Fall Adventure

HOLY COW!  It's been far too long since I wrote here.  I apologize for the long delay--it's been a move from the Novitiate in the Twin Cities to NYC to start back up my college learnin'.  But it is about high time to discuss something EXTREMELY important.  Fall adventures!

I think fall adventures can be broken up into a few important subcategories--picking, hiking, and peeping.  Often, you can create an amazing day by combining all three.

Picking
In the Northern Hemisphere, fall means it's harvesting time.  And what can be more fun than picking your own fruits and veggies?  I grew up going apple picking and pumpkin picking with my family.  As the youngest, I got to enjoy several years of simply riding in the wagon and enjoying everything going on around me.  Later, I got to be the stepladder for my three older sisters.  We often picked a variety of different apples for various purposes--baking, eating, rotten ones off the ground to see who could throw them the furthest....  It is best to see what the local choices are and what is in season when you go.

Unsure of where and what to pick?  Check out your state's Department of Agriculture website.  Most of them have guides to buying local and what is in season.  You can also use Pick Your Own.  It's not the best website in terms of appearance, but it is GREAT in having local farms, etc.  You can also just use a search engine.  Yelp is surprisingly good for this.  Make sure to look up reviews and other information, as some orchards do not allow you to pick.  Also, I tend to avoid anywhere that has wagon-rides, massive play areas, etc.  This can be great, but take away from the time you spend with each other and often have an admission fee, rather than just paying for what you pick.

Hiking
Of course, a hike goes well with everything.  What is better than busting your butt on a 5-mile hike and then feasting on fresh-picked strawberries?  Not much.  This can also just be a fun day outside at the park.

Peeping
What on earth, Ken!?  This is simply what some of the New Englanders call New Yorkers who drive up and clog the highways to look at leaves.  Leaves change depending on your climate and how your weather behaved that year.  Because much of the Midwest was in a drought, the leaves will change especially early this year and might only have a few days with beautiful colors before jumping straight to brown.  Where to go?  This can often be found on local visitor guides, but my favorite is to stab a map and go there (which means you should get a good atlas).

Combining all three of these activities can make for a long, but very rewarding day before going home to bake and devour whatever you just picked.  But the glory of God simply abounds in a day full of these three activities.

Missouri Department of Agriculture
Nebraska
New York


Coming up next time...Atlas or GPS?  Greater Glory?

Where Do I Find Adventure?

     It can be very difficult to find places to adventure.  Having recently moved to New York City, this has been a great concern of mine.  Folks talk about the Botanical Gardens like it the great outdoors and that an hour to get to Central Park isn't that bad.  I'm used to my Midwest standard of an hour putting me well outside the city.  When I first found out I was moving to New York, it was 10:30 at night.  I spent the next four hours looking up state and national parks, wildlife reserves and Appalachian Trail access.  There is a pretty good abundance of activities to keep me busy for the new few years.
     Where does one find all of these resources?  This post is to share what I've found.  And if you know anything I don't, please pass it along!

Recreation.gov
This is a relatively recent project of Federal Government.  The website is greatly improved and certainly deserves attention.  You can select what activities you are looking for and search by zip code, names of places and more.  Click the "Other Activities" on the drop down menu to see hiking, camping, etc.  One disadvantage is that when you select more than one activity, it searches for those places with all the things you selected.  If you are willing to just do one or two, you should search them individually.  This website is EXTREMELY helpful in finding campgrounds.  It usually has pictures as well, so you know what you're getting into.  This is also the website you will use to reserve most lodging on federal land.

National Park Service
The National Park Service is often the first place that I look for adventure.  There is an amazing number of places that we often to not know about.  National Parks often get associated with the western United States, but the East has its fair share as well.  My favorite feature is to view state-by-state what options are available.  You can also search by activity, location and topic (i.e. Presidents).  The NPS is currently working to improve their website--it can be a bit clunky, but is getting better.  For larger parks, I suggest writing to the local offices.  For example, Shenandoah National Park has multiple sections with miles upon miles of trails.  Online maps are usually just the most popular trails, whereas the local offices will have maps of all the trails.

National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuges can sometimes be a tossup.  They are run by the Fish and Wildlife Service. I call them a tossup not because they are bad, but they do not always have the opportunities you might be looking for.  If you are going to go to a refuge, I suggest looking it up online ahead of time.  I love atlases and will often pick out the green space and go.  Do not do this is the refuges--they are sometimes close to the public, have only a small trail or are for driving tours only.  Their website is well set-up.  The have a section for photography, birding and trails.

