Camp Dispatches: Caroline Weiler
“All of them had a restlessness in common.”
Although author and soldier for social justice John Steinbeck was referring to group of transient and undervalued men in the 90s when he wrote this line in his classic novel East of Eden, I can’t help but find its applicability in the events that occurred in a small mountain hut high up in the San Juans over the course of seven days in late July, 2021.
Drawn from states as far east as New York and far north as Montana, a group of 20 restless, environmentally driven athletes gathered in the high mountains of Colorado, and I was lucky to be one of them. Our mission was to find ways our passion for both athletic achievement and stewardship could align to bring environmental solutions to the places we call home. Or at least that’s what we thought.
Your humble author
The week started off in Durango atop a lofty hill (perhaps a small foreshadowing of the sojourn up to our 11,500’ hut for the week) where Dakota’s mother greeted and welcomed us into her lovely home. Introductions were made and then forgotten as it is rather difficult to remember 10 new faces all at once when you’re really just worried if the 6 hours spent in the car have left sweat marks in your armpits and is the disgusting Red Bull you unfortunately drank to keep from falling asleep at the wheel wafting from your breath? As was later learned, the group was more accepting of smells and bodily functions than most, so I slid under the radar in those first moments of insecurity. After signing away all thoughts of life, liberty or the pursuit of cleanliness on Dakota’s legitimate waiver, and a rather impactful moment of reflection on how we had all traveled from faraway places to be there together, we loaded up Killian (our respected name for the 12-passanger white Ford) with a smorgasbord including cantaloupes, running gear (non-stinky at this moment), Bubly waters, computers, projectors, tables, Clif bars, 8 wide-eyed and restless campers and one boss man: Dakota Jones himself.
The drive to Silverton allowed introductions to sink in a bit more. I chatted with Paul, a Minnesotan transplant who had made his home in the mountains of Bozeman. As Paul and I discussed the best way to mount skis to a bike other campers made small, or rather large talk as well. I overhead conversations about social injustice, health care and taxes coming from other campers Erika, Grace Williams, Grace Staberg, Abbie, Nemo, and Hannah. Passion and purpose were coming out in full force from these strangers and I was all about it.
Meeting up with our mentors in the city park nestled between the 14,000-foot-high peaks surrounding Silverton and all on Ute Land had me awestruck, intimidated and STOKED in more ways than one. Anna, a veteran teacher and coach as well my personal mentor had me laughing the second I realized our sarcasm was identical in every fashion. The laughter was consistent up until the last day when we sat on the porch eating Tums for fun (one of us at least) or when I heard her alarm blaring Bring Em Out at 6:55 just in time for 7:00 AM breakfast. Belly laughs. Other stars amongst us were professional skier Connor Ryan who not only coined the term ‘booty choir’ to describe what legumes and a straight fibrous diet does to the bowels of 20 runners, but could also at the drop of a hat demonstrate wisdom and a connection with the earth and his native ancestors that seemed to transcend his 28 years.
Taking in so much wisdom from Anna. So much.
Peter, Ada, Peyton, Lydia and Moira were a powerhouse of scientists whose research focused on everything from the effects of food production, mining on indigenous lands, the importance of soils in habitat, fish ecosystem health and sustainable agriculture. Not only were they all in or had completed the process of earning their PhD, they all possessed talent and humility in their athletic achievements. Peter had just recently completed his 8th(?) 100 miler at Western States, Moira was training for her first 100 miler coming up in a few weeks, Lydia left the week of high intensity mountain running to pace her friend in his 100 miler down in Ouray, while Peyton casually brought up that her second time running the marathon distance just happened to be at the Olympic Trials!!! Gasp. Ada, who was nursing a torn ACL after a nasty accident on skis, showed some extreme patience and determination with the process and I have no doubt she will be cruising through 100 miles here in no time. All these mentors showed extreme interest and provided specific detailed assistance to mine and everyone else’s projects. I hope to be like them when I grow up. Too bad a few of them are my age… Abby Levene spent most of the week in clothing made out of sleeping bags… but also taught and showed me the importance of inclusion and not being afraid to try new things. Nate, a current DOUBLE MASTERS (just let that sink in) student at University of Montana brought knowledge in marketing, resource conservation and data science and may be on his way to earning a third degree in GoPro filming after the work he put in this week. Once we’d once again pretended like we knew everyone’s name, we set up and off towards the mountains.
