2270 Highway 133
Carbondale, CO 81623
December 2014
Volume 8 Issue 3
The Rampage
Feliz Navidad: -Maeve O’Donnell Pax
Celebrating Christmas around the world
In December, when the weather is cold, many Americans pause their lives in order to celebrate Christmas. Although it is traditionally a Christian holiday, 90% of people in the U.S. participate in Christmas festivities. At Roaring Fork High School, there are numerous teachers and students who have celebrated Christmas somewhere other than the United States. Although Christmas is centered around the same ideas everywhere in the world, it changes culturally from place to place. Christmas traditions vary, but the spirit of giving and the value of family is universal.
Peru:
Spain:
In Peru, on Christmas Eve, as with several other Latin American countries, it is customary to set off fireworks at midnight and eat and drink the whole night. Peru is “the most different in the religion,” said Spanish techer Stephanie Alzamora. “There’s a bigger emphasis on church,” she added.
Costa Rica:
Egg nog is popular during Christmas time, along with pork tamales and arepas (flatbread made with maize or flour). According to Assistant Principal Kelsie Goodman, being with family and displays of nativity scenes are important elements in Costa Rica.
Puerto Rico:
Although Puerto Rico is technically a part of the U.S., their celebration is very different. The holiday season lasts from Thanksgiving all the way until February 2. Katia Curbelo-Del Valle, the new attendance secretary at RFHS, is originally from Puerto Rico. Curbelo-Del Valle remembers burning their Christmas tree on February 2 as a way of clearing out the old for the new year. Rice with gandules (a particular bean) and roast pork is the meal of choice during the holiday season in Puerto Rico. In America, we go caroling, but in Puerto Rico, they have parranda, which is when a group of people go house to house singing. At each house, they stop to eat and drink, and then are joined by the hosts to visit the next house.
Whatʼs Inside:
Marijuana Suspensions (Page 2)
Feminism (Page 3)
Common foods made during the holiday include lots of meat (especially ham) and desserts. Goodman, remembers eating figs, walnuts, and marzipan (almond cake) during her Christmas in Spain. Alzamora remembered partaking in the tradition of eating Pan de los Reyes (also known as Rosca de Reyes or King’s Cake). Pan de los Reyes is a round sweet cake in which a little plastic figurine, meant to represent baby Jesus, is hidden. The person who receives the piece of cake with the doll has special obligations and/or privileges throughout the day. Both teachers also talked about the New Year’s Eve tradition of Doce Uvitas (uvas) de la Suerte, or the Twelve Grapes of Good Luck. The grapes are eaten simultaneously within the last 12 seconds of the year.
Mexico:
For many Mexican families, the Christmas cuisine is a little different. Cindy Salinas, a sophomore, has tamales every Christmas. In many Latin American countries, there is more emphasis on Christmas Eve than on Christmas Day. “The day [of Christmas Eve] is spent preparing for the night. On Christmas, my family goes to the beach,” said Salinas.
Fantasy Football (Page 7)
Gems of the Valley (Page 8)
Feature
2 Rampage December 2014
RFSD marijuana-related suspensions “higher” than the stateʼs -Caitlin O’Gorman and Kristin Page
S
ince the legalization of marijuana, there has been an increase in marijuana-related suspensions throughout Roaring Fork High School, Basalt High School, and Glenwood Springs High School. Marijuana is available for purchase for anyone over 21 in any of the three retail pot shops in Carbondale. As marijuana has become more available throughout the valley, the number of teen incidents has increased. Last year, RFHS had five marijuana-related suspensions, and there have been two so far this year. At GSHS, ac-
cording to principal Paul Freeman, 19 marijuana-related suspensions have occurred so far this year, compared to last year’s 12 suspensions. The Rampage attempted to contact Basalt High School’s administration for their data but were unsuccessful. In a recent survey of overall teen health in the district, teen marijuana use was polled in each school, focusing on things like how many students tried marijuana before age 13 and how many are daily users. It recorded the percentage of students who use marijuana in the district compared to the state, showing that the district’s usage is higher than the state’s
average. Carbondale Police Officer, Michael Zimmerman, believes kids use marijuana as an
said. Now that marijuana is legal, he believes it is becoming more accessible to teens. Zimmerman thinks
escape from their problems. “It is easier to get the drug if the parents are leaving kids home alone,” Zimmerman
expulsion isn’t the answer to teens smoking pot, for it will end up discouraging them and making them more
Photos by Lucy Stevens
RFHS Celebrity Look-a-Likes
Nedesin Platero
Colin Kaepernick
Mr. Faulkner
Carl from “Up!”
