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Group of people in a river raft going over rapids being sprayed with water

In honor of Great Outdoors Month, our AmeriCorps Program Director Aaron Stanton shared this thrilling story of his rescue on the river.

“In 2018 I had the good fortune to raft and kayak the Grand Canyon.  The trip did not end the way I would have liked, but it still changed me. This story is from the very first few days after I was air-lifted out of the canyon with a broken ankle.  While I have many lasting emotions from that trip, this describes the intense impact the river and the canyon had on me.

Group of people watching Aaron get into the rescue helicopter in the Grand Canyon

During my return from the Grand Canyon and the subsequent re-immersion into the noise and bustle of civilization, I’ve struggled to pull my mind back along with my physical being.  The realities of work, society and certainly the ongoing medical processes related to my broken ankle only make the desire to escape to my memories more powerful.  I fall asleep each night recalling the sights, sounds, smells and emotions of being so ultimately present in that amazing environment.  I scan through the few pictures I have on my phone on a daily basis.  I watch YouTube videos of those places I’ve been and those rapids I’ve run.  My mind’s desire to be there is tenacious.

I remember laying on the operating table, four days after being snatched from the Canyon, watching the gowned and masked medical professionals preparing me for surgery.  I felt the now familiar pang of reliving my poor decision to jump into that opaque blue and, ultimately, shallow creek; the desperation of knowing I’d just lost my right to be in this place.  The surgery was not an issue.  I felt confident about the procedure, but perhaps not at ease.  I should be on the river with my friends right now.

There was a mystical point in this preparation where time ceased to exist and I was transported through some sort of wormhole.  The anesthesiologist was asking if I was ready.  The advances in medical technology are miraculous, for the instant I affirmed my readiness with a clear-headed nod, a thumbs up and verbal, ‘let’s do this,’

I was simultaneously emerging from a deep haze into a darkened, muffled environment.  Its features were a mystery to me.  A disembodied voice off to my left was asking, ‘Do you know where you are?’

Whatever happened during this time warp; whatever my body experienced; however long it actually took; none of that eased my mind’s grip on the Canyon.  Every time I recall my response to the question, “Do you know where you are,” I choke back a sob and wipe away the inevitable tears.  It’s heartbreaking.  I heard the labored croak of the slowly retreating anesthesia in my voice.   I recall answering with a great deal of uncertainty, but with equal hopefulness, ‘Am I still on the river?'”

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Jul 16

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It was so much fun teaching mtadamsinstitute summer botany camp yesterday. The kids had a blast learning about plants and natural dyes. We had a field trip to bloomanddye to harvest fresh dye flowers and the older kids made bundle dyed bandanas. The young kids made indigo shibori bandanas and left with blue hands and blue arms! 💙🌿🌼💛 

I left exhausted with a big smile and full heart. Seeing the joy and happiness on these kids faces as they saw what they created was a treat. 

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We visited many places in the trout lake valley area to gather fresh ingredients for our outdoor cooking, here the Mt. Chef campers picked fresh vegetables and seasonings for our dumplings! 
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Jan 14

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Blue Hour at Mount Adams, The #bluehour is the period of #twilight when the Sun is at a significant depth below the horizon and residual, indirect sunlight takes on a predominantly blue shade.
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#mtadamsinstitute  #mountainreflections  #explorewashstate #pnwonderland #cascadiaexplored #cascadia #wonderfulwashington #wonderfulwashingtonstate #pnwescapes #pnwadventures #pnwadventurers #pnwcrew #pnw_shooters #mtadams #giffordpinchotnationalforest #giffordpinchot #pnwphotographer #pnwphotography #leavenotrace #washingtonphotography #bluehourphotography #klickitatcounty #photography #blue #light #landscapephotography #landscapephotographer #mountains
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Apr 19

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She’s off for her school overnight trip! She handled all of her own packing and I am fully confident that means she’ll have at least 95% of the things she really needs. Girlfriend is on top of it! #urchinadventures #montessorikids #overnightfieldtrip #cascademountainschool
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Apr 17

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KCD is sad to be losing the amazing Krystal Hedrick, who has accepted a new position as GIS Mapper with the Weld County Assessor’s Office in Colorado.

She served at KCD over the past year through Mount Adams Institute VetsWork, an AmeriCorps career development program for military veterans who want to work in natural resources management.

As a forest technician, Krystal brought passion to her work on KCD’s North SeaTac Park restoration managing a KCD WCC crew to remove harmful invasive plants and prepare the site for reforestation efforts that will improve the park’s ecosystem making it more resilient and beneficial for local wildlife.

#BestOfLuckToYou #ThankYouForYourService #MtAdamsInstitute #AmeriCorps #Forestry #UrbanForestry #WashingtonConservationCorps
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