New Mexico, Arizona

After our time with Sharman, we went South and back toward the border for a quick ecology survey on the El Coronado Ranch. This ranch, owned by the Austin family, has been working toward a goal of sediment deposit in their arroyos through the construction of trincheras, or small rock dams. Our project was to measure the height of these dams, the amount of sediment deposited behind them, and any hydrophilic vegetation that has grown in the channel. This project was our way to thank the Austins for letting us stay on their ranches in Mexico, though this time too felt beneficial to us as well. Their ranches may be some of the most beautiful parts of New Mexico and Mexico, and the work they are doing on these ranches is admirable. Our hope is that our survey will turn into a way they can help educate and encourage the public toward similar work.

We said goodbye to New Mexico and headed west to Arizona. We spent one brief night at the remote desert camp of No Mas Muertes, a humanitarian aid organization dedicated to the efforts of providing water, food and emergency medical care to migrants crossing over the Mexican border. We visited the border station at Sasabe, AZ and spoke briefly with the Customs agents at the border about the challenges of their job. We also visited the grave of a man found dead on his journey to a job in the US. We also got the opportunity to speak with two Whitman alums about their role within the organization.

We are now in southern California. For the next two nights we'll be staying outside of Joshua Tree and looking at the possibility of wind turbines on public land here. After this, it's on to the Tejon Ranch for one final writing workshop, then back up to Walla Walla to complete final projects and reinsert ourselves into society.