User:KelleyP

=Freshman Seminar=

Always Wanted To Schedule

 * Topic

I will plan an adventure hiking the Appalachian Trail for a future date.


 * Research Component

Research how to make proper arrangements to complete the hike.


 * week 1

What is a realistic goal for when I can take this journey? Approximately how long will I be away from home? Find info on the internet.


 * week 2

Are there groups/clubs I can join and hike with? Read 15 pages of "Walking the Appalachian".


 * week 3

How much money do I need to save to allow this much time off work/school and for supplies and gear? Read 15 pages of "Walking the Appalachian".
 * week 4

How will I ship supplies to towns I will visit? Who can I count on to send them? Read 15 pages of "Walking the Appalachian".


 * week 5

What supplies do I need from the start? What will I eat? Read 15 pages of "Walking the Appalachian".


 * week 6

Shopping/pricing gear and supplies. Route configuration with stops and supply list for each mail stop. Read 15 pages of "Walking the Appalachian". Training.
 * week 7

Set up post office pickups. Give family members plan. Read 15 pages of "Walking the Appalachian". Training.
 * week 8

Plan flight times and arrival at trail head. Read 15 pages of "Walking the Appalachian". Training.

Midterm Assignment 1: Taste & Aesthetics
Persephone Unbound stood paralyzed in the dirt under the dark clouds that showered her; no life there. This was the first encounter I had with her and I immediately disliked her. The diffused light failed to define her features, her figure was cold and stiff. I did not see anything in the sculpture before me.

As much as I tried to embrace this work I could not see any beauty in it. The material was dark and unmoving. Even the sheen from the rain did not provide any interest to me. It was the first sculpture I observed close up and I thought how ironic because I usually appreciate abstract art. I was surprised to find myself disliking this piece immediately. I moved on to the next sculpture, also created by Beverly Pepper, and it appealed to me as did most of the other sculptures in the park. I returned to Persephone after observing other pieces to make sure my dislike of her wasn’t caused by a need to “warm up” my brain. Not so; I did not like her still.

I wasn’t sure what I would find on Beverly Pepper’s website but I discovered the most amazing structures and sculptures I’ve ever seen. She’s designed amphitheaters and cool places to hang outside in public areas alongside her sculptures. The Land Art was my favorite of her work shown on the site. I was awestruck by the cast iron Palingenesis, it looked like a place I would go to get inspiration and recharge.

I felt bad for disliking Persephone after seeing what an amazing artist Beverly is. I began trying to associate characteristics of other pieces of hers I liked with the sculpture I didn’t like (to make myself like it). Next, I went to the Sculpture Park website to observe Persephone Unbound after my good experience with Beverly’s other works. First of all, the picture posted on the site was taken on a sunny day. That factor immediately changed the way the sculpture appeared to me. The sunlight created shadows where there were none on the cloudy day and gave depth to the piece. It created the lines of Persephone’s face where I didn’t see them before and the form of a woman began to appear in the sculpture.

Although I wasn’t completely successful in changing my own mind, I was able to appreciate the piece after learning more about the artist and observing the sculpture in different ways, and from different light-sources. I am not surprised by my results because I can usually find something to appreciate or a lesson in all my experiences. I can now see Persephone Unbound in the sculpture but it was still my least favorite in the park and of the work I have seen by Beverly Pepper .

Final Presentation

 * Topic (10%)

I have always wanted to plan a thru-hike on the Appalachian Trail, a 2,175 mile journey from Georgia to Maine.


 * Research (20%)


 * 1) Internet site:Home-Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Web. 07 Nov. 2009. . Appalachian Trail. Web. . Blazin' the Trail. Web. .
 * 2) Book:Luxenberg, Larry. Walking the Appalachian Trail. Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books, 1994. Print.
 * 3) Scholarly Journal:Ron Potts. ""Fellow travelers along the trail. "" The World & I 18.8 (2003): 267. Proquest Research Library. Web. 24 Nov. 2009.
 * 4) Armstrong, Brian, prod. ""Appalachian Trail"" America's Wild Spaces. Dir. Todd Hermann. National Geographic Channel. NGC, 10 Nov. 2009. Television.


 * Your accomplishment (20%)

I was able to plan my daily miles and where I will camp each night as well as what locations I will resupply and how many days of supplies I will need. I made my gear list and found out how to get to the trailhead and back after completion. I read my book and found out what trail guide is best to use while on the trail. I figured out about how much money I will need to cover bills and how much I will need to have on the trail. I didn't figure out how much I would spend on gear but I have most of it already.


 * Project Review (50%)
 * 1)What went well: I had an easy time finding information to help plan everything. I really enjoyed putting the powerpoint together because I saw so many pictures from the trail and read many blogs written by people who have hiked the trail. Reading what people say about the hike and also re-reading my original book got me excited to hike the trail.
 * 2)What went poorly: I had planned on doing the cardio training but didn't have time or extra motivation since I knew I wasn't actually hiking the trail anytime soon. I had also planned on figuring out what supplies I would mail drop to myself while hiking but didn't because I read that mail drops are not necessary.  I didn't find anyone who wants to do it with me but later realized it's probably better that way. I didn't plan an exact date to fly out or start but I know it will be around April 1.  I didn't price gear which is helpful to determine total cost of the adventure but reading other's information gave me a pretty good idea plus I have a lot of gear already.
 * 3)Future strategies: In the future when planning to achieve a goal I will probably not create a schedule because I don't use them. I didn't really look at mine during the process but that could partly be due to the fact that I keep all the things I have to get done in a mental list. I will try not to procrastinate in future endeavors because that is a character flaw of mine although I didn't do too bad on this one.  When I plan to do the Pacific Crest Trail I will try not to rely as much on planning that other people have posted to help me plan my own trip. It makes it easy to slack a bit on research because the info is given to you.