National Forest Service
The National Forest is another excellent department of the federal government, which also includes federal grasslands.  National Forests are often areas designated so that we can make sure they are not over-logged, etc.  Frequently, the forests include private property.  However, the NFS is great about having hiking and camping available.  Some of the main distinctions between NPS and NFS are the mix of private and public property, the ability to harvest goods and hunting.  Make sure to check before you head out on one of these trails if you will be crossing private land and especially if it is a hunting season and you need to wear bright colors and be aware of hunters.  We do share these spaces.  If you are out traveling, I greatly suggest stopping by their regional ranger stations to find out more, especially for the West.

State Parks/Trails
State parks and trails are excellent resources.  The rules and regulations differ greatly between states.  Many allow hunting in some or all of their parks.  Make sure to check if you are hiking during the hunting season.  State parks can also be a tossup in terms of quality.  I have had several disappointing visits to what I thought would be a great park and in fact turned out to be nothing more than a pavilion at the edge of a small lake.  The primary point of many parks is to encourage recreation.  For some parks, though, that means anything from skiing, to snowmobiling, to four-wheeling.  If you are looking for something in particular (or to avoid something, like noise), do thorough research before embarking on  your journey.  As an aid, I have created a page with the main site for each state's park system.

Reserve America
This is the website that many states are now using to reserve campgrounds.  It's very helpful if you know the general area in which you would like to stay already.

StateParks.com
This website is an AWESOME resource.  It has all of the state parks in the US, along with state forests, wildlife areas, etc.  It does a fantastic job categorizing locations and helping you find the right one for you.  It also helps you find area accommodations that are not necessarily state run, such as bed and breakfasts.

LocalHikes
This is a website made up of people who find hikes and then list them using a simple software.  The website is very basic, but all the easier to use.  You can search by zip code or city to find the hikes nearest you.  They range from county, to state to federal trails.  You can also apply to be a reporter--give back by reporting hikes that you know of and help further establish the website.

60 Within 60 Series
This is an excellent book series.  It is put out be Menasha Ridge Press, which also has a great variety of other adventure literature for "hiking, biking and paddling books for the active outdoor lifestyle."  The 60 Within 60 series are books that list 60 hikes within 60 miles of major metropolitan areas.  My grandma recently gave me a copy of the NYC edition as a gift and it is excellent.  They have a variety of easy to strenuous hikes for each place, along with recommendations for time of year, what to bring, environment and more.  If you are going to a city destination for vacation, I suggest checking the local library for a copy of one of these books.  If you are moving, I suggest simply buying a copy (~$16).

National Geographic Maps
If you really want to get to know an area, these are the way to go.  These are some of the best maps I have found, though they can be expensive.  They are often sold at site for national parks and other federal lands.

Sleeping Bear Dunes

     Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a 35-mile stretch of shore along Lake Michigan.  Authorized in 1970, the park had a controversial start as local property-owners worried about the arrival of large numbers of tourists.  Although there were a good number of visitors, local homes did not seem greatly disturbed and the local small towns were thriving.
     The park is named for a Chippewa legend, in which a massive forest fire forced a mother bear and two cubs to flee.  They swam into the water to avoid the fire.  The mother reached the opposite shore, but the cubs became tired and were unable to complete the journey.  They drowned in the lake.  The legend says the Great Spirit was awed by the act, especially the mother bear who stood on a high dune and kept watch long after, hoping desperately for her cubs.  Great Spirit formed two islands for the cubs--North and South Manitou Island.  Great Spirit then buried the mother deep inside the dunes to commemorate her spirit and where she could wait for the cubs.
     The park is absolutely gorgeous, and certainly worth a visit.  Unfortunately, I did not have a camera--the pictures here are courtesy of the National Park Service.  The park is divided into five main parts: North and South Manitou Islands; Platte River; D. H. Day; and Good Harbor.  The park has ample hiking and swimming, along with many other activities.  Because of its location, however, there are a large number of other visitors and it can be harder to find empty spaces for prayer or quiet.

Photo Courtesy of NPS

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Pros: hiking; camping; scenery; other activities
Cons: number of visitors; park is not contiguous
Activities: hiking; swimming; bird-watching; boating/fishing; winter includes skiing, etc.
Bring: lots of sunscreen; swimwear; lots of water; good hiking shoes; camera

Recommendations:
    This is a year-round park with activities to match.  Unlike many places, no matter what time of year you come, you will certainly find activities to meet your needs.  There is ample lodging nearby as well.  The park has site and backpack camping, as well as many nearby bed and breakfast locations.  I highly recommend the Sleeping Bear Point trail.  It is 2.8-mile loop trail with some difficulty.  Start at near end of the parking lot.  Toward the end, there is a quarter-mile spur that leads to Lake Michigan and probably the best water I have ever been in.  Keith said the scenic driving tour was excellent.  There are 12 pull-offs where you can get out, walk, and read about the history and importance of the park.
     Get to the park in early or mid-morning to avoid the big crowds.  Stay until afternoon for when the beach warms up a bit and it is warm enough to swim.  While in the area, visit the ample cheery orchards and local farms.  Fudge is also a local phenom and worth finding.
     Sleeping Bear makes it easy to find God in all things.  The natural beauty is simply astounding with a fantastic mix of cultural and historical importance.  From indigenous to farming to shipping industry history, the area is ripe with stories worth hearing.

