#freshtracks2016

“My expectation for myself is to always be a leader, no matter who is looking. Even when nobody is around you should still be a leader.”

“One challenge that the Alaska community is facing is definitely climate change. Our past winters have been very short and there has been very little snow. The natives that live up in Alaska are concerned for their villages and sources of food. One way that I think our community can address these problems is through education, definitely starting with the young ones so that they know what’s happening and that they can make a change.

I’m excited to share the beautiful scenery that we have in Alaska with the LA folks. When Tom Campion came and showed his Save the Arctic video I was kind of touched. It made me miss home a lot more and appreciate what Alaska is and what it can offer people.”

”IslandWood has been an absolutely amazing experience, not just for me but for my peers as well. I can hear the birds chirp; I can hear the leaves rustle; I can see the trees swaying in the breeze. I’ve never been really this in-tune with nature before, and it’s really nice to get away from all the buildings and pollution, and just come out to fresh air, fresh trees, fresh food, fresh everything.

It’s been a great middle point for the groups to find common ground. Coming to an outdoor place and meeting for the first time here was perfect because you can really see that even though we come from two different places, we have so much stuff in common. We all respect and love nature in the same way.

What I see in the media about Alaska is not how my Alaskan peers are describing it. What I’ve seen is ice, igloos, and polar bears. But now I’m learning about their culture...how they still hunt for caribou and fish, how they hang it up to dry. Their families are so in tune with one another and their culture.”

‘My favorite Fresh Tracks moment so far was definitely at REI when we were doing the rock climbing wall. I had done the easy wall, and that was loads of fun. I saw one of my friends doing the hard one, and I asked the belayer if he thought I could do it. He said, “I think you can do it if you want to do it.”

I got up there. I was pacing myself. I was going really well. I was almost to the top, probably about five feet from it. And there was a gap between the rocks and I was already exhausted. So I looked down and I said, “I’m done, I can’t go any further.”

Now I get why they did this but at the time I was not very happy about it, but I just saw some of the adults and teenagers say, “We’re not letting you down until you finish. Keep going. Don’t stop.” I know that sounds cliche but this is actually what happened. I was tired, I was trying to go on and I couldn’t, but they were not letting me down until I finished that course. So after a few minutes of just struggling up there I found a way, I made it to the top and I rang that bell. And when I did, everybody was cheering me on and saying, “Congrats, you did great!” And that was a really incredible moment. It was my Fresh Tracks moment so far. (Of course, on my way down they tried to hang me like Spider-Man) 

What I take from that experience, is that I can push myself farther than what I think I can do. If I set limits on myself, I won’t be able to reach my full potential.’