Essential questions-
1. How does energy production impact* place?
2. How does your sense of place**, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your
perception and decisions regarding energy production.
1. How does energy production impact* place?
2. How does your sense of place**, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your
perception and decisions regarding energy production.
Visual piece:
Essay
Grand smokestacks
We have been driving for a solid 4 hours, maybe more (I wouldn’t know, I sleep during 95% of road trips) when I’m abruptly awoken by the sound of the car doors being slammed shut. I throw my shoes on and flail my half asleep body out the car, the sun’s ray’s beam into my retinas instantly blinding me. Upon the opening of my eyes the world suddenly became still, I was on Mars. I had taken a spaceship to paradise. Everywhere I looked, amber colored rocks all the way to amber colored mountains to a deep and wide crystal lined river. I was about to go on an adventure, an adventure I would never forget and was something I would always want to relive and do again any chance I’m given.
As we unload our dry bags I am in constant amazement of the vast array of colors, birds flying around, and the fact that there is really nobody else here. My first important job was to pump up the paddle boards; it was a long backbreaking test that required me to pump at a constant rate. It wasn’t long after that, that we broke camp and began our voyage upstream the Colorado River. The river was quite mellow to the point where I could calmly paddle upstream. The wind was starting to build up also, all I could think about was the wind picking me up and swooping me off of my paddleboard. It was getting late and we still had not established a campsite for the night. As I roamed the giant river in search of the perfect campsite I turn a corner in the windy river. I look to each side of me and I am in pure awe, the canyon had closed me in, the canyons walls had encased me in the river. The next thing I knew was that the wind had become even more malicious in this deep canyon and seemed to actually be pushing me along and sending right on upstream. I was hands free, and couldn’t go back if I wanted to (not at the current moment at least). I then had a realization, I am floating beneath these amber giants, I can do nothing, nothing but stand there and look, and all the beauty, and see where nature decides to take me.
As I float along, something sticks out to me. There is a giant boulder in the river along with a boulder patio that broke off of a large beach. This is where we would set our first campsite up. That night Tatum, Travis and I all started off by devouring a well cooked meal around our small campfire that had to be obtained in a small metal pan. We sat around the campfire for hours, laying our minds out and wrapping our thoughts around others. Eventually I was put the sleep by Travis and his soothing voice singing ‘Black Bird’.
Day 2, I wake up with an insanely sore lower back and have the ambition that I probably won’t even be able to get out of the tent. After about half an hour of making slow movements stretching out and around, I finally regain the ability to walk. There was something different about our camp, and I could identify the different once I realized that there were new faces on our camp, these new faces were playing delightful music from a banjo. These new acquaintances had a sweet river boat called a dory which is a handcrafted wooden raft essentially. My friends and I take a seat by what was once a fire but is simply black to white ash that was wet from us putting it out the previous night. The new folks brought their chairs up to our deadbeat fire and began to share some of their Grand Canyon river trip stories with us. After breakfast I came to a conclusion that my back would be able to handle whatever I decided to throw at it today. My friends and I knew we wanted to do something extraordinary with our day in this colossal playground, but what? We spent the first portion of our day exploring and playing around on the paddle boards. Eventually we decide to move upstream even more, and do so until we saw something out of the ordinary.
There was an enormous sand dune that rested on and seeped down the side of a giant amber mountain face. It looked like a straight 2 mile long pile of gold. We decided that we were going to conquer the dune and that we needed to be at the top of it. We started by tying our paddle boards up on shore. We turn to the giant dune give each other a “heck yeah dude, let’s do this!” face and begin our epic ascent.
From where we walk, the dune looks a lot larger than we thought before. This was going to be one heck of a work out. As I’m walking my foot suddenly drops ankle deep in sand. My shoe fills up with sand like a bathtub. Crap! No turning back now. I trudge forward step by step, shoe full of sand by shoe full of sand. Whew! This was like having weights on your ankles! This felt worse than soccer practice.
But I knew of how sweet the top would be; I had to reach my honey, but we might need to take a break on the way, or maybe twelve. We trek on for what feels like four hours when I begin to wonder where the hell this actually ends. There seems to be something that resembles the top up ahead but there have been so many false peaks I have lost all hope. All I can do is continue, not because I was hopeful but because there was nothing else I could do.
We keep climbing, and what do you know! It’s the top! My legs gave out and I grabbed the warm sand with my hands before throwing my arms up into the air. I give out a loud victory roar. This dune was mine! I had to leave my mark; this was my moon to stick my flag in.
I grabbed a stick, and began drawing in the sand. First, two eyes, then a head to go with. Then of course they need a nose and body and feet and whatever else is found on a basic drawing. Before me stood the most magnificent thing I have ever drawn: a beautiful lady by the name of Queen Latifah. She would forever mark the day that Jake Pinkney and Tatum Duke conquered this mountain.
