Summertime Stories from Steens: Story 1
Hello everyone!
Plenty has happened since I last posted. I've had many adventures, both big and small. The adventure that has stood out to me most was my two-week experience in Oregon in early July.
Back Story
Three years ago, I got to travel around Oregon with my high school cross country coach and his wife. We watched the 2016 USA Olympic Trials, attended a family reunion, and went to the Steens Mountain High Altitude Running Camp (just "Steens" for short). The running camp was one of the last things we did, and it was a week long. A few months before our trip, my high school coach asked my mom if I was interested in going to Steens while I was out in Oregon. I had heard stories about the camp at team practices. My impression of the camp, based on about 10 fragmented descriptions, was that it was a mysterious running camp set on a mountain, where campers hiked 20 miles and passed out. Technology was not allowed (which was fine because my highest form of technology at the time was a flip phone), and there was an event called Basque Night on Thursday.
After about five minutes of thinking about it, I decided that I wanted to go. I was not completely sure what to expect, but I was excited to try some new things.
While at camp, I learned a thing or two about myself. I learned that the world did not revolve around me and that I was stronger than I thought I was. The camp was centered around teamwork, and prior to camp that was never really something I enjoyed. Cross country is a team sport, and I needed to do what was best for the team if I wanted to be a better runner. Inspired by this knowledge, I came back home and had the best cross country season of my life. My team won the 2016 MAIS Homeschool XC Championship. I also kept in contact with the founder of the camp and his wife, Harland and Kay Yriarte.
I never went back to Steens as a camper. I graduated from high school and went to college. As time passed, I kept emailing Mr. Harland and Mrs. Kay--keeping them updated on my life and my family. In my sophomore year of college, I got the opportunity to become a camp assistant at Steens this summer. I was super excited and super nervous. I planned to go, but I was not sure I was in good enough shape (I was also kind of terrified that I would fall down a snowbank or something). I had been dealing with a foot injury for most of the summer, and I cross-trained like crazy to make sure I would not get out of shape. Still, I was really nervous and worried about anything that I could be nervous and worried about.
Side Note: Worrying comes naturally to me. It's not a good thing, and I am not proud of it. I've prayed about it, and God has placed different people in my life to help me trust in Him and not myself.
Four months later, I boarded a plane heading to Oregon. After a lot of packing, worrying, and praying--I was ready.
To be completely honest, I love Oregon, and I hope to live there one day. When I stepped off the plane in Redmond, Oregon, I was relieved. It was so good to be back.
I stayed with a friend of mine, Jan, and her family. I had not seen her in three years (since the last time I had been in Oregon). We ran together and the next day I got to go to their family reunion. I ate a lot of cherries.
Camp Set-Up Week (July 7-13)
On Sunday (July 7th), I reported to Burns, Oregon with Sailor. Sailor and I would work alongside six other people setting up camp the week before it started.
Side Note: Sailor and I were to be co-camp assistants when the camp started. I got to ride to Burns with her.
After everyone met up in Burns, we packed a lot of boxes full of shirts into the trailer and rode up to the campsite with Cindy, a fellow counselor.
Sailor, Cindy, and I got to hang out a lot over the course of the week. By the time we got to the campsite, we were friends. From waking up at 5am in the morning to run to clearing trails with rakes and pick-axes, we were pretty much together all of the time. I loved getting to know the both of them.
I also loved the lack of cell-phone service. It made everything very quiet and I was able to think clearly.
Wildhorse Lake
We finished up most of the work that needed to be done Wednesday morning (July 10th), so we went to Wildhorse Lake., which was about 11-12 miles from camp (I think), Being the FlatLand American that I am, I assumed that we would ride over to Wildhorse Lake in a vehicle of some sort, and just put our feet in the water.
We did drive to the trail LEADING to Wildhorse Lake. When we stoppped the car, I thought the lake would be about a quarter-mile out and we would walk on a smooth dirt path. I was wrong. We all walked over to the very rocky and very steep trail and started climbing/walking/hiking down. At first, I was going to chicken out and just sit in the track, but I realized that I could not let fear dictate what I was and was not going to do. I walked down the trail with the rest of the group half terrified and half exhilarated. Two of the guys, David and Sam, helped me shuffle down the trail. Sometimes I wanted to curl up and stay where I was.
Side Note: I am not a chicken, but I am terrified of heights, and falling from a high place to my death. I thought I was going to fall off the trail to my death. As much as I love the Steens Mountains, I did not want to die there. Nevertheless, I had to keep moving.
We got to a large snowbank about 30 minutes into the hike and started skating on it towards the lake. It was super fun!
We finally got to the lake, and it was huge (and cold). I dunked myself in the water and got a brain freeze (ouch!). Sailor and I walked along the creek leading to the lake and watched the trout swim through the water. It was beautiful! Cindy tried to catch a trout, but they were too fast. Oh well.
Hiking up the trail was so much easier than hiking down the trail. I wasn't as scared, and we were going uphill. When we got to the really steep/shady parts, Cole showed me where to step.
Despite the fact that I was afraid of falling to my death, I had an awesome time.
Back to Burns
By Friday, we had everything pretty much ready, and we went back to Burns, Oregon for the weekend. We all got to stay at a clean hotel, and we ate a Mexican restaurant (I forgot the name, but the food was great).
On Saturday morning, Sailor and I went for a run at the same time. I ran eight miles, so I ran half of it with her--then I slowed down and finished close to the hotel. Sailor ran much longer, which was really cool. I was really happy that I was able to run more than 4-5 miles after taking a nine-week break from running. I felt pretty good, too. I curled up in bed afterwards and watched a Diamond League track meet. For about three hours, that's all I had the energy to do.