likely to cut classes. “Schools don’t want to expel anyone because the main goal of school is to help turn students into productive adults, and by expelling them, they are allowing students do whatever they want,” he said. Zimmerman’s message to high schoolers using marijuana is that they need to look at the reasons they are doing it and evaluate how marijuana will affect them in the next 5-10 years. Roaring Fork High School Principal, Drew Adams, believes when students come to school under the influence of pot they aren’t learning and focussing in the classroom. Since marijuana has been legalized, Adams realizes
that it has become a lot more accessible to minors. Kelsie Goodman, assistant principal of RFHS, believes that students abuse marijuana because of peer pressure. “Some students feel like they need it, which is the saddest and most dangerous reason,” she said. Some “glorify” pot and others think it is “ridiculous”. As Goodman explained, “Every student has to make the choice for themselves. They have to educate themselves and find out what it’s doing to them and how they are affecting the people around them. [They need to be] self reflective. I think it would change a lot of the use.”
Designer turned teacher
-Hayden Bernot
From an elegant key chain holder to the visually appealing lamps and chairs: Brad Reed Nelson’s designs are unforgettable. Nelson is known locally as the creator behind Board by Design (BBD). “BBD started in 2001. It was founded out of a desire to invent furniture that offered my unique perspective on the design world,” Nelson shared. Now, Nelson can add “high school teacher” to his resume as he has joined the ranks at RFHS. “I have taught workshops, which last one to two weeks, and I taught for two years at Arizona State University.” The most challenging thing about the transition to teaching at RFHS has been “balancing teaching, my business, and my family life,” Nelson said. Nelson teaches a class called Design and Build. Design and Build is different from a typical wood shop class in that Nelson invites students to make their own designs and bring them to life through wood. Nelson helps his students design by bringing his own unique twist. Although juggling a reputable design company with a teaching career has not been easy, Nelson is happy to be teaching at RFHS. “I believe teaching and working with young people is an amazing opportunity. Getting to know a different group of our community and offer my life experience is something that I wanted to do.” As a great resource, Nelson has been able to show his students not only the skills of craftsmanship, but also what it’s like to be a successful artist.
Feature -Bella Bailey
H
ave you ever wondered what makes you, you? One big aspect of who you are is your personality. Personality is patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that make a person who they are. It can determine the way you think and control how you behave. Personality can be both biological and influenced by a person’s upbringing and surroundings. It is not only seen in obvious behavior; it is also seen in your thoughts, feelings, relationships with others, and social interactions. Learning about your personality can be life changing for many people, including art teacher Cathleen McCourt. McCourt has learned a lot about personalities in the last ten years. “I first was interested in understanding personalities because I wanted to have more insight into my husband because we are so different,” she explained. So, she did some research and found out more about why her husband is the way he is. In the process, McCourt found out even more about herself. After many online personality tests and a test from a book, McCourt identified her own personality. “[According to the Enneagram,] I am a two, ‘The Helper,’ which sounds great, but there are negatives and positives to every personality.” McCourt said that her positives are that she helps a lot of people, and that she is generous, but she has issues with hostility. McCourt thinks that knowing her personality helped her become a better person. She learned why she behaves the way she does, but she doesn’t let herself be constricted by her personality description. “Don’t let your number define you; use it to help you grow into a better version of yourself. Actually, everyone is a combination of five numbers, that is why this assessment is so accurate.” Learning about personality can help you become more empathetic, better your career and relationships, and teach you how to manage your energy. If you want to find out what personality you are, visit these two sources: “The Enneagram Made Easy” or 16Personalities.com.