Photo Courtesy of NPS

I Hate Buses

     I hate buses. Not the city, public transit type. The cross-country sort. Probably more succinctly, I don't trust other drivers on hills. When I was in high school, I went to an intensive week-long diversity training camp. On the way to the Methodist retreat center where it took place, our travel bus broke down on the crest of the very large hill. And then the brake systems failed. Thankfully, instead of tumbling off the very steep right side of the hill, we careened into the trees on the left. I like being in control of the vehicles I am in, especially in hilly areas.
     This past week, I had no choice but to be led where I wanted to go, but certainly not the method I wanted to take. We flew to Cuzco, and then drove south along the Trans-Oceanic Highway (TOH) to Andahuaylillas. This area is one of the most spectacular I have ever seen, both in terms of the nature and human-made places. Andahuaylillas is home to "The Sistine Chapel of the Southern Hemisphere," one of the most gorgeous churches I have ever encountered. From there, we continued another 3 hours south on the TOH to other small towns where the Jesuits work. We hired a driver for the day and rode in his Euro-style 11-passenger van. It was literally a white-knuckle ride. The speed limit was 30 kmh (19 mph), and even slower on the turns. We were certainly above that. We squealed around hairpin turns and passed trucks on blind hills. Trust was the most I could do.
     This was a place I have found myself on spiritual adventures as well. I am reminded of the end of the Gospel of John: "When you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go" (John 21:18). John notes that this is how Peter was crucified, but we can find other importance in the passage as well. We often take adventures in ways or to places we do not want to go. I remember frequently finding myself restless and quite cold on riverbanks in rural Missouri. Half the time, I had no idea why I was there. The Holy Spirit was happily driving along, laughing as we went up on two wheels around spiritual cliffhangers. I wasn't even allowed to pick the music--Jesus took my iPod and wouldn't give it back. "You will listen to Frank Turner and like it, damn it!"
     By the return portion of the trip, I was feeling more confident in the driver. He slowed a bit as we passed through some clouds in the mountain passes. We still took turns faster than probably safe, but here I am writing this post. I still had to brace myself on the seat in front of me. This was more for the comfort of Matt, who was sitting next to me.
     The same seems to hold true for much of my prayer. I can say, "Trust, trust!" all I want. If I don't actually practice, it's a moot point. I could have refused to ride in the van and stayed at the retreat center in Andahuaylillas, but then I wouldn't have seen this:

     If I choose to avoid the places or ways God leads me, then I'm missing the same spiritual picture as well. The Spiritual Exercises are made up of four weeks--sin, the life of Jesus, the death of Jesus, and the Resurrection. You can't get to the Resurrection without passing through the execution. As we go deeper into our spirituality, as we get older like Peter, God begins to dress us. We no longer demand an individualistic outfit, but follow where led. The next hard part is making sure we follow the right voice, which we must save for another post.

Next week: National Park Recommendation

AMDG,

Ken "Headed Stateside" Homan

Welcome from Kitzi

"Oh, to live will be an awfully big adventure"--Peter Pan

Along with Ken, I would like to welcome you all from the beautiful continent of South America to A Jesuit Guide to Adventure! About a month ago, Ken brought his idea to me and asked for my opinion on the creation of this blog.  Without hesitation, I knew that it was a wonderful idea and agreed to contribute writings, reflections, and suggestions for living adventurously.

However, as I began thinking about it more and more, I couldn't help but think that maybe I was the wrong person for the job.  As strange as it sounds, I feel like my faith and spirituality during the last 6 months that I've been in Bolivia have really begun to waver more than they have before.  I'm a part of a Catholic, nonprofit organization and am living in a country where the majority of the people identify as Catholic, yet still find myself questioning a lot when it comes to my faith.  Maybe it is the fact that the people here have become hardened to the poverty that they see everyday and accept it as the way the world works...or maybe it is the fact that I, too, see myself becoming hardened each day to the poverty that I see.  Whatever it is, it had me questioning whether or not I was the right person to co-author this blog. 

