Borderlands and Returning Home

2025 Roaring Canyons Semester Blog #4 (Final Blog)

Last time we caught up we were in Goblin Valley, surrounded by hoodoos, mountains, and desert wildlife. We had a layover, allowing us time to unpack all of our gear and de-issue our backpacking packs, including a phone call to our families. Our final section of Semester was now in-front of us: Borderlands. The U.S/Mexico border crisis was something we knew very little about, being mostly from the Northeast. We were excited to soak it all in and witness life in the border regions firsthand as we traveled south. Changing desert landscapes frequently, we would get the opportunity to become even more familiar with the surrounding states and cultures. 

Our first stop lay within the Combwash Ridge in Utah. There we met Dev and his son Huck, and Liz and her son Bo. We learned about the old civilizations that once thrived there and hiked up the ridge where we spotted artifacts like clay, masonry, and old corn cobs, all preserved by the dry desert air. We got to meet with an archaeologist and unbox found pottery, while he showed us some of the pieces he was most passionate about and shared their history.

Driving away from Combwash we discovered a flat tire which required changing to our spare. We made our way into Navajo Nation, driving up the hill in Arizona that Forrest Gump ran on. Eventually we stopped at a repair shop to get our tire patched. As we pulled in there were many cars and dogs chained up and scattered about. At first we were uncomfortable with our surroundings and we stuck close to each other. We ate lunch and met the nice men who helped us. This opened our eyes and hearts to the many generous and heartwarming people we were yet to meet along our time near the border. We stopped at Peabody’s coal mine, which has now been abandoned, and learned about the history of coal on Navajo Nation. Reuben, a stranger to us at first, let us through the barbed wire fence and we explored the old coal silo. We sang a song (For her speak), our voices echoing in the massive empty space, then said bye to our new friend Reuben before entering the van once again. 

At Navajo National Monument we received a tour from Kora, a Navajo park ranger who showed us cliff dwellings from the Pueblo People. She told us stories of her family and natural remedies her grandparents, who were respected medicine people, had taught her. In Tuba City the next day we got a taste of local life at a flea market and spoke with people from the Navajo and Hopi communities. For lunch we bought local food which consisted of fry bread, blue corn mush, and Navajo tacos. We ate and shared stories with one another, and met a woman named Lenny, who asked to join us for lunch. We told her about our semester and she shared her story with us. Spending time within Navajo Nation and seeing the historical sites naturally preserved was eye opening. Speaking with the locals gave us some insight into their lives and cultures that would create a sense of curiosity within us and spark conversations with many more people in the coming weeks. After leaving the market, it was time for our instructor Caleb to leave us. We dropped him off with his dad and brother and waved goodbye as we continued the drive. Thank you Caleb for making us each feel loved and cared for. You supported us through this wild adventure, and we are forever grateful. We miss you!

Grand Canyon: 

At 5 am in the dark as the rain drizzles down on us, we pack up camp. The cloud cover creates a thick fog as we drive. We scramble to eat our breakfast of yogurt and granola in the parking lot as the rain picks up, then begin our descent just as dawn is breaking. Coming across signs cautioning us about trail closures and “Do not attempt to hike rim to rim in one day”, we still proceed. The trail begins to flood with rain water as we walk along a ridge, the sky becoming clearer, and the temperature becoming warmer as we hike down further. The strong wind creates a cold feeling on any exposed skin. Finally, we see the Colorado River.

This time, no sediment, only clear turquoise water, surrounded by lush tall walls. We walk through a dark tunnel and on a long bridge crossing the results of a dam filtered river, bringing us to Phantom Ranch. Here we debate on where to hike up as our original trail is closed, and our two instructors are waiting for us at the top. We decide to head up the way we came, enduring an all uphill 9 mile hike. Following the mules up, the sky appearing a little clearer from our previous down climb, we make our way up, taking breaks here and there. At one break, it begins to hail, making this day even more of an adventure. Now, feet in pain and bodies sore, we make it back to the top after one final push. We take a bus to the store and visitor center, then the lodge where Zoe and Dev are waiting. We make burritos and eat them quickly in the parking lot, our feet looking pale and wrinkled from the damp shoes. Once in the van, the night sky envelopes us, allowing us to sleep after this long, event-filled day. The next day after our intense hike out of the Grand Canyon we met Jae, and said goodbye to Liz and Bo (for now!). We began our drive the next morning after catching up and sharing stories with her.

