Adventure Learning Trip Report - Stillwater Canyon Canoe Trip

Stillwater Canyon runs 52 miles down the Green River, through the heart of Canyonlands National Park, and separates the three distinct districts within the park; Island in the Sky, The Needles and The Maze districts. Completely “still,” Stillwater Canyon features flat water from the put-in at Mineral Bottoms at the terminus of Labyrinth Canyon to the confluence of the Green River and Colorado River at Spanish Bottoms, the beginning of notorious Cataract Canyon. Redrock walls, towers, buttes and mesas rise prominently along the corridor and hide ancient ruins, rock art and other historic features.

More often than not our seasoned adventure guides have completed a trip prior to pushing off from shore with our students. This trip was special though because we were all in the same figurative boat; we were all, students and staff, laying eyes on this majestic landscape together for the first time. While extensive research was done to familiarize and prepare for the trip, there is always a different feel to a trip when you’re not totally sure what is around the next corner; it provides a great opportunity for learning together, increased camaraderie, and adventure.

We took three full days to float all 52 miles and landed at our final camp two miles above the rapids of Cataract for our jet-boat pickup. Because this area of Utah is so remote there are no roads that access the confluence, the only way back to civilization is a 67 mile jet-boat ride back up the Colorado River to Moab. Unfortunately we did not have good luck spotting any of the elusive wildlife besides a quick glance at a River Otter and several Great Blue Herons. The top risk of a river trip through Canyonlands is wind. There are dozens of stories of lost gear, scattered boats, stranded people and miserable times because of the wind that can howl up and down the canyon. Our first night on the river brought with it strong winds and slight rain around midnight, but after that small scare we had nothing but sunshine and mid-90’s. Our best defense against the relentless sun was a swim in the mighty river as we floated along around three miles per hour. Everyone really seemed to enjoy the trip despite the early wakeup calls and long days in the sun with the promise of another beautiful landscape around the next bend.  

Mike Bodrero, Adventure Learning Coordinator

“I’m Sorry” is Worth a Million Words

Last week, I was cleaning some equipment that I had rented for my recent rafting trip.  The equipment details are not important but let it be said that when in the desert you cannot simply “do your business” wherever you like… you must pack it out, which is where the equipment comes in.   After unloading too-much-gear, I discovered that I was missing something.   A small, 1 x 2” piece of clear plastic had been inadvertently left out of my rental, and I really needed this piece.  Like REALLY.  A phone call confirmed that the rental department found the piece I needed, and I reloaded everything and drove over there.  Now the employees were polite and all, and handed me the piece with a smile.  But as I walked out of the shop I realized that neither of them had offered an apology.  Not while I was on the phone, not when they handed me the piece of plastic that stood in the way of me getting my security deposit back, not at all.

It bothered me.

It really bothered me.

And then, it made me really, really angry.

In the midst of my fuming and cleaning, muttering to myself about entitled immature college kids, I did start to wonder why on earth I was so mad.  I mean really, it wasn’t that big of a deal.  It was an innocent oversight and surely not even their fault.  But for some reason, those seven letters and some grammatically appropriate punctuation felt like a lifeline to sanity that I was denied.  I was hot, I was tired, I was literally and figuratively having a crappy day.

What did I think that apology would do?  Surely for becoming so ticked off about not getting it, there must be some type of magical powers involved.  As I reflected on this throughout the evening I shared the admittedly ridiculous story with friends.  “That’s totally insane!”  they said, “those employees should have been groveling at your feet with apologies!”  And everyone agreed that my afternoon was unpleasant and they were so glad that they weren’t in my shoes.

I felt SOOOOOOO much better!

I felt like they understood me!  Like they felt my frustration, sweat, and (almost) tears.  Like I wasn’t overreacting or being a crybaby, and in fact had handled myself with some semblance of grace.  I felt validated.

Ohhhh.  That’s the thing.

Why did those seven letters carry so much weight for me?  Because they offered me validation!  Understanding and empathy for how I was feeling and what I was experiencing.  They would’ve let me know that even though it wasn’t their fault, those employees felt badly about what I was going through.  It seems so simple to say “I’m sorry”.  And in fact, we probably throw those words around too often.  “I’m sorry I borrowed your headphones without asking”; “I’m sorry my paperwork’s late again”; “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to cut you off when you were talking ”.  But how often in addition to admittance of wrongdoing does “I’m sorry” mean more?  Two words that don’t just say “yeah, I shouldn’t have done that”, but also “I know I made things harder for you, and I wish I could undo it”, and even “I feel badly that you are feeling badly”.  Seven little letters and some grammatically appropriate punctuation can say so, so much.