I turn my gaze to see across the canyon and I am humbled by the huge view in front of me, orange and flat for as far as I can see. Beneath, I can see the Grand Canyon slithering along the desert floor. I get excited. I want to explore it all. I call my friends over to look at this amazing sight, when I notice three small smokestacks erect in the distance. They puff out black clouds of death. It was an industrial volcano built to power a city that was built where a city probably should never have been built.
Why here? Why in this beautiful, pristine place? Why not a place like New Mexico? Or China? Or anywhere but here? What an eyesore. It was a black dragon, only seeking riches and destruction. A hero inside of me wanted to stand up, grab my shield and sword, and go slay the nasty creature. While I’m on it, I might as well go and slay all the other smog-breathing dragons that are attempting to seize our world.
Or a boy can dream. We notice the sun setting low behind the cliffs, and begin our descent home. The adults are going to start worrying soon. We begin another sand-filled adventure down the dune. Fortunately, going down a hill is much easier than going up. We reach the bottom in a fraction of the time it took getting up, and paddleboard back to camp.
We get home to find out we were gone for nearly eight hours! It was amazing how the time stood still up there. I could be up there for weeks and not even notice. I felt as free as an eagle.
Back at camp, I eat the biggest dinner I think I ever have before. Never have I shoved so many meatballs and pasta done the back of my throat. I lay down on the soft sand, placing my hand on my full belly. We sit around the campfire and then go to bed.
We stay for a couple more days before heading home. I’m sad that we’re leaving, but I’m also appreciative of this marvelous place and opportunity. I will never forget that epic climb, or that amazing view, or the dragons I would slaughter. We arrive back at the load out and clear the boat. I get into the car and before I know it I’m asleep.
As we unload our dry bags I am in constant amazement of the vast array of colors, birds flying around, and the fact that there is really nobody else here. My first important job was to pump up the paddle boards; it was a long backbreaking test that required me to pump at a constant rate. It wasn’t long after that, that we broke camp and began our voyage upstream the Colorado River. The river was quite mellow to the point where I could calmly paddle upstream. The wind was starting to build up also, all I could think about was the wind picking me up and swooping me off of my paddleboard. It was getting late and we still had not established a campsite for the night. As I roamed the giant river in search of the perfect campsite I turn a corner in the windy river. I look to each side of me and I am in pure awe, the canyon had closed me in, the canyons walls had encased me in the river. The next thing I knew was that the wind had become even more malicious in this deep canyon and seemed to actually be pushing me along and sending right on upstream. I was hands free, and couldn’t go back if I wanted to (not at the current moment at least). I then had a realization, I am floating beneath these amber giants, I can do nothing, nothing but stand there and look, and all the beauty, and see where nature decides to take me.
As I float along, something sticks out to me. There is a giant boulder in the river along with a boulder patio that broke off of a large beach. This is where we would set our first campsite up. That night Tatum, Travis and I all started off by devouring a well cooked meal around our small campfire that had to be obtained in a small metal pan. We sat around the campfire for hours, laying our minds out and wrapping our thoughts around others. Eventually I was put the sleep by Travis and his soothing voice singing ‘Black Bird’.
Day 2, I wake up with an insanely sore lower back and have the ambition that I probably won’t even be able to get out of the tent. After about half an hour of making slow movements stretching out and around, I finally regain the ability to walk. There was something different about our camp, and I could identify the different once I realized that there were new faces on our camp, these new faces were playing delightful music from a banjo. These new acquaintances had a sweet river boat called a dory which is a handcrafted wooden raft essentially. My friends and I take a seat by what was once a fire but is simply black to white ash that was wet from us putting it out the previous night. The new folks brought their chairs up to our deadbeat fire and began to share some of their Grand Canyon river trip stories with us. After breakfast I came to a conclusion that my back would be able to handle whatever I decided to throw at it today. My friends and I knew we wanted to do something extraordinary with our day in this colossal playground, but what? We spent the first portion of our day exploring and playing around on the paddle boards. Eventually we decide to move upstream even more, and do so until we saw something out of the ordinary.
There was an enormous sand dune that rested on and seeped down the side of a giant amber mountain face. It looked like a straight 2 mile long pile of gold. We decided that we were going to conquer the dune and that we needed to be at the top of it. We started by tying our paddle boards up on shore. We turn to the giant dune give each other a “heck yeah dude, let’s do this!” face and begin our epic ascent.
