Zane starts High School

Zane started cross country last week and he started high school this week.

Although he's a teenager and very, very cool, he still allowed his mother to pick him up from his dad's house, drive him to school, park in front of the school and take pictures of him walking to school. His one request was that I don't get out of the car. I actually didn't but I was tempted.

Zane the hero! Zane had a little excitement this week. While running behind the team, he heard, "HELP! HELP!" He thought it was one of the other kids messing with him and Zane said to the voice, "Are you messing with me?!" The voice said, "No!" Zane went into some trees behind a secluded house and there was a badly injured man laying on the ground. A cottonwood tree fell over and hit him (but did not pin him to the ground). His leg was obviously deformed. Zane wasn't supposed to have his cell phone on him but he did and he called 911 and he and some team mates stayed with the man until the ambulance arrived. The guy was flight for lifed out to Idaho Falls where he is being treated for a broken back, broken ribs, dislocated hip, broken shin and ankle. Way to go Zane!!

The principal (white pants), Zane (middle, rust colored shirt and dark shorts) and friends. He was trying to ignore me but he was a sucker and turned around when I called his name.


Zane and coach Anna running through down town Driggs.

Coach Gleichman teaching the kids some wacky stretches. Zane, in the background, is actually participating too.

Zane's back from the wild

This is what a kid who's spent 28 days in the woods looks like.

Zane's trip was great, the conversation pretty much went as in the predicted description in the last post. He ended up being in the Big Horns, not the Winds as we thought. Fortunately the National Outdoor Leadership School gave us a summary and review of Zane's trip and performance so we have some idea of what happened on his trip!! He says his favorite part of the trip was visiting Bomber Mountain the site of a 1943 B-17 crash.

He got an A- overall in the trip. Here are some excerpts from Zane's review. My comments in orange

• "At first, Zane appeared to be skeptical about the way NOLS facilitates outdoor education." Go figure! Wonder where he gets that attitude.
• "Fires were something that interested Zane. He was offered the opportunity to teach a class on Leave No Trace fires, which he took." Finally, Zane's years of playing with fire and blowing things up becomes useful!!
• "Zane also excelled greatly in leadership. He was voted by his peers to be one of the student leaders on their small group expeditions." There was a 3 night, 4 day independent small group expedition that Zane was the leader of.
• "Zane has proven to be a competent outdoorsman and fisherman, we encourage Zane to explore his passion for the outdoors. He would also excel at a NOLS outdoor educator course if he was interested when he's older."
  

Zane's summer and return from NOLS

Sorry I haven't updated Zane's blog in such a long time. It's been a busy summer! Zane's on his National Outdoor Leadership School course until tomorrow. He should be getting out of the back country today. Here's how my conversation with him will go tomorrow when I see him:

Mom: Hey Zane!!! How are you?? How was your course?
Zane: Good
Mom: Did you have fun?
Zane: Yeah
Mom: Anything interesting happen?
Zane: Yeah
Mom: Did you enjoy it?
Zane: Yeah
Mom: Would you go back again??
Zane: Maybe
Mom: Did you make any new friends?
Zane: Kind of. Mom, can I go now? I want to text with my friends. I'll see you on Monday.

Zane with his dad leaving to catch the shuttle for his NOLS course.



Zane writes his first check to pay for his cell phone. If you want his number, email him. He's a texting whiz.



Zane getting his first checking account. My baby is growing up!

Zane's work space at Milk Creek Grill in Driggs.

Zane and Eli sleep outside in the shed that Paul's building.



Zane's mad at me so I decide to antagonize him by taking lots of pictures of him. I make him forget he's mad at me by doing this!

Zane playing ball with Paul in the back yard in May.