Mother Nature!

Hot off the press!

Newspaper rock. Wild looking creatures. Feet with six toes.
Do you have any idea it all means?




Me neither...

Hopi Crew

Meet the Hopi guys. They are our masonry team that have been stabilizing some of the sites at Hovenweep. They are a really great bunch, with lots of interesting stories to tell.

Making the best of it!

So last weekend I had quite an interesting time exploring Durango/Silverton area once more. I was also able to revisit Butler wash in search of petroglyphs. Below is procession panel. It has over 179 figures in all and to me is a very curious panel. What are the figures doing? Where are they going? And how in the world did they come up with that dragon-like figure (3rd picture)?




Ice lakes was a 7 mile hike near Silverton area. What a hike! Basically it went straight up the mountain, following along streams and waterfalls and through meadows of wildflowers. I even made a ceremonial snowball near the peak! This place looks so surreal. Welcome to 12,300 feet :-)




It still blows my mind how fast the environment changes around here. I spend my days wondering around in the heat and dryness of the desert, but at anytime can easily run away to the cool mountains of Colorado. Its been nice. And I will certainly miss this place.

Too many goodbyes

Just the other day I drove over to Mesa Verde one last time. It was nice to see the other side of the park I had not yet visited. Personally I think it offered a better experience just because it was less crowded. I took the tour of Long House and it was a beautiful tour. Best of all we weren't competing with other tours for a look at the place, much like the other tours I have been on were. The ranger did an excellent job of interpreting the cliff dwellings and I found myself feeling swallowed up by the alcove- safe, secure and content with just being there. Maybe I was just feeling overly emotional or nostalgic for this place already- but at the end of the tour it was so hard for me to leave. I found myself just sitting back and staring, trying just to take it in and really appreciate it.


I was also able to fit in a bit of solitary hiking up a secluded mesa top (elevation about 7,500), which gave me some incredible views of Colorado. I just sat on the top of this mesa for awhile, just taking it all in, unhindered by the cars and town below me. What was on my mind was the mountains and that expansive sky. I feel so lucky to have been placed out here for the summer. I can't even justifiably complain about the fact that I only made $75 a week this summer because what I've learned and how I've changed and see the world now means more to me than money. I am happy :-)

I apologize for the lack of posting recently. I've been busy getting ready for Georgia, finishing up training here (started training for wildland firefighting- Firefighter Brittany here I come!), and getting in all the hiking or exploring I haven't gotten around to yet. Lately I've been taking walks around the park near sunset or sitting outside watching the thunderstorms roll in from miles away. I will miss this wide open spaces and desert views for sure. Not to mention the solitude and silence. I have just under three weeks left. The desert has been good to me and has taught me things I never dreamed of learning.

Even though I am leaving- don't despair! I will still keep my blog up and running for all my new adventures in Georgia. We don't get wireless there so you might have to be patient for updates. I will try my best.

Roadsides

I drive by this every time I go into town. It has got to be the best example of a planed suburban neighborhood that failed to get developed.
And instead it is a farm. I love it.



On the other road into town, I pass this roadside bolder that looks like it is about to tip right onto the road. Neat rock images, but unfortunately covered in graffiti (upper right hand corner).

Moab Adventures

Just recently I had a three day weekend so I decided to drive up to Moab, Utah- outdoor adventure capital of the country. The are known for their mountain biking trails, rafting down the Green river, great hiking, climbing, canyoneering, etc. So much to do! The scenery is just incredible. Moab is bordered by the LaSal mountain range as well as red rock cliffs and arches. It is also close to a state park and two national parks. I even was lucky enough to encounter a local swimming hole, along a creek surrounded by red rock cliffs. Just beautiful!


I spent a day and a half hiking all around Arches and even got to hang out with the rangers for a night! They threw a gathering in lieu of Pioneer Day (a big Mormon holiday) and they had Pie-and-Beer Day-haha! Also, I met a fellow traveler at the local microbrewery and also some local Moabites that were extremely nice and helpful as to what to do in the area.

Lots of French and German tourists everywhere, actually Arches National Park in general felt like Disneyland at time, which was frustrating. I prefer hiking in nature among the silence and the solitude. Only occasionally did I attain that. My last day, in Canyonlands I did a 3 mile hike in the rain (which is rare out here). Needless to say it was an amazing, renewing experience.



I was a bit disappointed by the lack of city planning in Moab. The city is very flat and has so much potential to be bike friendly in town (in conjunction with all the mountain biking that surrounds the town) but unfortunately everything was very automobile centered. I couldn't tell you how many times in three days I drove up and down the main street unnecessarily...although I don't have a bike with me at the moment.


Overall though it was a great trip. I hope I have a chance to go back one last time before I head to Georgia. So much to do in so little time!