Image from Baron, Renee and Wagele, Elizabeth. The Enneagram Made Easy. HarperOne, 1994e
Unlock the real you!
3 Rampage December 2014
Senior Spotlight on Ms. Lucy Uribe
Photo by Lucy Stevens -Jonny Aranda
With her stylish look and whimsical personality, Lucy Uribe, a senior at Roaring Fork High School, has made
a definite impression on many staff members and students. She has lived in Carbondale for most of her life and is planning on pursuing a career in nursing or the law enforcement field. When she is not cruis-
ing in her car, she is usually spending time with friends or watching movies. The Rampage sat down with Uribe and asked her a few questions. Here are some of her responses:
Q: What struggles have you gone through that have made you the way you are? A: Hanging around the wrong people has made me make some bad decisions. I have learned to choose my friends wisely because in the end, they are the ones that are there for me in my hardships. Q: What are some personality traits you’re proud of? A: Being so positive about things and being upfront with people. Q: Who are some of the people you usually spend your time with? Why? A: I usually hang out with Arely Reza, Anali Garcia, Areli Tapia, Jacky Jacquez, Daisy Contreras, and Abril Mendoza. They are my friends because they are always there for me, and when we are together, we’re always laughing, but they are all also responsible at school which makes me think I made a good choice. Q: Who has always been there to help you? A: Ms.Wu. She encouraged me and never gave up on me. She is my “home girl”! Q: What advice would you give to current or upcoming freshman? A: It’s exciting to be in a new environment, and sometimes that can distract you from what’s really important--school. Don’t ditch classes and turn in your homework. Start off strong and you’ll be rewarded when you graduate.
The Perfectionist (1) They focus on improving themselves. They value rules and traditions. They think very logical analytical and critical. The Helper (2) Very talkative, dramatic and energetic. They like attention and reaching out to people. The Achiever (3) Fast paced and action oriented. Good communicators and tend to be realistic and traditional. They are structured, organized and efficient. The Romantic (4)Sociable and expressive, serious, reserved and withdrawn. They express themselves through action and the “here and now”. They are also emotionally sensitive. The Observer (5) Realistic, practical, detached, reserved and quiet. They are less focused on complection and can get sidetracked very easily. The Questioner (6) Practical, dependable and traditional. Loyal, dependent and logical. They prefer talking and thinking rather than action. The Adventurer (7) Talkative, sociable, fast paced, logical, challenging and fun loving. They learn from experience and observation. The Asserter (8) Energetic, exuberant, outspoken, fast paced, down to earth, and interested in facts. They are helpful and supportive. The Peacemaker (9) Sociable, talkative and energetic, down to earth, live in the moment. They are organized and productive and want closure, they like to keep their options open.
4
FOC
Rampage | December 2014
Throughout history, women have been disadvantaged. Although huge ste and women are still unequal. Here are some of the issues that wom
fem i nism
noun
the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men.
Facts About the “F” Word
Myth: Only women are feminists. Fact: Anyone who supports gender equality can be con-
-Elle Derby
Myth: Feminists want female supremacy. Fact: Feminists support equal rights between all in-
ferior genders in our society, not just women. Genders and sexualities that are not treated the same as heterosexual men include people who identify as transsexual, bisexual, lesbian, gay, asexual, undefined, and transgender.
Myth: All feminists hate men. Fact: Although some feminists hate
RFH S R a ms R e sp o n d
men, most feminists only hate the fact that almost all current societies are patriarchal. A feminist is dedicated to achieving equality for all people, regardless of gender, race, or social standing, and since most governments and high-up corporate jobs are male-dominated, they want women and other members of oppressed groups to have equal opportunity to achieve success at the same levels.
What is feminism in your own words? “Recognizing that no gender or sexual orientation is in any way superior or more deserving of recognition in society than another.”
“Standing up for women but putting men down at the same time.” “I donʼt know. What does that even mean?”
sidered a feminist. Although many men wouldnʼt call themselves feminists, if you believe in equal rights for women and men, you are closer to being a feminist than you think!
Myth:
rapists.