Mexico: 

Driving through the lettuce-filled fields, where people hunched over picking and boxing our grocery store lettuce, we reached the brassy colored, metal wall topped with barbed wire. We were at the U.S/Mexico border. Crossing the border, we experienced one of the first rains that region of Mexico had had in two years. The streets were swamped with water and the fields were inundated. Tin roofs leaked and stray dogs huddled in uninhabited buildings. We were given a challenge by Dev: walk around town and find the best priced taco, using our limited Spanish.

We stuck out like a sore thumb in this small border town in our blue raincoats. We ate at a local restaurant and then drove to meet Maria, Maisie, and Chuy, who are dear friends of Dev and some of the most generous people we had met. They welcomed us with open arms into their home and taught us how to make the best tortillas. We had to stay in their home, on their kitchen floor because the road was too muddy to get to Dev’s house a little ways away, but that was the best thing that could have happened. That night we played an intense pickup game of soccer with local kids, using glass Coke bottles as a goal. Every time a car would drive by we would all have to run quickly off the road, sometimes running over our goal making the bottle explode. The rest of the evening was filled with laughter and warmth, playing games, and sharing stories over a warm meal. Many memories were made. 

Day 2:

This morning we had one of the most delicious meals yet: tortillas, guacamole, scrambled eggs, potatoes, and rice. We watched the birds and shared more stories before leaving and saying goodbye to Maria and her family. Not long into our drive we encountered a very muddy dirt road. We decided to just drive through it and see what would happen, which resulted in the van getting stuck in the ankle deep mud. We took our shoes off to create a grip to the slippery ground and pushed and shoved while Dev tried to move forward and backwards, but the van was still stuck. To make matters worse, it was only inches away from the edge of the road, precariously close to tipping over sideways.

We resorted to asking for help from some men working with a tractor getting gravel for the roads. They came down from the hill and tried to use rope to create more traction for the tires. Still hopeless, they brought down a massive tractor and pulled the van backwards out of the mud with Dev inside steering to keep the wheels straight. Celebrating the victory and thanking the men profusely for their help we tried to offer them some money, which they refused and said “Out of love”. They then gave us a ride up to the van in the bucket of the tractor, and offered water to wash our feet, thickly coated with mud. 

We met Dev’s friend Juan after the mud adventure and he showed us an alternate way to get to Dev’s stone house in Ejido Johnson. Ejidos are small, communally owned and farmed parcels of land created by the government and given to poor communities as a way to stem social unrest after the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). Ejido Johnson is a small village on the edge of Sonora and Baja California. The ejido suffered a massive earthquake in 2012 and most of the residents were relocated to Mesa Rica, where Maria and her family live. Some people refused to leave, including Juan and his family. That night we met the neighbors and ate dinner around the fire. We celebrated Juan’s birthday and played guitar and sang before all falling asleep on the floor of the stone house. 

Day 3:

We arose at 4:30 am to drive to a conservation center where we spent all day banding birds and learning about the reforestation work Pronatura does on the reserve. We were each given the opportunity to hold and release birds, as well as collect them from the nets. We also toured the greenhouses and saw uncommon plants that we don’t encounter in the Northeast, like Palo Verde trees, various different cactuses, and baby Cottonwoods. Once we headed back to Ejido Johnson we witnessed a mother sheep giving birth to twins, and played an intense game of street soccer with new friends we made the day before. 