The first of many runs that afternoon took the group up a steep stretch (like we’re talking 1,000 feet of climbing per mile) accompanied by a rainstorm heavy enough to get everyone soaked and to remind Anna not to run in cotton. I got to chat with Anna, Connor and Ada and was immediately made aware that I was among fantastic company. Once the entire crew returned from their sojourn up the mountain we loaded up in Killian and made our first of many ascents up the rocky road to Ophir Pass. Motorcycles, jeeps and off-road vehicles had nothing on the Spaniard van, especially when Dakota would throw it into Extra Plus Plus Medium Gear. The drive up to the OPUS hut never got old (except one day when my bladder felt akin to someone sticking a watermelon into Old Faithful right before it’s designated eruption time… I just really had to pee if you didn’t get that analogy. I didn’t make it to the hut before I forced the watermelon out of the way. Ok ok I digress), and although the half mile walk up to the OPUS hut carrying cantaloupes (not an analogy, if you refer back to the packing list cantaloupes were included and were the bane of my existence that first day) was a reminder I should climb more, the views were incredible.
Solar powered electricity, rain water collection, a fire-powered sauna, and plenty of window views rounded out the eco-friendly OPUS (Ophir Pass Ultimate Skiing) hut for our summer camp getaway. You may find the owner, Bob Kingsley featured in the 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America and whipping up a mean veggie stir fry. The hut slept 20 of us. Two composting toilets. Lots of fiber in the diet. Enough said there (unless you’re Abbie, Abby or either Grace in which case you’re just laughing and not saying anything).
That first night, after a delicious bowl of something tasty (all the meals blended together unfortunately) I hunkered down in the gabled room with Anna, Grace, Erika and Hannah I reflected on the past 12 hours. I was simply so grateful.
The gratitude turned to excitement as we fell into a structured schedule for the week:
Wake up. Eat a fibrous diet which may include a questionable pancake filled with quinoa. Be presented with a topic surrounding environmental issues that we would ponder throughout the day’s run. Saunter down the path to the van and gawk at the orange mountains. Load up in Killian. Run (walk) straight thousands of feet up a mountain pass. Laugh with friends. Run into professional runners on the trail. Jump in ice cold lakes. Take endless pictures. Run (fall) thousands of feet straight down a mountain pass. Bathe (drown and cry in freezing agony) in a mountain river because there were no showers in the hut. Load back up in Killian, only this time a little soggier. Eat a lunch of beans (sometimes supplemented with a hardboiled egg or a lone beat). Revisit the topic from the morning and learn more about mining, food and soil than you thought possible from some insanely talented, engaging and well-studied scientists that make you question everything you thought you knew. Try and frantically write down everything they said and relate it to your project. Eat some Lays. Eat some nuts. Eat some Clif Shot Blocks as a snack if you’re Anna.
Just an everyday casual trailside chat with ultrarunner legend Anna Frost. Yep just like any other day.
Then, project time! IE: figure out how to run an outdoor girl’s camp with the help of Anna and everyone else in the hut. (Stay tuned! It’s going to be awesome) Eat dinner (yeah sometimes it was beans, but sometimes if you prayed hard enough, it was just raw cauliflower) Sit in a circle and tell everyone what made you laugh or what challenged you that day, or what was hopeful, or simply what you learned from someone (by far my favorite part each day). Lay in bed and talk to the girls you just met yet feel are some of your best friends. Sleep. Sometimes wake up at three in the morning with Anna to fight the scary dwarf (marmot) living in the basement.
Although the schedule stayed the same most days, the diversity of conversations was never stagnant. Everyone had this sense of urgency, action or one may say restlessness when it came to social issues, mental health and environmental impacts. I found myself in awe as situations occurred where I was standing in the hut talking to Connor and Jake Black, two professional snow athletes about the water crisis in the west or walking with Abbie Sullivan on the Colorado trail talking about God and what religion means to us. Nate and I shared some uphill miles while I asked him about his cohorts and where they found passion outside the classroom and Dakota offered helpful and crucial advice to the logistics of starting a camp. Lydia stood on old mining claims and taught us the importance of reclamation as we mined for chocolate chips in a muffin, while Moira had us scanning the soils and ecosystems on our run to Crater Lake. Peyton and I discussed relationships as we marched our way to Columbine Lake and I wish everyone could see and feel the straight love radiating from Ada as she said her goodbyes this week.
As the week progressed and I realized how much there was to learn from each person there, I decided to dedicate a page to each of them in my journal and took notes on what they taught me, when I laughed with them and what I wanted to do because of their influence. I was busy writing all week.