Feminists think all men are
Fact: Many feminists are aware of the fact that one in six women are sexually assaulted in their lifetime and that only three percent of rapists spend a day in jail. Many women who are raped are too afraid to come forward because they blame themselves or are ashamed of what has happened. Although women are taught to wear modest clothing, men are not taught that “no” means “no” and that she is never “asking for it.” Rape culture has become a normality in our society. Feminists are not opposed to men; they are opposed to rapists and rape culture. RFHS needs feminism because....
Girls donʼt want to decide where they go to college based on the percentages of girls who are raped or assaulted on campus. Girls are sick of boys defending and making jokes about professional football players who abuse their wives and children. Girls feel uncomfortable saying no to unwanted physical contact (even if itʼs just a “hug” or a “back rub”). Guys are congratulated for dating lots of girls but girls are “slut shamed” if they date around. Girls donʼt want to be harassed in their P.E classes.
Rampage | December 2014
CUS
5
eps have been taken towards equality, standards and opportunities for men men and girls face around the world and at Roaring Fork High School.
How do parents influence their children’s body image? An RFHS student who prefers to remain anonymous has been negatively affected by her parentsʼ body image.
RFHS Special Education teacher Chelsea Robson was lucky to have parents who positively affected her body image.
Q: How do your parentsʼ attitude toward their bodies affect you? Q: How did your parentsʼ attitude toward their bodies affect you? A: When I was growing up, my mom never talked positively about her A: My parentsʼ attitude toward their bodies affected me in a very
body. She was always complaining about how fat she was and talking about her newest diet. When I got into middle school, I started to pick up her habits unconsciously, starting to diet and criticizing my own body. I began to hate my body because that is the message I received from my mom.
Q: What are your thoughts on body image? A: I think that body image is a huge problem
for so many teenagers today. There is a pressure to be perfect that is put on people, but the “perfection” is completely unattainable. It is very common for people to have negative body image because they feel like they are not good enough based on the skewed idea of what the “perfect” body looks like.
positive way. They never said anything negative about their weight or how they looked, and they took good care of themselves through eating healthy and exercising.
Q: What are your thoughts on body image? A: I think that body image has become a
huge issue among young adults and teenagers. There is so much pressure from the media to be stick thin and “flawless” based on what advertisements and magazines sell us. Itʼs sad that people are so consumed by body image and weight.
Q: Do you feel like body image will remain to a Q: big issue in high school?
A: Itʼs sad, but yes, I always think it will be a big issue. When youʼre a teenager, your body changes a lot. You arenʼt yet comfortable with your new body, which can lead to a lot of insecurity. I also think we will continue to receive messages about what the perfect body is, rather than to love yourself they way you are. I think the combination of these things will result in body image always being an issue among teenagers.
Was body image a problem when you were in high school? If so, how did your friends feel about their bodies?
A: I never had body image issues, but I definitely had friends that did, who were constantly dieting and comparing themselves to others. I know adults now that are consumed with how they look and how much they weigh. Itʼs sad, really. -Interviews by Bella Bailey
Are women forced out of the mathematical world? -Eryn Doherty You may have noticed that your doctor, your dentist, your computer technician and many other STEM professionals have one thing in common: they’re probably almost all men. Many jobs in scienti�ic, technological, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) professions may seem more accessible to men than women. Only one-�ifth of doctorate degrees in physics are awarded to women in the U.S., and only a portion of those women were born in the United States. Out of all the physics professionals in the U.S., only 14 percent of them are women. Only nine percent of women are engineers, and 17 percent of them are chemical engineers, according to “Women in STEM.” Why is it that these percentages are so low? Many might think it’s because society’s attitude towards women assumes women “can’t” be good at science or math. This thought dates back to the Renaissance when it became a theory that “the female cranium is too small to hold a pow-
erful brain; that mathematics requires a ‘virile’ mind, properly cleansed of femininity; and that exercising women’s brains would shrink their ovaries,” said Marilyn K. Simon in an article for “Mathematics Teacher” in 2000. Although many might believe men are more intelligent than women, Adrian Furnham writes in “Psychology Today” that the female cranium is very similar to the male’s when it comes to academic potential and ability. wwSurprisingly, studies have shown that females ages nine and thirteen actually test higher than males on math and science tests. However, as females approach the age of seventeen, their scores drop by one percent under that of the males (Simon). What holds girls back, then? Eileen Pollack, in an article for The New York Times, said she was held back from pursuing mathematical and scienti�ic classes in high school simply because “women never go on in science and math.” Similar to Pollack, a female math teacher at Roaring Fork said while she was in engineering school, her male professors and
male classmates would show their contempt for her with insulting comments about her femininity. It is dif�icult not only for women to succeed in STEM professions, but also for African Americans and Latinos. The 2011 U.S. Census data reports that only six percent of STEM workers were African American, while only seven percent of STEM workers were Latino. Valerie Strauss explains in a study for the Washington Post that this could be due to inequality in educational opportunity for U.S. citizens of color. Even though it is still dif�icult for women, African Americans, and Latinos to succeed in STEM professions, the percentages have increased slightly since 1970. The number of Latinos and African Americans has increased by four and two percent respectively, and the percentages of women in STEM professions has increased as well (U.S. Census). However, we need more than a one-digit increase of underrepresented groups to truly make the STEM �ield representative of the diversity in the United States.
