Biking 301 Oct. 4, 2011

A great instructor for Mountain Alliance's members took a moment and struck a pose!


What a gnarly ride!!


Did you see the air I was able to get???



Mountain Alliance's staff member enjoying a great evening full of excitement and fun with the students.

Babes in the Back Country: October 14-16, 2011

Our Mountain Alliance girls making memories that will last for a lifetime! They spent a great weekend in the High Country enduring the wind and hiking to an incredible view.

After a long days hike, the girls take a break and enjoy the breath taking views during the peak of the fall season.

Facing the fear of repelling for the first time!

The repel off of table rock

We did it!

Setting up camp!

Mountain Alliance member taking a moment to pose for the camera.

After a great nights sleep & camping, she was excited about the view and repelling for the first time!

Molasses Making Part 1

On Thursday a group of Mountain Alliance students learned how to tip, strip and cut sugar cane for making molasses. We joined Mike, Bill and Jack out on 194 to enjoy a warm September afternoon.
The first job was to remove all of the leaves and to leave only the stalk.

Joesph and Austin

Mike demonstrated to the group how to top the cane, which removed the seed head from the stalk.

India works her way down a row of cane topping each stalk as she goes.

Andrew takes a turn topping cane.

This is a picture of the stripped, topped and cut cane that is now ready to juice and boil into Molasses. Below the group posses for a photo after the field had been cleared. There wasn't much room left on the trailer. The next post will include some pictures from juicing and boiling the cane juice.

Molasses Making Part 2

On Saturday we completed the second part or Molasses making trip. If you remember we harvested the cane on Thursday and had it ready to be juiced and boiled.

 

The canes were pushed through the press resulting in bright green cane juice that was collected and prepared to be boiled. 

The cane juice was collected and strained through out the process to remove any debris.

This picture is of the crushed cane ready to be composted. 

Cecil and Mike were supervising the operation, teaching us the many interesting techniques that go into creating the delicious finished product.  

Here a Mountain Alliance student is pouring the cane juice through a filter into a barrel, that emptied into the larger boiler.

 

In this picture you can see the wood fire that provided heat for the boil and also everyone gathered near by. 

Skimming was a task that was done almost continuously to remove the scum that would collect at the top of the boil.

 

During the down time Cecil, Alex, Andy and Ethan entertained us with some great music. We left before the boil was completely finished so we don't have any pictures of the finished product, we did taste it a few days later and it was delicious.

Alpine Tower Work Day

Students, staff and friends of Mountain Alliance gathered to help prepare the Alpine Tower. Much of the day was spent grinding down and sealing the poles that will be used to construct the tower. Once complete the Alpine Tower wills serve students at the High School and elementary school level.

Mulch was also placed at the site to create a large group instruction area and a nicer programming site for students.