The purpose of the camp was to help each of us develop and gain the skills and tools necessary to begin our own projects in our communities. I believe we achieved that. I also believe we achieved much more. As the week unfolded and vulnerability and passion became paired themes with communication, everyone became more comfortable and willing to share more of who they were. One night, our renowned videographer James Q Martin (STOKED to see the story he tells about this week), opened up about the impact being at camp during a time of confusion and loss had been for him. I believe this show of vulnerability acted as a catalyst for others to express feelings of doubt and uncertainty about next steps in life or shared in a sense of restlessness about wanting to do more and simply needing a push off in the right direction.
Three campers displayed this same bravery after a few days working on their projects. Nemo, Grace Williams and Erika, with the help of their incredible mentors, flipped their projects on their heads and came up with new ways that showcased their passions in a beautiful way. Nemo, an extremely talented videographer and distance runner for the University of New Mexico, will be working on a film close to his heart and home, focusing on the impact a natural environment has on generational immigration. Nemo will also be winning races with the help of his newly toned abs all thanks to Nate’s PT and ab program. Grace will also hone in on her storytelling skills with the practice of photojournalism in her hometown. Grace’s excitement for just about everything had me inspired and even a little jealous! She sees the good and amazing in everything and I’m so excited to see how far she goes. Also, she better sign up for a trail race, because I know she would dominate. Erika’s passion for environmental health combined with the dedication she has to her nursing program developed the desire to start a camp focused on both of these important elements! Erika was literally smiling all week, even when she had a tissue shoved up her nose to stop the endless drip that began after 6 days in a hut at altitude with 20 other people.
With fellow camper extraordinaire Erika (in pink)
Campers deciding to stick with their original projects started off with Grace Staberg (ok yeah I stalked her and everyone else when I got home, but wow Grace!!! I’m so so honored I got to even run like 2 steps with her this week. She’s world class in so many ways) who is promoting a better community and culture around bike commuting in her hometown of Summit County, Colorado. She also will be an amazing advocate for mental health! Hannah Shew, one of the youngest and most profound campers I met this week will be working to demonstrate the importance of green roofs on her college campus, and seriously if anyone can raise that money, she can. Hannah and I got sick towards the end of camp, and one of my favorite memories of the week is laying in bed feeling awful, looking over to see Hannah holding her eyes open with her fingers. LOL. Abbie Sullivan has recognized the impact algae blooms has had on her hometown lake and the detriments it has on the community. She’ll be tracking the sources of these blooms and present evidence of what can be done to stop the spread. She’s also an amazingly talented and humble triathlete, and I’ve got a lot more I want to learn from her. Paul is working to achieve carbon neutrality on his campus at MSU! How cool is that?! His ability to talk and make a connection with anyone and everyone will prove so useful in achieving this incredible goal. He’s also killing it in the Instagram game for MSU’s sustainability program.
Dakota Jones, the founder of the feast is the final person I’d like to recognize in this week amongst the mountains. I’ve looked up to Dakota for years now. I followed his journey as he biked to, ran, and won Pikes Peak Marathon back in 2018, and was inspired by his extreme selflessness and awareness he showed and still shows in all facets of life. While biking to work one afternoon in spring of 2020, I got a phone call from an unknown number, which left an accompanying message after I failed to grab my phone from my backpack in time. As I played the message in the locker room at Runners Corner, my then-current place of employment, a huge smile came over my face as Dakota’s voice came over the phone, inviting me to take part in Footprints Running camp, scheduled to take place that summer. I think the postponement of camp, although disappointing, allowed me more time to think through my project, gain STOKE, and develop a sense of restlessness about these issues I’d knew we’d be addressing this week. It seemed I wasn’t alone in that sentiment.
Dakota nailed this week on the head. He had a vision, a why, and a plan to get us there. He made everyone feel welcome, validated, important and heard. He radiated confidence in the process he’d created while showed inspiring humility and gratitude in recognizing those who inspired him as well. And although he lost the keys to Killian only once or twice this week, his leadership and mentorship were never misplaced. It was an honor to be apart of something he poured his heart and soul into and has truly excited me for the potential we all have to make great things happen around us. I promise to do my very best to utilize what he taught me to make a difference here at home in Salt Lake City. I can’t wait to see all the footprints his passion inspires in communities across the world. I know it’s inspired the start of mine.
Cheers to everyone who was there this week. Thanks for never harshing the vibe.
Til 2055.
You know I’ll be restless by then.
- Caroline Weiler
