Three Peaks

Last Friday, our team decided to trek the great Three Peaks.

Well, our team minus Anna.

We've been working aside Three Peaks every single day at the sight, 

and had been talking about hiking to the top ever since we've arrived.

We heard mixed messages about how long the trip would take.

Mike said about 4 hours...2 hours up...2 hours back.

Eduardo promised 45.

We had to alert the ranchers of our trip,

otherwise we could get shot at.

We packed our little Cesar Chavez backpacks full of snacks,

unsure of how long we'd actually be gone for.

We talked about which path we'd take.

The first peak has the most gentle slope--

perfect for first time climbers.

We planned to take the first peak up,

and the walk over the top, all the way to the third peak--

the steepest slope.

It was sunny and warm when we began.

We walked to our work site,

moved the barbed wire gate,

and crossed the train tracks.

We crawled under a few barbed wire fences,

and began our journey.

Immediately we realized that Three Peaks appeared a lot closer than it actually was.

We trekked up and down hills,

stepping on cow pies along the way.

At one point I grabbed for a rock to pull myself up,

only to realize it was a hardened chunk of cow poop.

Every 10 feet or so, we would stop to turn around and view the landscape surrounding us.

The scenery was like nothing I've ever experienced before.

Climbing the steepest side of the peaks quickly revealed itself to be a terrible idea--

that is, for newbies like me.

The group naturally split up:

the really in-shape, competitive folks were at the top first,

and I of course, the incredible athlete that I am, 

was one of the last people to reach the top.

For most of the climb, the hill was so steep that I was close to panic-mode...

for fear that I would slip backwards, and tumble straight down.

The dirt fell away from my feet as I latched onto twigs or small weeds to stabilize myself.

I stabbed my hand on a cactus and blood rushed from my finger.

I tripped on rocks while forcing my legs to take steps towards the top.

Finally, we reached the top of the third peak.

We sat and watched the cloud roll in for a minute.

It got dark out, and we could hardly see anything in front of us.

We climbed across the top of Three Peaks,

taking in its mystery and beauty.

We met up with the others on the first peak.  

Some had cigarettes of relief,

some sat in silence.

We set the timer, 

camera on a rock,

and took a group photo.

Then we trekked down.

Down was my favorite.

Three Peaks was as sinister as ever on our way down,

but why wouldn't it be?

For the first time, I am really part of a team that matters.  

I've been on sports teams before, but let's be honest, I have never been great at sports.

I'm living with 9 other corps members.

Waking up to Anna's music blaring in her ears,

Julie walking back from the guys,

and the train rumbling by every hour.

Sharing the kitchen with 9 other hungry, carb-craving beings.

Riding in the 15 passenger van, listening to the only cd possible:

Michael Jackson's "This is IT...." jammed in the player.

Cooking for 10.

Cleaning after 10.

Sleeping with earplugs.

Watching everyone else's tv.

Washing the dishes that "no one" used.

Early morning ladder runs for physical training.

Locking ourselves out of the house...

When "no one" was supposed to be carrying the key.

Always surrounded by the same people.

Feeling as if I'm the only one who truly knows the real me.

Watching snow fall on the mountains in the distance.

Opening the shades to 9 deer grazing outside the window.

Pickaxing alongside people stronger than me.

Pickaxing alongside people much smaller than me.

Spending hours doing work meant to occupy us for weeks.

Listening to the stories of farm workers and their families 

and everyone connected to the foundation.

Cooking authentic enchiladas, horchata, and rice pudding with Chef Maria.

Standing in the room where the famous Chavez fasted for over 30 days.

For the first time, I am really part of a team that matters.  

I've been on sports teams before, but let's be honest, I have never been great at sports.

Keene, California: WE HAVE ARRIVED!!!

To update you on the last month of my life:

• I was placed on a team of 11 individuals-one of which was already sent home. Now, I have a team leader, Heather (24), and 9 teammates: Jackie (24), Tommy (21), Kyle (18), Andre (19), Alex (23), Julie (22), Lisabeth (23), and Anna (19). 

• We spent a good month training in a number of different areas including team building, communication, CPR, First Aid, Diversity, Van safety, Shelter Operations, and many other things...
• I chose to be specially trained in Flood Fighting, where I learned how to sustain natural levees as well as reinforce levees before a storm.  It was a whole lot of carrying around heavy sandbags in the hot sun, but interesting!
• 
• I also received training on my team position which is CAPper (Corps Ambassador Program).  The CAPping position involves informing people about the AmericCorps program to hopefully recruit future members.  I just set up for me and one of my teammates to go to Tehachapi High School on Wed. November 16th to a career fair to talk to high school students about the program.  We are excited!
• Finally, after receiving copious amounts of training, we found out about our first project for Round 1.
• We then briefed the staff on campus about our project, had our Induction/Completion ceremony for training, and heading down south.

Round 1: Keene, California

• Our first project is at the Cesar Chavez Foundation in Keene.  Cesar Chavez was a very well-known civil rights leader in the West.  He worked primarily for the rights of farm workers and we have been given the opportunity to learn more about his work and help out the foundation.
• Our actual work involves building a trail/garden area for visitors.  IT started as a open field of tall grass and junk yard "collectibles."  In the first week we trimmed the tall grass on the entire plot using weed whackers, raked the hay-like grass from the property, trimmed a number of different trees, hauled at least 30 truck fulls of hay/grass/branches/rocks out to designated piles, excavated a number of large boulders (bigger than me!) from the ground for a monument, raked/leveled out the trail, lined the trail with cobblestones, dug trenches on both sides of the trail for irrigation, dug 300 feet of trenches with pick-axes, and cleared away enough car parts to build about 3 automobiles.

 I will add more details when they come!