6 Rampage December 2014
Opinion
Flawed, but functional -Rampage Staff High school is difficult. In addition to balancing classes and extracurricular activities, students deal with questions about what kind of person they want to be, who their friends are, and in what direction they want their life to go. This is a tall order. The myth abounds in high school that there is a prescribed set of steps that everyone must follow that will automatically result in future success. Perfect grades, participation in sports, and involvement in activities and clubs--plus a healthy dose of student leadership and volunteer work--adds up to a resume competitive enough to attend an ideal college and obtain a lucrative job. In reality, the path is sometimes more meandering, and not everyone has the equal opportunity to follow that path. This idea of success also leaves out the fact that many students work extremely hard without getting perfect grades or having a stellar resume. Additionally, this model doesn’t always encompass who a student really is. There isn’t a place in a high school transcript that shows the compassion students have, or the loyalty and respect they exhibit every day. In our day-to-day lives, on the other hand, a person’s character allows us to build relationships and succeed in jobs or other capacities. The Rampage acknowledges that the formula for high school isn’t perfect, and it doesn’t place value on all the elements of being a successful human. However, we are lucky to go to a school that is perhaps more accepting than most. Roaring Fork is a school that seems to value the character and hard work of our students and teachers in addition to more conventional ideas of success. Our tradition of having a Thanksgiving lunch at school the Friday before break is an example of how we celebrate community and how much we value the character traits of everyone who calls RFHS home for seven hours, five days a week. Teachers and students work together to put on a school-wide potluck, eat together, and dance together on stage. High school isn’t perfect, but in our opinion, RFHS is one of the better places to be during these transitional years.
STUDENTS P E A K
Do you think high school prepares you for the real world?
Junior Diose Alvarado “I don’t think that high school prepares you for the real world. The real world is harder than high school.”
Senior Misael Ramos “Sort of. It depends on the classes you take.”
Sophomore Emily Henley “High school teaches you how to deal with all sorts of people, and sometimes you have to do things that you don’t want to do.”
O U T
Sophomore Wes Engstrom “I think the experiences that you have in high school with your peers will prepare you for the real world.” Junior Luke Klotz “I think that high school helps you learn to deal with different types of people.”
