tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660070345621212792024-02-18T22:55:02.076-08:00Alzar School NewsAlzar School Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04013449488891971029noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-60862809680426860512011-07-20T17:41:00.000-07:002011-07-21T07:21:11.661-07:00120 Kids, 2 Whitewater Events, and Tons of FUNThe Camp Cup Challenge 2011 was a huge success! Young people from across the U.S. and a few international youth attend summer camp in North Carolina every year. We invite camps to bring their whitewater-loving youth to a two day event on the Nantahala River. Day one is a training day, followed by delicious ice cream (Thank You Endless River Adventures). Day two, campers participate in two Alzar School Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04013449488891971029noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-24253382771839793332011-07-06T16:29:00.001-07:002011-07-06T16:29:46.705-07:00We want you downstream for safety“Alright, rafters, you guys are going first. We want you downstream for safety.” The order was coming from the very top: our leaders of the day. Sitting in this eddy on the Cabarton Section of the NF Payette, I couldn’t help but feel a touch nervous. Forty yards downstream was a horizon line where the river dropped completely out of sight into Howard’s Plunge. A small crowd of spectators Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-45118963919644297512011-07-06T13:17:00.000-07:002011-07-06T16:37:38.057-07:00Too fast and too furious.Well, it was a fast three weeks. I can't believe it is already over. Our last day of kayaking was bittersweet. Living in Georgia most of the year, I really enjoyed being back on western rivers. Our last two students left for the airport, and we are just putting away the last of the gear. I came in to get out of the heat for a bit. Last night Sean had everyone write their highlight of the trip onKristin Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00314611038662403691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-49775409874442549292011-06-29T21:33:00.002-07:002011-06-29T21:34:50.065-07:00Entry by Sam N.On 6-22 the entire group of kayakers traveled to a beautiful canyon. In this canyon was a tiny but spectacular creek called Clear Creek. The water actually was extremely clear and really cold. While floating down this beautiful, clear, cold creek, we had wildlife sighting and exciting rapids. Through the course of the run, I did the first half in the raft and the second half in kayak. Both Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-88450973988403269812011-06-29T21:33:00.001-07:002011-06-29T21:33:54.321-07:00An hour off the clock, by Sam GoffThe daily student leaders allowed instructors Sam Goff and Dan Thurber to run the notorious Nordheimer class iv/v stretch on the Cal Salmon. The duo set out early, charging tight classic pool drop lines. This boating style is a far cry from the big wave constant action provided by the NF Payette yet still it's very challenging.The most memorable rapids were Cascade and Freight Train. Cascade Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-48095196785973313782011-06-28T12:29:00.000-07:002011-06-28T12:30:36.002-07:00Ranger Danger Dave's Hike by SerenaAs a start, I'd just like to say hello to the outside world! I hope all of you reading this are well, especially since I haven't talked to any of you recently.But, I'd like to blog about what I at least think was the coolest day on the trip so far. It was three days ago, on the 24th and it was a bit of a change of plans. Originally, we were supposed to drive to our next campsite and then spendSean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-55218032396345007292011-06-28T12:28:00.002-07:002011-06-28T12:29:34.781-07:00Ranger Danger Dave by BurkeOn the 24th of June the Alzar School spent the day with river ranger "Danger" Dave. We started with some paddling and service work, pulling scotch broom, an invasive species. After that we were rewarded with an amazing hike to a secluded waterfall. Now I've done some hiking in my day, and I'm not the biggest fan. But this hike was awesome! We crossed a creek three times, and one of them we Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-80004962745381762982011-06-28T12:28:00.001-07:002011-06-28T12:28:47.655-07:00Elena's thoughts on FLOWPaddling every day has been super cool and I am getting a lot better. I've already had two pretty good tries at a combat roll and my eddy turns and peel outs are improving. We have been to some incredibly beautiful places, especially Clear Creek. And, the photos I've been taking with my silly little disposable camera hardly do justice to any of the fantastic views. The swims I've been having Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-21191292269102634502011-06-28T12:27:00.000-07:002011-06-28T12:28:09.797-07:00A cold day on the water by AdamIt was only the second day of the