Trekking cross country to save the planet
Liz's First Blog Entry (Scroll Down for Latest Blogs)
Hello friends. My name is Liz Otte and I am a junior (almost senior) biology major here at Hanover. I am from Crothersville, Ind., but instead of staying in the Midwest for this summer vacation, I will embark on an adventure westward with my best friend and fiance, Nate Browlee, who is a Hanover alum (Class of 2006).
We will travel across the country as part of a Rivers Institute grant I received entitled "Search for Stewardship." Rivers has funded student and faculty projects for almost five years now, and I am very excited to be a part of this academic tradition of exploring environmental issues through science, culture and the liberal arts. My project will combine my two passions - the environment and writing - as I synthesize a series of essays based on stewardship and sustainability.
I hope to understand how we live in harmony with the Earth and subsequently with one another, and how we fail to do so based upon visits to five major regions (the Midwest, the Plains, the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and the northern Rockies). I will examine key environmental issues in each region (power, water, agriculture, aquaculture, community, education and environmental protection) by talking with rangers, environmental groups, farmers, community members and fellow travelers. I will also search for understanding by camping and backpacking and reading a variety of texts (ranging from "Artic Dreams" by Barry Lopez to "Catch 22" by Joseph Heller). I will communicate all of my experiences in this blog and, eventually, in a series of essays. I hope to culminate these creative non-fiction works with an essay that reimagines the future - a future where we live in a respectful relationship with the Earth, where communities are strong, and everyone and everything enjoys the same basic rights.
Will I acheive these goals? It's hard to say. I'm certain that I will learn lessons this summer as I've been doing all along here at Hanover. I'm also certain that the trip will be a blast — check out postings in the next few weeks for pictures from the Platte River and Denver as well as Arches, Great Basin and Redwood National Parks. After that we'll be in Alaska for ten weeks. I have an internship studying crabs (as part of my Independent Study) and Nate will work on the organic farm where we will live. Finally, a five week trip home backpacking through Denali, Banff, Jasper, Glacier and Badlands National Parks.
Until then,
Peace,
Liz
Liz's Blog - May 12, 2008 Updated
Hello Friends, w e've spent the last week exploring the coast of Oregon and Washington — what I've always imagined as a steep, craggy coast bombarded by crashing waves. After a week spent backpacking and staying in a hostel in the Redwoods, our trip up the coast on Highway 101 was somewhat strange: beautiful, to be sure, but much more civilized (lunch in diners and at Taco Bell, many more people, small tourist towns). I am a lover of the remote and quiet, so thankfully, the natural beauty, kind people, art galleries and wildlife balanced these trinkets of civilization. I will try to describe the reality that we found: lush, green rain forests, lighthouses clinging to the side of mountains to warn sailors on their way and clear-cut forests crying with pain. Tidal pools and crashing waves, more RV's at campsites than I ever could have imagined, campgrounds regulated for tents only and populated by kayakers, surfers and explorers of all varieties. The warmth of sand dunes under my feet, cool fog drifting past the campsite as we cook a warm dinner of noodles and a sunset enjoyed while sitting on the rocks and driftwood of a secluded beach.
If you ever follow this winding road, I recommend focusing on northern Oregon, for here I fell in love with the beaches, the cliffs and the forests. I especially loved the two nights spent at a state park with tent camping only, where we sat on the shore for hours reading, watching surfers, exploring the rocks and waterfalls, and watching over a baby seal pup. The mother seal had left her baby to rest on the shore, and it slept the entire time we stayed on the beach, twitching every few minutes as it dreamed.