Guest Opinion: High school “couldnʼt hold my interest”
"Hello. My Name Is: Overworked.” By Fabian Rico
-Cofii Acosta
I’ve been a student at Basalt High School, Roaring Fork High School (RFHS), and Glenwood Springs High School, and not one of these schools could hold my interest. I’m 17 years old, and I stopped going to school in September in order to work full-time. Ever since I dropped out, I’ve seen my life slowly improve. My life hasn’t been exactly the best, but then again, nobody has the perfect life. We all go through phases of anger and negativity at some point. The school system increased my anger and negativity by expecting me to be
like everyone else and trying to fill my head with knowledge with no connection to the real world. It’s not the people I didn’t like; in fact, I still come back to Roaring Fork occasionally to visit my friends and teachers. It’s the whole system of high school education that drove me to the realization that dropping out would make me less angry and negative. When someone says they’re a drop-out, others usually see them as dumb or a piece of trash whose only objective in life is to get stoned or drunk all the time and not add anything useful to society. There was a time when my goal in life was not much dif-
ferent; school made me more likely to smoke and drink. Since then, I’m choosing to live a better life, and I’ve learned that school was never for me. I know half of the students say that, but honestly, being labeled a student made me hate myself. Although I didn’t always make good choices, I knew the difference between right and wrong. I have good morals; isn’t that what should count? Our society struggles to tell the difference between what’s ideal and what’s true. Ideally, people believe that having a high school diploma makes you a better person. The truth is, however, that
a high school diploma is just a piece of paper that shows you do what you’re told to do. I spent my time in all three high schools on the verge of insanity because of this: knowing everything and nothing at the same time. While I am willing to fight against the “ideal” vision of high school as much as I can, I know that I can’t do anything on my own. People continue to view me as a lone drop-out, the “idiot” who complains about writing a summary or reading a book. I hope one day people will be judged on their morals and ethics instead of their grades and the piece of paper they hold in their hand.
Sports
7 Rampage December 2014
“Americaʼs favorite game” played on a computer -Roy Benge
Fantasy Football is a game played by over 30 million Americans according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association; the fastest growing demographic is people under 18. At Roaring Fork High School, many students and teachers are getting involved in this fad. Senior Ruby Lang, who is no football fanatic and does not participate in fantasy sports, says, “From what I know, people pick NFL players and get points when they do well.” That basically sums it up. Leagues usually consist of 10-12 teams, each controlled
by a manager. Each week, team rosters face off head to head, gaining points based on the actual NFL players’ stats. The fantasy playoffs and championship games take place the last few weeks of the NFL regular season and the winner is crowned, which means making real money in many leagues. RFHS English teacher Adam Carballeira, also known as the manager of the “Carbivores,” boasts one championship ring in his four years of playing Fantasy Football in a league of his middle school and high school friends. While he thinks
Rams tear up the slopes -Kaite Weimer, photo by Lucy Stevens
many people take the game too seriously, he jokes the only thing he doesn’t like about Fantasy Football is when his players don’t perform: “Mid-season injuries and domestic violence hurt.” His favorite part of Fantasy Football is being able to reconnect with–and even take a few jabs at– old friends. “The smack talk feature is what I like most because it involves creative writing and insults. When you’ve known people for 25 years, you know their soft spots,” says Carballeira. Fantasy Football is a multi-billion dollar industry complete with
professional analysts, magazines, and even camps where people go and listen to seminars lead by experts. They take notes and prepare for the season, learning about things such as “sleeper” rookie wide receivers in point per reception formatted leagues. As much as the game generates revenue, The Denver Post reports that fantasy football costs employers 6.5 billion annually in wasted work time. The Fantasy Football trend is showing no signs of dying, and it is attracting a more and more diverse crowd. According to the Star Tribune, 20% of players
Dani Minor is a junior at Roaring Fork who has been skiing locally since the age of five. On the occasion of a snow day, she can be found enjoying the powder on her favorite mountain, Snowmass. Her favorite skiing memory? “When I was a little kid, and went into a lodge and ate pizza and had hot chocolate with my family,” she shared. Sophomore and snowboard-fanatic Joel Andrews believes that skiers are cool and fun to be around. “I have nothing against people that ski,” Joel stated. One of his favorite memories is his first powder day and being up on the mountain with all of his friends. Joel’s must-have equipment piece is his gloves: “[My gloves] have a cool, Hawaiian design on them.” His least favorite winter sport is the Olympic sport, curling.
With the winter season nearing its peak, The Rampage asked Roaring Fork students and staff about some of their favorite winter sports.
