West America Expedition Events

Expedition to Map the Western Frontier expedition_events.200

Send out an expedition to map the unknown geography of the Western Frontier.

"On our very doorstep is a land bursting with promise! We should seize that promise while we can. And if not now, we will be overtaken by eagles and lions and, heaven forbid, snails!"

Choosing a Leader expedition_events.201

A group of strong candidates have expressed their interest in leading the expedition. However, this is not a decision we should make lightly.

The first to arrive was a well-dressed, fresh-faced, almost young gentleman whose keenness to impress was only matched by his willingness to oblige. His smile, as wide as one can imagine, was fashionably put together: "If I may...," he politely said, presenting his credentials.

Failed Expedition expedition_events.205

After several weeks of silence, the expedition to map the Western Frontier led by … has come back, empty handed.

"We wait a day in the encampment. The men are tired and we've already walked so much. We wait for another day. "Maybe we could just stay here," one of them mutters, grinning and going back to the campfire. Maybe we could. "Do you recognize these mountains, …?," they ask. Another day. It's been so long, I hardly ever recognize myself. Maybe we could just stay here."

Swollen River expedition_events.220

The expedition members come across a river that is bursting at the banks. They can try to raft across, which would be quick, but dangerous. Alternatively, they could search for a more suitable place to cross, though this could take some time.

"A brief landscape captured in the moment that found us. The bold grays, the prospective river trapped in a cage of violence and impetus. These wandering trees, carried away, decapitated. Sometimes, some type of animal. Otherwise, alone."

Safe Crossing expedition_events.221

The expedition successfully crossed the river, with little to no difficulty.

"With such an easy crossing, we will make great strides today. Why, I dare say we could have made many more if we loaded the rafts that bit more." "Are you touched in the head, son? We're lucky the waters opted to be gentle today. Let's get the rafts out before the waters stop being so kind."

Capsized Raft expedition_events.222

Unfortunately the expedition's raft capsized while crossing the river and several supplies were lost.

"The water was too fast, we only just made it to the other bank. And we were the lucky ones. Once the other raft went under the waters, the last thing I saw of my brother was the rapids swallowing his hand."

Bear Sighted expedition_events.230

A large grizzly has been sighted up ahead. We could hang back and wait for it to leave or we could hunt it.

"Here the bears grow lean and famished. That does not make it any better; the keen eyes, the craving jaws, the drops of saliva dripping down the yellowed fangs. They're always so alert here. So vigilant. Oh, but it isn't only for them that food is scarce around these mountains."

Successful Bear Hunt expedition_events.231

The expedition has successfully hunted and killed the grizzly bear.

"We stalked it carefully, but relentlessly. A few good shots were enough to put it down. It's times like this where I wish my manservant weren't as good a shot as he is. I could have used a trophy like that for my boudoir."

Bear Hunt Failure expedition_events.232

The expedition attempted to hunt the bear but it went wrong.

"The hunt started off well enough, but too late we realized it was a mother bear with her cubs. It's a fact well appreciated that you never come between a mother bear and her cubs."

Bear Attacks expedition_events.233

The grizzly bear that was earlier ignored, attacks the expedition.

"It came hurtling out of the woods faster than a speeding …. Roaring like nothing you've ever heard. It took several volleys to take it down and that was only after we'd lost two of our own."

Wildlife Photography expedition_events.240

A member of the expedition wishes to stop for a day or so and take some wildlife photographs.

"The buffalo kept their heads down, grazing peacefully. Unbothered, their grizzled bodies moved around the sea of grass, bigger than the ones in Europe. Even from a distance we could see the mazes that rabbits and foxes had dug close to them, and the scarce trees danced with the grace of a young debutante."

Mountain Sighted expedition_events.250

A member of the expedition has suggested we detour to climb a mountain and claim it in the name of ….

"One of the expedition members has his eyes locked on the mountain. "It's a good risk, my friend," he says, "I don't think anyone has claimed this one yet, you see, imagine how they'd pay us back home—all for this insignificant rock." Snow slides down the mountainside, melted like threads of gray cotton."

Mountain Already Claimed expedition_events.251

Upon arriving at the summit of the mountain you see it already had been claimed by ….