Once Nate and I crossed into Washington, however, a strong sadness came over both of us. For a 20-mile stretch of road we saw nothing but clear-cut forests and "replanted" forests, which is good in theory, except that the logging companies only planted one type of tree, meaning that very few animals can survive in these "second growth" forests. Logging trucks dominated the roads and seeing them devastated me. I knew that clear cutting occurred, but I honestly thought this mindless practice existed only outside the developed world. We saw firsthand that this disrespectful obliteration of the natural world occurs right here in the U.S., and that it isn't hidden; it is common. It bolstered me, however, to see the roads lined with farms advertising organic and naturally grown foods, that local people and art populate the towns, and that the protected portions of the Pacific Northwest are indeed serene. We'll explore this part of the world for another week while we stay with friends in Vancouver, B.C., and then take a ferry north through the Inside Passage to Alaska, so check back for accounts of fjords, fish farms and the coast.
 |
 |
Until then, Peace,
liz
Liz's Blog - May 5, 2008
Hello again friends, n ever before have I awoken to snow - feet and feet of it - and laid down that night on a dry bed of pine needles, with crashing waves lulling me to sleep. After exploring what we could of Crater Lake without skis or snowshoes, we headed southwest for Redwood National Park. I cannot convey the grandeur of these forests. Walking among these 2000 year old trees, time seemed unimportant - useless, even - for here the only thing that matters is the sun and rain, warmth and wind. These life-sustaining forces have supported three-inch long banana slugs (most of which were yellow, though some, termed "ripe" had brown spots) and 350-foot tall Sequoia trees. I, too, gained energy and life from our time in this mysterious ecosystem.
We learned a great deal about the land and water from one of the rangers at the park. He told us about the struggle to establish the park (it's only been around for forty years) and the challenge of preserving trees that are both intrinsically beautiful and economically valuable. Only two percent of the native Redwood forests still exist, the rest of these eloquent creatures has succumbed to timber logging, a process that continues today on private land around the state. The birds and fish that live in the shadows on the Redwoods are also in trouble, with the human population's impact decimating populations through overfishing, pollution, development, litter and other disrespectful practices. With the help of local communities, native tribes like the Yurok people and the parks system, this stand of coastal Redwoods endure, but the forests that once covered this land will never return.
After several days among the trunks of giants, we took to the shore. We sat down for a beach picnic, and immediately saw the spouts of gray whales. These marine mammals migrate north from their winter feeding-grounds in Baja, Calif. to their summer home in northern Alaska, but the pod we watched seemed more concerned with playing than the cool waters off Alaska. Amazed, Nate and I literally watched spouts, backs, fins and tails for four hours. We also explored tidal pools, where we found anemones, sea stars, crabs, clams, mussels, and more! After a semester of studying marine and freshwater ecosystems, it thrilled me to see these beautiful creatures at such close proximity. We finished the day eating tomato soup and watching the whales from the bay windows of the international youth hostel where we spent the night and declared the week a successful exploration into the natural beauty of the west.
Peace,
Liz
Liz's Blog - May 1, 2008 
Hello friends, t he trip continues to amaze me! After leaving Denver, we headed west to Great Basin National Park in Nevada. This park sits atop a mountain range, and in my Midwestern naiveté, I did not expect snow. I was wrong! Nate and I hoped to hike to Nevada's only glacier to examine how, in the midst of the arid high desert, a glacier could exist. We also wanted to examine Bristlecone pine, a type of tree that lives more than 5,000 years; the snow, however, had other plans for us, and though we hiked eight miles up and down the mountain, the trail was impassable and impossible to find. Though slightly disappointed, we had an excellent time exploring the park's cave system and watching the stars. Because the nearest cities are hundreds of miles away, the night sky was brilliant.
We arrived at Crater Lake, North America's deepest and cleanest lake, after a stunning 13-hour car ride through the desert. Instead of traffic and road signs, tumbleweed and grand mountains beckoned for our attention along the lonely highways. I was delighted at this desert landscape. Aldo Leopold, the great conservationist, said, "In country, as in people, a plain exterior often conceals hidden riches." I did not expect the endless mountain ranges, the jackrabbits or the dirt devils, but these phenomena captivated me.
Though we hoped to camp in the park, we once again met snow. Crater Lake receives about 553 inches of snow each year and though this is essential to maintain the 1996-foot depth of the lake, it was quite troublesome for camping! With more than two stories of snow on the ground, we stayed the night at an inn with two sage-like proprietors who invited us into their home. Jim and Robin talked with us for hours, discussing the state of our society - how we are harming each other and how we can help one another. They were passionate, kind people, and we much enjoyed their enthusiasm; it continues to bolster my hope for the future.