Snowmass lover Corey Johnson shared, “One of my favorite skiing memories is when I was in ski school, and my friend skied into a ditch.” The athlete that she most looks up to is valley local, Torin Yater-Wallace. On the mountain, you can find Corey fully equipped in her favorite brands, Armada and Line.
are women and half of all players plan to continue playing until the day they die. Even more surprising, NFL Chief Marketing Officer, Mark Waller, says that the NFL wants to ensure that Fantasy Football is formatted to accommodate young people, enabling it to be used educationally. He thinks Fantasy Football is complex game that could help teach math skills, stating, “We’re trying to work with groups to get the concept of fantasy based into the curriculum of elementary schools.” RFHS Junior Max Slack, whose team name is called “Slack
Studs,” says he likes Fantasy Football because “it adds to watching football. You watch more games you normally wouldn’t watch and root for specific players.” Fantasy Football is built around traditions, whether it’s tattooing the league loser, traveling to Las Vegas for the draft, or like in Carballeria’s case, having “owners meetings” where all his league friends meet and play games of real football. Carballeira’s league also has a five foot tall trophy that the league winner has to display in his home until a new champion is crowned.
Entertainment
Heard in the Hallways “Stop distracting them with your abs.” “I’m ugly, and I’m not entirely proud of it!” “It’s days like these that make me hate school 43% more than usual.”
Gems of the Valley -Grace Brown
As an ongoing column, “Gems of the Valley” will feature Rampage staff picks of the best outdoor spots we think our Rams should stomp their hooves. The snow is finally about to stick which means one thing: ski-bums crossing! Many will take trips up to the four downhill ski mountains in Aspen and to Sunlight in Glenwood, where they’re sure to have a perfect winter day. This month, we’re focusing on a spot for the others, who would enjoy packing a picnic and taking it slow as they crosscountry ski through the fresh December snow. Marion Gulch, about seven miles up Thompson Road, is a common yet consistently breath-taking adventure. If you’re looking for a sociable outing with a view and a little exercise, Marion Gulch is the perfect place to play. How to get there: Drive as if you were taking the backroad out of Carbondale (over the CRMS bridge) but instead of turning, head straight up the hill on Thompson Road. About seven miles up, you will see a pull-off parking lot on the right and just above it, the road turns into unshoveled snow. This is where the trail begins. What to do: Savor the drive up the Thompson Divide, and once you get there, hop on your XC skis or snowshoes and enjoy the day! Word to the wise: Make sure your car has snow tires as the parking lot (and drive up) can get muddy, icy, wet, etc. Always bring up food and water in case of an emergency. The trails are mostly calm, but in case someone gets hurt or stuck, you’ll want to be prepared. Extra gloves, hand-warmers, hats and a compass could also be helpful.
8 Rampage December 2014
Rampage Staff Editors in Chief Roy Benge Kristen Joiner Managing Editor
“On a scale from 1-10 how stressed are you?” “Twelve.” “Really? But you’re so calm.” “It’s a lot of internal pain really.” “Mozzarella sticks are a spiritual entity in my mind.”
Whoopers -Being able to drift in the parking lot at lunchtime. -Ski season is here! -Basketball has started. -Everything is cheaper in the stores this time of the year. -Only one more week until no more school.
Bloopers -Any runs open at ski hills will be covered with rocks and tree tips. -Everybody has gained 20 pounds since Thanksgiving. -Cars don’t like to stay on the roads this time of the year. -Teachers always give homework over winter break. -The Rampage staff is too exhausted to think of anything else to complain about.
The Rampage would like to thank the RFHS Booster Club for generously sponsoring our school newspaper.
Finn Featherstone Photographer Lucy Stevens Editorial Staff Grace Brown Kayla Derby Jake Kelley Fiona Laird James Long Caitlin O’Gorman Jake Rusby Tavia Teitler Journalists Jonny Aranda Bella Bailey Hayden Bernot Elle Derby Eryn Doherty Jacky Jacquez Carley Moravek Maeve O’Donnell Pax Kristin Page Katie Weimer
Policy Statement: Published eight times a year, the student newspaper of Roaring Fork High School is a public forum, with its student editorial board making all decisions concerning its content. Unsigned editorials express the views of the majority of the editorial board. Questions? Concerns?
Contact us at
rframpage@gmail.com