Yet, it is also for this very reason that I feel so pulled to contribute.  The more I talk about both my love and my struggles with faith and religion, the more I meet others who relate to the way that I feel.  We are confused, passionate, open, and unfulfilled with where we are at in our search for faith and discernment of spirituality...and it is in this way that I believe my contributions to A Jesuit Guide to Adventure will help to create an important balance and comprehensive insight to spirituality.  It is the hope of Ken and I that with a variety of voices and perspectives, we can reach out to not just one specific population, but an all-inclusive, continuously growing reader group. 

You can expect me to write a variety of reflections based upon my experiences in Bolivia, creative and inexpensive ways to engage in adventure, recommendations, and faith-related questions and concerns. 

Enjoy!

Kitzi

      

Oh the places you'll go...

     I'm experiencing one of the downfalls of adventure--sickness.  In Peru, apparently we say, "Mi estamago es flojo," or "my stomach is lazy."  Jealous of the other guys out getting to do service in the community, I decided to take some time to look back on places I have visited or lived.  The easiest way to do that seemed to be a map.  I'm a very visual person and tend to associate stories with places.  So using a picture of the U.S. I found on a Google image search and the paintbrush option in Paint, I started creating this map to see where I have been and the people that accompanied me or who encouraged me along the way.

     If you asked me to, I could tell you a story from each of these places, who I was with, and who I met there.  Some of them I have been blessed to visit several times.  If you look at the dot on the Alabama-Georgia border, that is the location of the School of the Americas protest at Ft. Benning, GA.  I was blessed to go there five years in a row.  For better or worse, my prayer sometimes seems like a montage of these experiences.  Making this map though has allowed me to sit with each of these places and people individually.  We have many things now to store memories--journals and pictures that can be stored en mass.  My spiritual directors have always encouraged me to pull these out again, especially the journals I keep on retreats.  It seems to be the same way authors are often encouraged to write and then let something sit a while and come back to it.  Perhaps there is a fresh experience that gives light to a previous one.  Only recently did I discover why I left college early to join the Jesuits, a two-year delay.

     These tools help me to remember that discernment is always an on-going process.  We are always burrowing deeper into the mystery, discovering something unknown--going on an adventure.  My suggestion is to pick out a specific experience, and even smaller if necessary.  I could never reflect on the entirety of an 8-day retreat in one sitting; however, I can sit with specific prayer periods of that retreat.  In the same way, I could never reflect on my month in Denver; but I can be with a particular hike I had there.  Our adventures are like a good poem or piece of art that has many beautiful, hidden bits of knowledge.  It is best to treat them as such, giving them the time they need for recollection and quiet.  Then we can more fully share the story.

     Not only does this practice teach me new things, but it helps remind me of the old things I need to remember.  As I prepared for this trip to Peru, I was quite scared.  Not for any reason in particular, but I think the newness of it was nerve-wrecking (to the tune of feeling physically ill).  It was similar to the worry I had when my parents moved to Lawrence, KS after my senior year of high school.  I love adventure, but I also depend on a strong sense of home.  Given that previous experience, I was reminded of the comfort that so many people and the Holy Spirit offered me.  Despite feeling sick the entire flight, once landed I felt fine and ready to go. This is the kind of reminder I needed, drawn from a past experience.  Nothing new, but certainly just as powerful as the first time.

     The places you go may be many or few, but they all deserve time for reflection or prayer--an Examen at the end of the day, or even a whole hour.  Whatever it is, I hope you find it grace-filled and fruitful.  Let your adventures be not just physical, but spiritual as well.  Oh the places you'll go....

Welcome from Ken

Welcome to A Jesuit Guide to Adventure!  This idea popped into my head during my annual 8-day silent retreat on the beautiful bluffs in Minnesota.  I passed it by a couple of friends who thought it was worthwhile.  I hope to use this blog to encourage a variety of voices, and not just my own.  Kitzi has kindly said she will co-author the blog and there may be others to join later on.

The goal of this blog is to share some of our own stories of Jesuit spirituality and adventure.  After all, Jesuits have been adventurers and travelers since the beginning--Ignatius sent his best friend Xavier to China just a few years after their founding.  This spirit of adventure has wound its way into my own life in a wonderful and awesome way that has led me to beautiful places and truly spectacular people.  I hope in this blog I can share some of my own experiences, trials and graces, as well as reviews and tips.  My goal is for our posts to offer a variety of reflections, neat places to visit, and things one may need to know to get there.  I would also hope that it inspires you to do your own discernment and traveling, no matter how far or near.  Stories for me are not personal things, but belong to the community.  I share my own stories so that you might make your own to then share them.

You can expect from me posts on a variety of topics--reflections; adventure music and literature; reviews of places; recommendations; and a few helpful tips.  I will try to write in a timely manner, and if unable, ask someone to guest/co-author to fill in some of the wait.  We do ask patience as we get the blog up and running, but we hope it will be a valuable resource in your own discernment and adventuring.