Day 4:

The streets were still muddy with pools of water from the most recent rain, and we couldn’t risk the van becoming stuck once again. At 1 am we woke up to the sound of rain and began to pack up our sleeping gear. We then were told to stop, so we unpacked again while Jae and Dev moved the van out of the muddy area. At 6 am we left and the rain became much more intense. To celebrate Dayal’s and Zahava’s birthday, we stopped at a pastelerila to get sweet treats for breakfast. Crossing back over the border into the United States was fast and uneventful, and it made many of us think about the luxuries we have as privileged U.S. citizens. 

After leaving Mexico, still near the border we camped at Organ Pipe National Monument. Dev took us to visit the border, with security cameras, barbed wire and border patrol trucks everywhere we looked. We saw the Mexican side, there were many homes and you could hear music playing loudly and children yelling. This brought wonder to us as they see and witness this great divide that separates two groups of equally deserving people. We discussed the history of the border wall, then drove to a border crossing where we were given the opportunity to walk across into Mexico, only for a few minutes. It was very impactful, as we felt privileged to be able to waltz in and out of their country. It was a view changing experience. 

The next day we drove into Ajo, Arizona where we met Dora Rodriguez. Dora fled violence during the civil war in her home county, El Salvador, when she was just 19 years old. After two unsuccessful attempts at entering the U.S, she attempted a third crossing on foot through the Sonoran Desert. She was abandoned by her coyotes (human smugglers), and left for dead. When the Border Patrol rescued her, she was on the brink of death. Dora now lives in Tucson and is now a humanitarian worker and outspoken advocate for migrants coming to the U.S. Meeting her and hearing her story was inspiring and humbling. 

From Ajo we drove east to Tucson and made camp at Catalina State Park for a few nights. We spent time at Southside Presbyterian Church, the place where the Sanctuary Movement started in the 80’s under Pastor John Fife. Dora’s story was one of the catalysts for the Sanctuary Movement, and grew from Tucson to include over 50 congregations at its peak. At one point, Southside had 1,500 migrants from El Salvador and Guatemala living in the church, denied political asylum by the United States despite civil violence in their home countries. On Thanksgiving day we attended a community meal at the Tucson Salvation Army, then continued south to our rock climbing camp at Cochise Stronghold, the last stop before the long drive back to Kroka. 

Cochise Stronghold was home to the Chiricahua Apache under chief Cochise until they were forced out by the American army in the 1870’s. It has over 1,000 climbing routes, which we were barely able to scratch the surface of. Many of us had never climbed outdoors before and discovered a new passion and strength. It felt so good to push ourselves physically in a new way, feel our muscles ache and our knuckles bleed from being crammed in a crack as we reached for one more hold. After three days of climbing, the day had finally come to start the journey home. We awoke at 4:30 on the morning of Monday, December 1st. Though it had been nearly three months since the drive out west, everyone knew what to do. Pack up tents, still half asleep (quietly! No talking, red lights only on our headlamps). Load into the van, snuggle back into our sleeping bags. The familiar “thud” of Charlie jumping on to the roof rack for a final check of the gear. Navigation briefing in hushed whispers, and away we go. 

Haikus about how it feels to be going home and ending semester:

Fast world left behind
Air is fresh, stars bright, I’m free
Back to the machine
– Zahava

A strong force of shock
And the feeling of sadness
Lots of light ahead
– Charlie 

I don’t want to leave
My soul connected to land
Many memories made
– Clara Rose

We drove east over the next week, leaving the now familiar desert landscape and returning to the full rivers, deciduous trees, and snow that signal to us: we are nearly home. Several inches of snow and sub-zero temperatures greeted us back at Kroka basecamp, making some of us jump for joy at the thought of skating and skiing, and some of us yearn for the desert sun. Two days later, Ecuador Semester pulled into the driveway. We shared so many stories, hugs, and meals together in the final days before graduation. We thought of them often while we were out west, on their own adventures in Ecuador, and are happy to spend this time together, the same way it all began.