trip when we paddled the Cabarton section of the Payette River. We were told the water would be very, very cold, but little did we know that it would also be raining. After performing my first roll in the water, my whole upper body instantly went numb. At first I thought it was going to be a long, miserable day, but when I began to notice the intensity of the Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-61719270742810974222011-06-28T12:26:00.002-07:002011-06-28T12:27:15.813-07:00Chaco tans and cornbread pans by JoeEvery day starts almost the same. Wake up too hot, step outside and it's too cold. My nose is too stuffy to breath through. I stumble through the morning twilight to the horrid smelling portapotty. I then try to help the cooking crew with any last minute preparations. As I eat, I wait for my allergy pills to take effect. This is my ideal situation.Currently I am sitting on a grassy hill Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-73128039328106801742011-06-28T12:26:00.001-07:002011-06-28T12:26:37.415-07:00Methodist Creek by Gordy After a little later than expected lunch, the more experienced paddlers decided to go to the South Fork of the Salmon River. After arriving at the put in, our fearless leader of the day, Katie, decided to take charge. We quickly unloaded our boats and waited for shuttle. After our instructors Sean and Dan arrived, we finally got to have some fun. Katie did a great job leading everyone down theSean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-87133149579229314522011-06-28T12:25:00.000-07:002011-06-28T12:26:00.183-07:00Location: Clear Creek, CA by BaileyThe roar of an upcoming rapid fills my ears. I focus on direct strokes as the blade of my paddle cuts through crystal clear water. The sweet aroma of danger, the great outdoors, and freedom fills my nostrils. The rocks, some ten feet below me, look like yellow lines on a highway. They speed right by and are filled in by new shades of green, brown, and blue. Clear Creek cuts right through Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-29551505510192018852011-06-28T12:23:00.000-07:002011-06-28T12:25:05.309-07:00Hike with Ranger Dave by SarahIn Happy Camp, California, we met the ranger and helped him with pulling plants that are invasive species to California. The day before we had pulled the mustard seed plant. We decided as a group to raft and kayak down the Klamath River with Ranger Dave and helped pull another kind of invasive species. Ranger Dave told us about a really cool waterfall up a creek and we all decided to hike Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-25518384439998300422011-06-23T22:10:00.000-07:002011-06-23T22:11:43.856-07:00First set of blogs from FLOW 2011Luke's Blog EntryOn the morning of June 19, the Alzar School departed Idaho bound for Oregon and eventually California. With anticipation speeding our efforts, we quickly packed up camp and drove off in the early morning sun, leaving behind our generous camp host Steve (believed by many to be Sasquatch). The school drove through rolling hills pockmarked with caves and 20 foot cliffs, passed Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-64072083623005479032011-01-17T10:24:00.000-08:002011-01-17T10:25:20.263-08:00More lasting impressions from "Rivers of Chile 2011"In Chile we felt more welcome than we would in any other country. Their hospitality and kindness was better than any other. Sean and Kristen had talked about the friends that they had made down there. At first I just thought it was people that they had met but I soon learned otherwise. My favorite memory of the trip was pulling up to Augustine's house at 11 at night and everyone was happy Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-88763953646939261552011-01-15T16:24:00.000-08:002011-01-15T17:06:58.978-08:00Students' Lasting Impressions of ChileAs the end of the trip neared, my sadness for leaving Chile grew more and more. It seemed like I was just getting comfortable with trying to speak the language on a more regular basis. I would say that the most memorable moment of the trip was last night's asado. When we arrived at the home of Agustin it felt like we had known his family for years. At that moment I completely understood why Sean Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-84037232747595188782011-01-12T03:48:00.000-08:002011-01-12T03:56:24.056-08:00Chilean Inspired Haiku by RobertRobert is studying poetry in his English class back in New Orleans and was assigned to write seven haiku. While writing, the infamous Chilean colihuacho was giving him trouble. Here are a few of his poems we found entertaining:Gliding through airSearch for their preySeem immortalWaiting to explodeHolding back their furySit beautifullyThe colihuachosDo not serve any purposeBut to disturbKristin Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00314611038662403691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-90084052526869831682011-01-09T06:00:00.000-08:002011-01-09T06:08:13.457-08:00Volcan