October 8, 2012 - Jon Manuell

Today started quite hectic to say the least... Cody the chef of the day decided to sleep through his alarm like usual and the entire group as well were late to rise. With a professional visit quite early in the morning we had to abort the original and settle with cereal instead. Also with such time restrictions Cody did his best to throw together a canned ham salad sandwich for most and a mayonese, onion, and celery sandwich for Kelly. After a great quick scat lesson by Sarah we piled into the van. We headed into the tiny town of Enterprise to check out what Red Cliff Ascent had to offer. We were greeted by a recent WIU alum and we jumped right into a drum activity that was extremely interesting. I must say Jeff and Dalton were very enthusiastic. After that we were lucky enough to be driven out into the back country where the wilderness therapy took place. We broke into two groups and went our separate ways. My group was first introduced to the antelopes which were mostly girls and introduced ourselves and our program followed by a demo of setting up a tarp that would withstand snow fall. We said our goodbyes and headed to the eagle camp consisting of the boys. There, my group was able to make fire by hand using a bow and spindle; i think it was a first for all of us starting fire by friction. Lastly at the end of the visit we were shown the beauty of a keva, which is a underground ceremonial chamber. It was a truly unique experience and i loved every second of it. Back on the road towards the Red Cliff headquarters Jeff and "Medicine Bull" shared old troubled youth stories and before we knew it were back to our van and continue down the towards Death Valley. On our way we stopped at an In and Out Burger just outside sin city. Never been to Las Vegas, it was very cool seeing to lights in the night sky. We stopped our journey that night slightly early just outside the city. Well its late and time for a much needed shower and another nights sleep under the stars.

October 6, 2012 - Kelly Bauer

The ECOEE tribe had a very different start this morning; their first meal was to to be had until 9:30 which gave most of the tribe some much needed rest from a late night of hunting and gathering. The tall one they call He Who Flies With Birds was appointed chef for the day and He Who Dances With Bears also awoke with the sun to assist in preparing a meal that would fill our hungry bellies. However, the great cook book went missing when the white horse was taken this morning for an early ride by our mysterious leader He Who Sits Like A Rock. He Who Flies With Birds followed the old ECOEE Tribe saying and chose to instead adapt, improvise, and overcome. The old saying held true and they prepared corn bread, eggs, taters, and fruit for the entire tribe. After the tribe filled their bellies it was time for the weekly ritual in which leadership is passed from three chosen members to the ext chosen group. The one they call Dragon, the Fisherman, and He Who Dances with Bears spoke to the group and shared with us the wisdom they gained from their experiences. They also voiced their concerns with the tribe’s development. He Who Sits Like A Rock, the elder of the group, led a discussion and many of the group members also voiced their opinions and shared their feelings about our group’s development. In order for the tribe to progress through the ancient stages of development, communication is essential and after today the ECOEE tribe can again move forward. After the meeting the tribe split up for the afternoon to explore their new surroundings. Some went hiking, others used the time for self-reflection, and the girls use the time to explore the cultural significance of Ruby’s Inn and eat some ice cream. The group met after for a last view overlooking the Hoodoos before splitting again. I joined the Dragon to learn about the stars above from a wise man of the area they called Dark Ranger Ron. The tribe has all retired into their teepees and so will I, Goodnight Moon. -Kel

October 4, 2012 - Jon Manuell

Waking up this morning was a truly unique experience. It was my first night sleeping under the stars. The weather was brisk, the air was dry, and my spirits were high. The desert land in Utah is a mysterious place full of exotic wonders. I cant help but truly appreciate the ever changing history around me of thousands and thousands of years of always changing rock formations, arches, and natural landscapes. After a wonderful breakfast we were back on the road towards Escalante. The drive was long flew by at the same time. The views around me were constantly changing around every bend down the road. Our first stop along the way was Capital Reef National Park. The visitor center was very neat but left me yearning to explore the land around me. Back in the van we then drove to our next surprise stop was at Anasazi State Park Museum. It was an incredibly small park that crawled cultures from the past. The museum did a great job of putting you into shoes "or lack of shoes" of where and when the natives lived. Once we departed the last stretch of driving was through beautiful mountainous desert land that sprawled miles and miles across the horizon. We finally made it to the Escalante campsite where we set up our kitchen and prepared for the nights meal. I felt extremely lucky to get some free time with Cody to explore our home for the night. After our adventure we retuned in time for a fitting hispanic meal cooked by Kelly and Sarah. As the night came to a close I am extremely excited to fall asleep once again under the majestic Utah sky.