Sarah Hazelton, LCSW

Life on the River

A few blog posts back I admitted that my strong reliance on February and March snow storms finally betrayed me and left much of the western U.S. with the worst snowfall accumulations on record. Two months later, Utah is currently on pace to have the third wettest May on record. Between relentless rainfall and absurd snow accumulations at high elevations we have seen our rivers and reservoirs swell to almost-normal rates. So what’s up with this weird weather? I wish I could tell you, but what I do know is that it has ensured our late-spring and summer plans on the water are still intact.

The first item on the river-agenda is a six-week fly fishing course that will take a handful of our students and give them the opportunity to learn the art, the difficult art, of river fly fishing. With several rivers draining out of the nearby mountains we will be able to fish different waters with different characteristics each and every week. This course starts at the beginning with personalized instruction on gear, casting and knot techniques, safe river wading procedures and hopefully, and unfortunately, not guaranteed, the joy of landing a fish on a crystal-clear river on a dry fly. It is seriously hard to top that.

Right in middle of all this fishing is our five day canoe trip down Stillwater Canyon on the Green River. Stillwater Canyon runs 52 miles through the heart of Canyonlands National Park and ends at the confluence of the Green River and Colorado River at Spanish Bottoms. River trips are hard to put into words if you’ve never done it, but I can honestly say it tops landing a fish on a crystal-clear river on a dry fly.

The month of July is full of white water rafting on the famous Snake River outside Jackson, Wyoming. With multiple trips running each week and all of our students being invited to participate this is one of the most fun months of our year. Hey-O river!

Mike Bodrero, Adventure Learning Coordinator

Targets

Farside Cartoon by Gary Larsen

At Logan River Academy we have our Foundations program and our ESSENCE program. Our ESSENCE program is for boys on the Autism Spectrum or with related issues.

One issue we are constantly working on is self-awareness. One principle that I have witnessed over the years is the truth behind the following saying: We teach people how to treat us.

We often put targets on ourselves without even knowing it. By the way we interact with others, we are consistently showing others how we want to be treated. Do we freely gossip about others? Do we have loose boundaries and over-disclose about personal issues? Do we impulsively blurt things out in class? Do we get too close to others when we talk? Do we have bad breath, body odor, or greasy hair?

All of these questions could make a statement about who we are and how we want to be treated. Part of our focus with our students is to help them learn to teach others to treat them positively and with respect. Much of what we get from others is within our control. It’s a very empowering concept to realize that much of what we get out of relationships is within our power.

In this awesome Farside cartoon this poor deer had no control over his birthmark. Fortunately, most of us have some control regarding what targets we place on ourselves! 

Adventure Learning Trip Report - Goblin Valley Camping Trip

Our latest excursion took us to the remote, south-central Utah area known as the San Rafael Swell, or maybe more commonly referenced, Goblin Valley. Our goal was to link up two slot canyons right through the heart of the “swell;” Little Wild Horse Canyon and Bell Canyon. While not technical in terms of rappels, ascensions, or other rope work, both of these canyons offered very narrow passages, climbing, descending, stemming (hands and feet on opposite walls to move forward) and plenty of water. 

The entire hike was just over eight miles, with over six of those miles in the two canyons themselves. This area of southern Utah is home to the iconic redrock sandstone that displays the powerful forces of wind and water erosion constantly. Several passages through the canyons required us to scrape through with both shoulders touching walls. Also, while we were eventually forced to get in the cold, thigh deep water to keep making progress, we did cover several hundred feet of slot canyon where we suspended ourselves over the pools of water and stemmed forward. 

The first mile or so of Little Wild Horse was relatively busy with other people, but once we got into the heart of the canyon we had much of the hike to ourselves. After we completed the hike, with everyone in high spirits I might add, we visited Goblin Valley State Park to gaze over the dozens of hoodoos that litter the valley. 