Planchon by AdamA couple of days ago we travelled through the Andes Mountains to the Argentina-Chile border to spend the night. We spent the night on an awesome plateau surrounded by HUGE, god-like mountains. That night before we went to bed I saw something I had never seen in my life. It was the stars in the southern hemisphere. My Dad has always exaggerated how amazing they were, and now I know why hey Kristin Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00314611038662403691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-39552405549970411522011-01-09T05:53:00.000-08:002011-01-09T06:00:22.706-08:00Blog 2 by JoeBuzzzzzzz......You wake up to it; you eat through it; you even shred nar whitewater with it. It is the sound of the coliguacho, a massive, flesh-eating black and red horsefly. They are never far away, they would hardly miss a meal. My first experience whith one was eating breakfast when I felt a sharp pain in my leg. I made eye contact with one of the most hideous insects I've ever seen. It Kristin Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00314611038662403691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-22290006986967970842011-01-09T05:50:00.000-08:002011-01-09T05:53:32.240-08:00Paddling the Lake by RobertPaddling the lake was supposed to be a 45 min. paddle before we reached the rapids but we are on Chilean time so those 45 min really got stretched out. My small playboat and I started off in the front of hte pack, but slowly as my energy and drive lowered I fell behind. The rapids were awesome but the adrenaline soon wore off once we saw the hike at the takeout. The hike was almost worse than Kristin Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00314611038662403691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-66649308283451369572011-01-09T05:47:00.000-08:002011-01-09T06:09:04.900-08:00CONIN by WoodyWe left the town of Los Quenes and made our way to the town of Curico where we went to the CONIN orphanage to meet all of the kids there. When we first walked into the orphanage everyone seemed anxious and the kids seemed extremely shy but it only took about ten minutes before everyone was having fun even us and the kids who were so shy before were now very happy and seemed excited to see us. Kristin Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00314611038662403691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-8218814124803766332011-01-09T05:45:00.000-08:002011-01-09T06:09:29.896-08:00NC vs. ID by HinesAt the beginning of this trip I was talking poorly about the rivers in Idaho. The differences between the east coast rivers and the west rivers is waterflow. In Idaho you have big water with lots of waves and holes (big ones!), and in the east you have somewhat technical stuff with a sticky hole at the end. Well after paddling the Rio Fuy I would like to try out one of these rivers in Idaho. Kristin Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00314611038662403691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-30360810199374132182011-01-06T10:32:00.000-08:002011-01-06T10:35:21.797-08:00Being a Leader by Ashley (Mobile, AL)Yesterday I had my fist experience leading the group. I really enjoyed setting hte pace for the day by planning the itinerary. When you are leader, it is important to make sure the river had something for all levels of paddlers, there is a balanced studytime, and we are never rushed or bored.The hardest part of the day was leading down the river. It reminded me of getting my drivers license. Kristin Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00314611038662403691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-64556129960632988342011-01-06T10:27:00.000-08:002011-01-06T10:36:16.458-08:00Orphanage, by Caroline (Baton Rouge, LA)Last week we spent a day at an orphanage in Curico. When we arrived there we played with the kids for about an hour. We brought them coloring books, crayons, bouncy balls, and silly bands to play with. People read them stories and held the younger ones. For most of that time I held the babies which were anywhere from 2-8 months. This orphanage was pretty small, about 30 children, which meansKristin Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00314611038662403691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66007034562121279.post-11967646058264716812011-01-06T04:49:00.001-08:002011-01-06T04:53:31.584-08:00Leaders of the day, by Agustin (Curico, Chile)Being the leader of a crew is a new experience for me because I have to make a lot of decisions involving the breakfast time, study hours, kayaking groups, and lots of other things. I do like this because you feel that you are important in the group and you try to do your best, helping as much as you can.I think it is a very good idea to motivate people with leadership. This is what makes you Sean Bierlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02422812191804114945noreply@blogger.com0