Outback

This lovely peak is called Indian. For the first time since i started working in the west desert was i able to climb said peak. With a high functioning boys group we were able to summit the Indian peak through a few snow flurries and some whisping clouds. Steep slopes surround the peak allowing the rest of the world to fade into the thick whirl of clouds bellow. After tricking the students to wait for the rest of the group i sprinted past them to summit the last remaining rock piles first. Like a dream opening up before you the wind would blow a cloud past and reveal the majesty and wonderment that makes the view from the top of a mountain the reason to climb it. Green pastures would spread out before you while the clouds loomed all around the scraggly pearch view from which we were amazed. A truely awe inspiring experience. One of many that accompanies the outback field.

Since I have returned back to the outback i have come across some amazing experiences and sights. One of the nicest canyons to explore is Judd canyon with its petroglyphs of different wonderment. I think one might have resembled pregnancy. These connecting spirals were one of many petroglyphs covering the rocks. I heard recently that a staff stumbled across an arrowhead in the field. Crazy to think that area has a long history. I also heard that all the obsidian is imported to that site, yet we come across so much of it out there. Crazy to imagine that many people occupying that land, a place we give up for baron and having little to no use, yet long ago it was home to many. A herd of wild horses still prances through the open fields.

Found this little beauty soon after the indian summit. Easter sunday called for a little egg hunting. Luckily as we rolled into our camp site for the evening we disturbed a raven out of its nest. Circling and squawking it begged us not to climb the tree and eat its children. Too bad it was easter. Four eggs, scrambled to yumminess and split between seven guys. We all got about a wooden spoonful, but boy were they delicious. It was all a part of climbing to great heights that week and seeing as the raven or crow does(we are still not sure as to which species of bird it was). The raven or crow is said to be one of the smartest birds in the world and after having eating one of its eggs i must say i am feeling a lot smarter than most birds.


This is how awesome you could look if you worked in the desert like me. After some minor modifications, a mere i heart new york shirt became a constant reminder to the kids of how many feelings i really do have. For some reason when i started work the girls seem to think that i made a better nigel than a Jed. So I went by that for a week. And again this last week my name was brushed aside by the girls to call me Paul Bunyan. With an awesome group of nine amazing girls we were able to summit another peak in the west desert known as red pine. After a quick rap to a drum to wake the girls around 3 in the morning we scaled the seemingly endless deceptive peaks that rose into view at the top of each knoll till finally we summited the last knoll and were able to sit down and watch the sun rise over timpanogos mountain. A memorable experience that is one of many that embodies the work going on in the west desert. I love it.