LA MANCHA

MAY 2008

Another great workshop in Romania and Poland.

Facilitators: Lynn Vigil, Boone Nicholson, Carole Churchill-Dicks and Jarred Sartel.

KEEPING BUSY...

New experiential education classes, lifesteps, Intervention and more kept everyone busy:

CLIMBING MT. HOOD

On May 18, 2008 Teacher and mentor, Alex Rocco climbed Mt Hood, Oregon with MBA students: Casey F., John V., Steven N. and Dave E.

“My struggles were not that bad, just waking up so early and once we got to the top, the little narrow path we had to hike with a 400 foot drop to my left. The angles of the final slope were steep to me and I was fatigued towards the end. I made it eventually and I’m glad that I kept on persevering.”

“That experience really spoke to me that as long as I keep trying and not giving up, I have the ability to do anything. Whenever I feel as though I am worthless or like giving up I think about that one experience on the mountain.”

“While on the car ride to Mt. Hood I was just staring off into the view of the country and thinking how much I haven’t seen. The size of the mountains and the vastness of the farthest horizon with the sun hitting the rocks and making all sorts of colors and contrasts... Then I think of life. How short it is, how tiny some of my problems are and me making them into huge ordeals that usually end up with me thinking how stupid I am sometimes acting. There is so much more out there to see and experience and I don’t want to waste my time with dumb pointless crap that runs through my life. Why should I sit and dwell in pity when there is a mountain or a cliff or an environment that I can explore and virtually become one with the Earth that provides all life and home for all of us.”

“I obtained a lot of knowledge concerning the reliability of you and your fellow climbers. Each and every climber holds his and the other climbers lives in his hands. If one of us were to make a mistake, the other two or three in the rope group would pay, even sometimes with your life.”

“We started the climb at roughly 2:30am. With just the turn of a head you could go from looking at boots and snow to gazing at the full moon. The image needed no words.”

“When I was on top of Mt Hood for the short time I was, I was thinking of this and squinting against the sun and the roaring wind I realized that I had accomplished something that I never thought I would ever do. It made me a bit proud of myself and is an experience that I will never forget.”

FOR MORE PICTURES FROM SPRING 2008 click here