Las Vegas, Nevada

Hillary, Elizabeth, Laura and me before the Beatles Cirque du Soleil in Vegas.

Death Valley

Licking a salt deposit at Death Valley in California.

Pacific Ocean near San Francisco

Text message:

Pacific Ocean!! I was wearing a million layers cause it was cold but I poked my finger in just so I would have touched the Pacific Ocean.

Too foggy to see the bridge (Golden Gate). We just stopped in the Marina District and half the girls made clover crowns.

Yosemite National Park, CA

In front of Half Dome.

"Scrambling on rocks" at Bridal Veil Falls.
Danger: Climbing and scrambling on rocks and cliffs is dangerous. They are slick wet or dry. Many injuries and fatalities have occurred.

Yosemite

Stanislaus wasn’t hot. A little dewey but that’s it. I’m in Yosemite right now and it is so beautiful.

Yosemite was beautiful, loved it. I wish we could have spent more time there. No fireworks out here (duh – fires!!). We just had burgers and lecture.

Bryce Canyon and Zion

Sent via text message:

Just went to Bryce and Zion, which are now two of my fave places. We have to come back here. Now that I hiked Angels Landing and survived, look up how scary it is. Wish you could see these places.

Mesa Verde

Text message:

I’m in the van on the way to Mesa Verde. We heard coyotes the other night. Chaco was super cool. I haven’t showered since Monday ☺

Bandelier National Monument, NM

Text message:

We just had the most exhausting hike at Bandelier. Look up the Alcove House, so scary. It was scary as hell. I’m glad I survived. Haha. No cell service or showers at Hyde Park (Hyde State Park, New Mexico).

Vicksburg, MS

River Town Campground, Vicksburg, MS

I’m in my tent as we text. Tomorrow I will cross the great Mississippi River.

Kolomoki Indian Mounds, Georgia

Text message

Kolomoki was HOT! We are saying in a building at the park cause the weather was bad and the ranger was nice.

Departure

Two University of Georgia vans, a mini van and a paneled truck pulled out of the parking lot behind the Geology Building about 8:30 a.m. and headed south towards Sapelo Island.

One week to go! (schedule and maildrops)

I will be leaving in just over a week!

I am posting a link to the schedule of the trip:
http://www.gly.uga.edu/ifp/roadlog2008.html

and also a link to the instructions for mailing (in case anyone feels like sending me something!):
http://www.gly.uga.edu/ifp/maildrop2008.html

I'm not sure yet what communications with the outside world will be like but these mail drops are a sure bet. I'm bringing my cell phone with me but will be leaving it off and just occasionally checking it. As far as the internet goes it sounds like I might be able to use it on days off if I come across a computer.

So convenient

I just wanted to give a big thumbs up to IFP for allowing payments to be made online.  A few days before each payment is due, they post a bill to your Student Account--so if you have it set up to pay online, you don't have to deal with taking time to take a check to some office you've never been to before.

Does this work?

Testing...1...2...3...

Apparently I can just send an email and it automatically posts on here!  With pictures!

Traveling again!

I enjoyed blogging about my trip to Costa Rica last summer so I am hoping I can do the same about my trip this summer.  For summer 2008, I am spending eight-weeks traveling around the United States taking classes about Anthropology, Ecology, and Geology with UGA's Interdisciplinary Field Program(IFP).  I am only allowed to take two bags, filled with everything I need for the trip--including my tent and sleeping bag.  We will drive in a van from place to place, camping every night.

The itinerary isn't set yet, but the 2007 trip started out by going to Sapelo Island for a few days and then stopping at some Indian mounds in Georgia before heading out west.  We should stop at places like the Grand Canyon, Zion Canyon, Crater Lake, Dinosaur National Park, Death Valley, and Yosemite--just to name a few.

I'm not sure what my blogging abilities are going to be on the trip, but I think that I may be able to use the internet about once a week during our free days.  If not, I'll think of something!  Until then, I'll probably be blogging about the preparations for the trip--so forgive if it's boring.