Cindy, Sailor, and I went on a grand tour of Burns by shopping at garage sales later in the day. We got a lot of cool deals. I even got a nice pair of boots at a farmer's market. I was so proud of my purchase.
Sunday was the beginning of the first session of camp. So we left the hotel, packed a lot of boxes of food in the U-haul, and went to a staff meeting at a community center. Upon arrival, we were inspired by Mr. Harland to do our best work throughout the week. I was really excited and kind of nervous (but not too much). Sailor and I practiced our campers' names and our stuff was pretty much set up back at camp. We were ready!
Session One needs its own post, so I will stop here and save the rest of the story for later! To hear the rest of the story, stay tuned! Thank you for reading my blog! Comment below!
P.S. Most of the photos were taken by Sailor (Photo credit).
Plenty has happened since I last posted. I've had many adventures, both big and small. The adventure that has stood out to me most was my two-week experience in Oregon in early July.
Back Story
 |
| Just hanging out in the mountains! |
After about five minutes of thinking about it, I decided that I wanted to go. I was not completely sure what to expect, but I was excited to try some new things.
While at camp, I learned a thing or two about myself. I learned that the world did not revolve around me and that I was stronger than I thought I was. The camp was centered around teamwork, and prior to camp that was never really something I enjoyed. Cross country is a team sport, and I needed to do what was best for the team if I wanted to be a better runner. Inspired by this knowledge, I came back home and had the best cross country season of my life. My team won the 2016 MAIS Homeschool XC Championship. I also kept in contact with the founder of the camp and his wife, Harland and Kay Yriarte.
I never went back to Steens as a camper. I graduated from high school and went to college. As time passed, I kept emailing Mr. Harland and Mrs. Kay--keeping them updated on my life and my family. In my sophomore year of college, I got the opportunity to become a camp assistant at Steens this summer. I was super excited and super nervous. I planned to go, but I was not sure I was in good enough shape (I was also kind of terrified that I would fall down a snowbank or something). I had been dealing with a foot injury for most of the summer, and I cross-trained like crazy to make sure I would not get out of shape. Still, I was really nervous and worried about anything that I could be nervous and worried about.
 |
| Jan and I |
Side Note: Worrying comes naturally to me. It's not a good thing, and I am not proud of it. I've prayed about it, and God has placed different people in my life to help me trust in Him and not myself.
Four months later, I boarded a plane heading to Oregon. After a lot of packing, worrying, and praying--I was ready.
To be completely honest, I love Oregon, and I hope to live there one day. When I stepped off the plane in Redmond, Oregon, I was relieved. It was so good to be back.
I stayed with a friend of mine, Jan, and her family. I had not seen her in three years (since the last time I had been in Oregon). We ran together and the next day I got to go to their family reunion. I ate a lot of cherries.
 |
| Sailor and I! |
On Sunday (July 7th), I reported to Burns, Oregon with Sailor. Sailor and I would work alongside six other people setting up camp the week before it started.
Side Note: Sailor and I were to be co-camp assistants when the camp started. I got to ride to Burns with her.
After everyone met up in Burns, we packed a lot of boxes full of shirts into the trailer and rode up to the campsite with Cindy, a fellow counselor.
Sailor, Cindy, and I got to hang out a lot over the course of the week. By the time we got to the campsite, we were friends. From waking up at 5am in the morning to run to clearing trails with rakes and pick-axes, we were pretty much together all of the time. I loved getting to know the both of them.
 |
| Cindy, Sailor, and Me |
Wildhorse Lake
We finished up most of the work that needed to be done Wednesday morning (July 10th), so we went to Wildhorse Lake., which was about 11-12 miles from camp (I think), Being the FlatLand American that I am, I assumed that we would ride over to Wildhorse Lake in a vehicle of some sort, and just put our feet in the water.
 |
| A picture taken near Wildhorse Lake |
Side Note: I am not a chicken, but I am terrified of heights, and falling from a high place to my death. I thought I was going to fall off the trail to my death. As much as I love the Steens Mountains, I did not want to die there. Nevertheless, I had to keep moving.
We got to a large snowbank about 30 minutes into the hike and started skating on it towards the lake. It was super fun!
 |
| I was trying to hang out in the water, and it was super cold! |
Hiking up the trail was so much easier than hiking down the trail. I wasn't as scared, and we were going uphill. When we got to the really steep/shady parts, Cole showed me where to step.
Despite the fact that I was afraid of falling to my death, I had an awesome time.
Back to Burns
By Friday, we had everything pretty much ready, and we went back to Burns, Oregon for the weekend. We all got to stay at a clean hotel, and we ate a Mexican restaurant (I forgot the name, but the food was great).
On Saturday morning, Sailor and I went for a run at the same time. I ran eight miles, so I ran half of it with her--then I slowed down and finished close to the hotel. Sailor ran much longer, which was really cool. I was really happy that I was able to run more than 4-5 miles after taking a nine-week break from running. I felt pretty good, too. I curled up in bed afterwards and watched a Diamond League track meet. For about three hours, that's all I had the energy to do.
 |
| Found a khaki trench coat. Loved it, but I left it |
Session One needs its own post, so I will stop here and save the rest of the story for later! To hear the rest of the story, stay tuned! Thank you for reading my blog! Comment below!
P.S. Most of the photos were taken by Sailor (Photo credit).
Yes, Leah! Thanks for sharing. It is so refreshing reading your account. Talk soon❤
ReplyDeleteHad a blast with you Cindy!
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