From where we walk, the dune looks a lot larger than we thought before. This was going to be one heck of a work out. As I’m walking my foot suddenly drops ankle deep in sand. My shoe fills up with sand like a bathtub. Crap! No turning back now. I trudge forward step by step, shoe full of sand by shoe full of sand. Whew! This was like having weights on your ankles! This felt worse than soccer practice.
But I knew of how sweet the top would be; I had to reach my honey, but we might need to take a break on the way, or maybe twelve. We trek on for what feels like four hours when I begin to wonder where the hell this actually ends. There seems to be something that resembles the top up ahead but there have been so many false peaks I have lost all hope. All I can do is continue, not because I was hopeful but because there was nothing else I could do.
We keep climbing, and what do you know! It’s the top! My legs gave out and I grabbed the warm sand with my hands before throwing my arms up into the air. I give out a loud victory roar. This dune was mine! I had to leave my mark; this was my moon to stick my flag in.
I grabbed a stick, and began drawing in the sand. First, two eyes, then a head to go with. Then of course they need a nose and body and feet and whatever else is found on a basic drawing. Before me stood the most magnificent thing I have ever drawn: a beautiful lady by the name of Queen Latifah. She would forever mark the day that Jake Pinkney and Tatum Duke conquered this mountain.
I turn my gaze to see across the canyon and I am humbled by the huge view in front of me, orange and flat for as far as I can see. Beneath, I can see the Grand Canyon slithering along the desert floor. I get excited. I want to explore it all. I call my friends over to look at this amazing sight, when I notice three small smokestacks erect in the distance. They puff out black clouds of death. It was an industrial volcano built to power a city that was built where a city probably should never have been built.
Why here? Why in this beautiful, pristine place? Why not a place like New Mexico? Or China? Or anywhere but here? What an eyesore. It was a black dragon, only seeking riches and destruction. A hero inside of me wanted to stand up, grab my shield and sword, and go slay the nasty creature. While I’m on it, I might as well go and slay all the other smog-breathing dragons that are attempting to seize our world.
Or a boy can dream. We notice the sun setting low behind the cliffs, and begin our descent home. The adults are going to start worrying soon. We begin another sand-filled adventure down the dune. Fortunately, going down a hill is much easier than going up. We reach the bottom in a fraction of the time it took getting up, and paddleboard back to camp.
We get home to find out we were gone for nearly eight hours! It was amazing how the time stood still up there. I could be up there for weeks and not even notice. I felt as free as an eagle.
Back at camp, I eat the biggest dinner I think I ever have before. Never have I shoved so many meatballs and pasta done the back of my throat. I lay down on the soft sand, placing my hand on my full belly. We sit around the campfire and then go to bed.
We stay for a couple more days before heading home. I’m sad that we’re leaving, but I’m also appreciative of this marvelous place and opportunity. I will never forget that epic climb, or that amazing view, or the dragons I would slaughter. We arrive back at the load out and clear the boat. I get into the car and before I know it I’m asleep.
Reflection:
For this project students were asked to find a place that was special to them, a place you felt at home or in a safe haven. Not only this but we needed to use the writing techniques and styles we learned by reading articles like "the land ethic" so that we could learn how to effectively use nature writing.
Throughout writing this paper I had many struggles. My first and probably hardest struggle actually figuring out what/where I wanted to write my paper about. My next struggle was this nature writing style that I was newly acquainted with and how I wanted to portray my environmental ethics. It eventually came clear to me that I wanted to write about my trip to the Grand Canyon.
I am very proud of how my final paper ended up, there is some great nature writing descriptions and a wonderful simile about the power-plant being a dragon, and I pick my sword and shield up and want to slay the dragon. I am also quite proud of my visual piece, I love how the whole thing ended up dark and makes the grand canyon actually look like a less appealing place with black skies.
Honestly I really did not like how we joint the projects or the fact that I had 2 more projects to present at the exhibition on top of that. I don't think that any students should have to prepare 4 full scale projects for a single night exhibition, or the fact that I had prepare all of these projects at once.
Throughout writing this paper I had many struggles. My first and probably hardest struggle actually figuring out what/where I wanted to write my paper about. My next struggle was this nature writing style that I was newly acquainted with and how I wanted to portray my environmental ethics. It eventually came clear to me that I wanted to write about my trip to the Grand Canyon.
I am very proud of how my final paper ended up, there is some great nature writing descriptions and a wonderful simile about the power-plant being a dragon, and I pick my sword and shield up and want to slay the dragon. I am also quite proud of my visual piece, I love how the whole thing ended up dark and makes the grand canyon actually look like a less appealing place with black skies.
Honestly I really did not like how we joint the projects or the fact that I had 2 more projects to present at the exhibition on top of that. I don't think that any students should have to prepare 4 full scale projects for a single night exhibition, or the fact that I had prepare all of these projects at once.