Until next time, hike on, friends,
Liz
Liz's Blog - April 28, 2008
Hello again friends, the journey has begun! We arrived in Denver last night, and though we are only four days into this adventure, we have learned so much already. First, I suppose, is the fact that this continent is large! I'm currently reading John Steinbeck's "Travels with Charley," which documents his exploration of the United States and Canada with his dog, Charley. They learn (or remember) this lesson just a few days into their trip just as we have, though I must say that driving across this beautiful land is incredibly rewarding, and and hiking and camping in its natural place, listening to the sound of a river as it passes by and feeling the prairie wind whip against your face - is even better.
We have learned our most pronounced lesson, though, in the form of kindness. Through the course of five interviews and a few nights camping, Nate and I have met a remarkable group of people. We are meeting them as part of my Rivers Institute Grant, which is funding the trip as part of my exploration of stewardship. Throughout the journey to Alaska and back, I am trying to ascertain how we can create a better, more sustainable future. In this first portion of the project, I am examining agriculture and water issues in the Plains (primarily Nebraska and Colorado). Though I had arranged interviews with interesting groups and people, I did not expect to receive this level of caring and kindness. The people are all so passionate about what they do and they just want to share that knowledge.
So far we have talked with two staunch but intelligent gentlemen who are working towards a more sustainable future for the High Plains and toured a frizzy haired farmer's organic operation and chatted about the movement for organic and sustainably-grown foods (while drinking organic tea mixed with illegal, unpasteurized milk, no less). We have talked with a very chill waitress at Chipotle, a restuarant that sells only naturally raised foods and taken a tour of Rowe Bird Sanctuary with the director, a 6'5" ex-football player and bird lover extraodinaire. While camping we met Rockin' Robin, a 45 year-old construction worker and lead singer of a rock band who has helped build most of 1-80, the interstate we have followed for most of our journey, and a very kind 27-year old woman named Ostara who is traveling the country hoping to find solace away from consumerism and our hectic society. Finally, today, we met with an environmental group in Denver and learned about how urban areas are doing their part to conserve land and water and be better stewards of the Earth. I feel so fortunate to learn from these people (both for the project and just in general) and I hope for my own sake and the world's that we continue to meet such caring individuals - I would truly love to come back to Hanover more confident that we can develop a sustainable relationship with the planet and with each other. I do believe that we can make this shift, but it is reaffirming to realize that many, many others are working toward a better future as well.
Perhaps the song Ostara played for us in the car ride back from Rowe Sanctuary (we carpooled, of course) is the most fitting way to describe this first leg of the journey. Ben Harper (one of my favorite artists) sings with sadness but determination that there must be a better way:
"I'm a living sunset
Lightning in my bones
Push me to the edge
But my will is stone
Fools will be fools
And wise will be wise
But i will look this world
Straight in the eyes
What good is a man
Who won't take a stand
What good is a cynic
With no better plan
Reality is sharp
It cuts at me like a knife
Everyone i know
Is in the fight of their life
Take your face out of your hands
And clear your eyes
You have a right to your dreams
And don't be denied
I believe in a better way"
I believe and I hope you do, too.
Until next time, peace,
liz
About Liz
Year in school: Junior – Class of 2009
Hometown: Crothersville, Ind.
Major: Biology, English minor
Wants to be: A good person.
Hobbies: Hiking, Frisbee, playing guitar, reading
Where I hope to travel: Alaska!
Where I've traveled: Parts of Canada, all but four of the United States, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Italy, and Greece.
Favorite Movie: Bandits
Scariest Movie Ever: Scream (I'm not good at scary movies!)
Pet: Bailey, my dog.
Who would play me in the movies: Sigourney Weaver
Favorite Hanover memory so far: Staying up all night to hike and watch the stars with my best friends.
Facebook or MySpace: Facebook, though I'm not on often.
Biggest hope or dream: To help make the world a better place.
