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Installment Four - June 17, 2003 |
| [Car "V": AAV, RCD & GEP]
We started out by waking up and taking down our tents. After that we packed up all our
equipment and ate breakfast, which consisted of cereal bars, nutri-grain bars, apples,
and juice boxes. We drove for about four hours and stopped at Bent's Old Fort.
What an amazing structure. This fort built in 1833 on the north bank of the Arkansas
River. This was the border between Mexico and the United States. Originally, this was
named Fort William. This fort happened to be close enough to the Rockies that it drew in
trappers and hunters to trade. These same trappers were hunting on the Cheyenne,
Arapaho, and Kiowa Indians' land, which also was located on the
Santa Fe Trail. William Bent had very good relationships with the natives of this area.
Even though it appears to be a fort, Bent's Old Fort was not a military-owned fort and
was never involved with hostile fire. The only time the canons were fired was to
announce a feast or celebration.
Many famous western frontier explorers and natives stayed at Bents Old Fort. They could repair their wagons and replenish supplies needed for the rest of the journey. Our tour guide wore authentic southwestern clothes, which included a small sombrero, square toed boots, white button-down shirt, and black boot-cut pants with a yellow stripe on each side. He personalized all the facts and details about the fort. He demonstrated talents of a good storyteller. We stayed in the fort for about and hour and a half. The area around the fort was unique. To the west was a swamp, with an outcropping of trees. To the east was nothing but gently sloping green farmland. After the fort we ate lunch. We had sandwiches, donuts, pop, water, chips, and apples. When we arrived at the camp we set up tents and started to cook dinner. After dinner we drove down to the dunes. Once at the dunes we had to cross a river that was small and cold. Some people went to the top and others played around at the base. Robbie M. should be commended because he is recovering from leg surgery and he went to the top with everyone else. That night everyone was very tired so the leaders couldn't have a crew chief council because all the crew chiefs were asleep. [WRL] Driving slowed today, to about five hours. For lunch, we stopped at Bent's Old Fort, where a great tour guide led us around the trading fort and retold the story of many important Native Americans and white traders from the east. We continued to drive until we stopped at the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado to camp. After setting up tents, we had dinner, which consisted of brats and polish sausage, cooked by crew 2, and drove down to the dunes. They were really tall, but still everyone wanted to reach the top. We only had an hour before dark, so we started out moving pretty fast. But as we started to ascend, our speed slowed to almost a halt. Some turned back, while others pushed on. At the halfway point, even more turned back, yet the determined did not slow. Finally, only two ridges remained. Some had to stop and take a break, but time was running out. We crawled on hands and knees to the bottom of the final ridge. Inspiration steered us in the right direction. Only a few more feet remained. We crawled to the top and took many a picture. Only then did we realize that there was still another ridge on the backside of the dunes. Rob S., Zach M., Andrew M., and Matt W. pressed on to the Über top, but the others stayed at the first top. Many exclaimed that this had been the hardest hike of their l ives. We were especially impressed with Matt P. because he had broken his ankle before the trip and Robbie M. since he had surgery on his leg. We ran down the dunes at breakneck speed and we got back to base-camp where the adults were watching from afar. The stress on our bodies even broke one boy's camera, or maybe he just sat on it. This first crew challenge was not easily conquered, but was our just reward. After this, no one could stay awake for obvious reasons, so we went to bed. Memorable Quotes
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Today we traveled from Great Sand Dunes National Monument to Durango, Colorado. We are camping (two days!) in the Florida [say: flow-REE-ta] Recreational Campground in the San Juan National Forest.
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