Despite the downpour during dinner on our first night, we had excellent weather and a great group that really contributed to the enjoyment of this trip. 

Brain Pathways

Much is being discovered about the human brain. I find the research fascinating as it relates to human behavior. One concept that I have always been intrigued by is the role of thought pathways in our lives. Researchers believe that each and every thought we have impacts us on a cellular level. Different pathways are formed based on thoughts we have while doing different things.

So many behavioral problems typically have underlying moving parts. Most of our behavior is connected to our thought processes whether we recognize this or not. Forming new thought pathways in our brain is essential for lasting happiness and behavioral change. If we want to lose weight, stop biting our fingernails, or not verbally react when angry, we must work to form new thought processes that will support a new response.

There is a story told of a farmer who had to cart his produce from his fields to a canal where his goods were shipped. He would place his supply in a wheel barrow each day and push it along the same path to the canal day after day. On a certain warm summer day the farmer was dutifully pushing his wheelbarrow down the same path. He noticed that the wheelbarrow was not easy to push anymore. Ruts had formed which made travel difficult. He noticed new rocks emerge that appeared too difficult to remove. The typical path that this farmer had taken for many days had become incredibly cumbersome. After finally getting to this destination, the farmer paused to consider his options. After much thought, he decided to form a new path above the old one. This new path took some effort and hard work as it was covered in lush, green, knee high grass. However, after taking a few days to clear the path, this path became very smooth and functional. The farmer now had a nice alternative in order to transport his goods.

As this short story shows, creating new pathways can be challenging but is sometimes very necessary. Some rocky or rut-filled brain pathways might sound like this: “I’m not good enough,” “I am inadequate,” “I can’t do this,” “I hate it when she does that,” “Why does everyone judge me,” “I will never measure up,” “I’m ugly,” or “Life isn’t really worth living.”

These thoughts may be a central piece in our misery, under-performance, or lack of positive behavior. My challenge to all of us is to identify our brain pathways that need some work. Work on replacing these old, negative pathways with new, positive pathways. Over time, with awareness, and with work, new pathways can be formed. Eventually these positive brain pathways can become habitual. This process can be freeing and liberating. It’s something every single one of us can start to do today! As you do this, you will notice how your outlook, mood, and view of life and people can change. Your body on a cellular level will also notice. Give it a try!

Matt Erickson, LCSW

'Twas I, but 'Tis Not I

As a therapist one of the main worries/concerns I have is trying to help people change.  Whether those changes be emotional or behavioral, I am constantly striving to help people help themselves and change the way they think, feel, and act.  Often this becomes an incredibly frustrating and at times saddening prospect as I learn to accept the reality that ultimately people change what they want to change.  In this I do not include those who cannot change genetics or physical limitations that are simply unchangeable, but rather am lamenting the plight of those who can make changes, but for myriad reasons choose not to. 

As I have continued to struggle with this reality over the past 10 years and am constantly on the look out for messages of hope that help me maintain my sanity as I walk the therapy path with individuals who are not ready to change.  Recently I heard one of these messages.

It comes from a play by Shakespeare.  While I don’t typically read a lot of Shakespeare (frankly he is a bit over my head) I nevertheless have garnered many great quotes from his works.  One of my favorites comes from the play “As You Like It.”  In the play an older brother named Oliver “frequently contrived to kill” his younger brother but to no avail.  Despite his efforts to kill his younger brother, later in his own life in a desperate situation, Oliver was rescued by his younger brother despite his frequent efforts to bring about his demise.  Upon learning of his younger brother’s efforts to save his life, Oliver makes a dramatic change for good.  Later, Oliver is asked by an individual if he was the man who so frequently tried to kill his younger brother.  Oliver replied, “Twas I, but ‘tis not I.  I do not shame to tell you what I was, since my conversion so sweetly tastes, being the thing I am.”

“Twas I, but ‘tis not I” has been an idea that has helped me find hope during the tough times with my clients; especially when they are struggling against making positive choices.  Change truly is a choice, and sometimes it is in the face of extreme peril and adversity, much like in the case of Oliver when he nearly died but was rescued by his younger brother, individuals finally make the changes they need to make for good. 

I hope for my clients, and for myself, that each of us can in our own way look back on our mistakes and say, ‘Twas I, but ‘tis not I.

Krys Oyler, LCSW