Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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Weekend Wa rriors Outdoor Adventure Committee sponsors Arkansas canoe trip PHOTOS BY JEFF COOPER STORY BY ROCHELLE STEELE Mosquitoes, low waters and a blazing August sun could not spoil 12 students ' canoe During Labor Day weekend, Sept. 5-7, group — including six foreign exchange students — participated in the Buffalo National River canoe trip by the Outdoor Adventures Committee. The canoe trip was one of five excursions to various parts of the country sponsored by OAC, a Union Council committee. Jana Hall, OAC member and senior in wildlife biology, said committee members planned all aspects of the trips. Committee members brainstorm ideas, and each individual picks one they would be interested in leading and organizing, she said. For the canoe trip, I was responsible for calculating trip costs, mapping the trip and making reservations. Sarah Griggs, OAC member and junior in sciences and disorders, said the trips provided opportunities for students they would not have otherwise. We provide activities people can ' t normally do, and we can usually offer them at cheaper rates, she said. They provide an opportunity to meet new people, too. The canoe trip in the Arkansas Ozarks cost each participant $60, which included transportation, canoe rental, equipment and food. After participants met Sept. 2 to determine tent partners and meals, they were ready for the trip. continued on Page 10

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Hans Jacobs, foreign exchange student from the Netherlands and student in biology, and Steve Butler, freshman in wildlife biology and fisheries, paddle along Buffalo National River. Twelve students paired off and navigated the river Labor Day weekend.

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Group members make their way along the river. Most of the students learned how to handle the as they went since they did not have previous canoeing experience and were not given formal instruction. German foreign exchange students and graduate students in foods and nutrition, Ulrike Hillmer and Antje Banning, swim, taking advantage of the warm weather and the group ' s early arrival at Maumee North on Sept. 7. I thought, ' We could have slept a little bit longer, ' Banning said. But, we had plenty of time to relax and swim. Weekend Warriors continued from Page 9 Sept. 5 9 a.m. - After sandwiching 12 people and their gear into a 15-passenger van and shoe polishing KSU porn stars on the windows, the group began the eight-hour trip to Arkansas. Students talked about cultural differences the exchange students observed. I was very confused, Hans Jacobs, an exchange student from the Netherlands, said. My roommate was speaking very enthusiastically about something, but he kept saying it was ' the shit. ' I wondered if he needed some sort of medical attention. 6 p.m. - The van rolled into the campsite at Tyler Bend campground. Six tent set-ups later, campers began cooking shish kebabs, potatoes and ' smores over the grill and campfire. The food was OK, which means really good in Germany, said Ulrike Hillmer, German foreign exchange student and graduate student in foods and nutrition. I liked the marshmallows together with these crackers and chocolate. 10 p.m. - The group turned in for the night after a couple hours of conversation and excitement about an armadillo sighting. I saw the first armadillo the first afternoon in camp, while we were all eating dinner, Steve Butler, freshman in fisheries and wildlife biology, said. I woke up sometimes, in the middle of the night, and there were about a dozen of the little guys running all through the campsite. Most of the armadillos I ' ve seen have been smears on the highways while I ' ve been driving through the South. Sept. 6 10 a.m. - The campers headed east on the Buffalo River in six canoes. The goal was to cover as much of the 16 miles as possible Sunday and finish the trek by noon Monday. 1:30 p.m. - The group took a break on the shore for lunch and pumped drinking water from the high spots of the river. Lack of rain had left the river low, and group members often had to drag their canoes through shallow spots. Sometimes I thought ' we will never reach our destination of our trip, ' Hillmer said. You could swear a bit, but that was all. We just had to accept the fact that the river was in such a condition. 3:30 p.m. - Andrew McCoy, junior in civil engineering, discovered a rope swing, and campers took turns flinging themselves into the water. About 20 minutes later, the group encountered three poisonous snakes — two water moccasins and a copperhead, which sped the pace of those dragging their boats nearby. They usually just mind their own business, but one was real aggressive and struck at my oar, McCoy said. I got out of the boat to keep them to shore while everyone else passed. While Steve and I were looking up close at the water moccasins, a copperhead came out from under the rock to our feet. 5:30 p.m. - The group stopped for snacks and decided to row for two more hours. The leaders estimated they had covered 11 miles at that point. I had conferred with a member who had gone the previous year and the canoe outfitter, and they both informed me it would take approximately 11 hours to canoe, Hall said. We feared we would not make our destination in time, so we pushed the group on the first day. 7:30 p.m. - After pitching camp, the canoers roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over the campfire. A tipped canoe and water in the bottoms of boats left some equipment wet. My plastic bag apparently got a hole in it and my sleeping bag got wet while canoeing, and it didn ' t dry out before evening, Griggs said. I had to sleep without one, and it got kind of chilly. Sept. 7 7:30 a.m. - The group broke camp and packed the canoes. The canoe outfitters were meeting the group at the Maumee North area at noon, so the group left early because they did not know how much distance they had to cover. 8:15 a.m. - As group members prepared themselves for another four hours of rowing, they unexpectedly reached their destination. I didn ' t expect to get done so early, Butler said of canoeing the distance in less than 10 hours. It seemed like we were all in some sort of race. Noon - The canoe outfitters arrived, and the group loaded their gear for the ride home. 9:00 p.m. - After eight hours on the road, the van reached the K-State Student Union. The trip went better than could be expected, McCoy said. Everyone got along and learned from each other instead of finding ways not to get along like humans so often do. Tyler Bend Visitor Center 10 student life