"We should have known we wouldn't be the first here." "I sense a running theme with you lot. You and yours go west, thinking you've found something spectacular, only to find out someone else got there first." "If this is another lecture about history repeating itself, I'll send you up to claim the mountain. Alone. With a bent fork. We haven't tried that before now, have we?"

Mountain Claimed expedition_events.252

The expedition has scaled the mountain and claimed it in the name of …. They have also decided to name it 'Mount …'.

With one, final heave, … threw … over the lip of the last cliff. As … straightened both posture and snowy clothes, the first light of a new day broke behind them. A hero's welcome to the west, and a mountain claimed. And the cream on top of the mash, the flag of …, brought forth by a younger expeditionary.

Mountainside Issues expedition_events.253

While climbing the mountain, a rockfall struck a member of the expedition, rendering them unconscious. The group was forced to turn back.

As the rocks tumbled down the mountain, snow cascading in their wake, blood dripped over the ledge where a struck expeditionary lay. The steam escaping his split lips were the only sign of life from the poor boy. With a pang of guilt, … threw the boy over … shoulders and marched down the mountain.

Snow on the Ground expedition_events.260

Some members of the expedition have expressed concern that the weather is turning against them. They insist on hunkering down to avoid the worst of it.

"The layers of snow kept growing like untreated tumors. A huge white, a great white, and the reflection of it making our eyes sore and hurt. If we don't stop now, maybe we won't be able to stop anymore. One of the men shivers as he rubs his arms—lips as pale as our shadow over the snow. He doesn't say a word."

Survived the Snow expedition_events.261

While it was difficult, the expedition has successfully pushed through the snow.

"We had to move double time, and no doubt it wasn't pleasant but, finally we're through the worst of it."

Lost in the Snow expedition_events.262

Unfortunately the expedition got caught in a snow storm, a few members died and several supplies were lost.

"Poor visibility, biting cold and on top of it all the gnawing feeling that I had made an error of judgment."

Snow Clears expedition_events.263

After a while the snow has subsided enough to push on.

"It is a good thing we didn't try to go out in that. It would have been a disaster."

Undiscovered Plant Species expedition_events.270

A member of the expedition has asked for a few days to stop and collect samples of a previously unknown plant species.

A Circular Expedition expedition_events.280

The expedition to map the west has been traveling in circles. … can either pick a random direction and push on, or wait for night to fall and use the stars as a guide.

Hopelessly Lost expedition_events.281

The members of the expedition managed to get even more lost. Eventually they found the right way but not before wasting a large amount of supplies and time.

"We struck out in a random direction and it did not pay off."

Back on Track expedition_events.282

The expedition managed to find the correct trail again and have set off, losing relatively little time.

"We picked a direction, almost at random. Good thing it turned out to be the right one."

A Stop on the Way expedition_events.290

"It was an unusually cold month when the range of mountains announced their unmerciful judgement before us. As the sun started to set, a glistening light penetrated the canopy of trees, making the shadows tremble and the raindrops cover the brown, almost dead grass. Our expedition was tired, and that tiredness of the soul—far from home and close to the ocean—became much more tangible when the last rays illuminated their swollen faces."

The Miracle of Life expedition_events.291

The expedition is waken up in the middle of the night. Inhuman screams come from one of the tents, and a female voice cries: "Baby!".

An Explorer's Life for Me expedition_events.292

"But we... you know, captain, it's been a while since we are far from home and... hic! Explorers will be explorers, right? We were just exploring a bit... in some other direction, hic! But exploring nonetheless!"

A New Quest expedition_events.293

"Document the new species of plants and flowers, draw them, draw the animals, document them too. One of our men has the hand and talent of an artist, although his difficulties with the anatomy have already been questioned by a few members. Regardless, he's been of great help during this expedition. Most of the others are sent hunting as our journey leaves behind the mapped villages and roads that others followed before us. It is just us, now, us and the wild."

Peaceful Intentions expedition_events.294

"As days come and go, our landscape offers minimal changes. These mountains are sharper, these are older, more eroded; now the river runs on this side, now it runs on the other side, but the chain of circumstances stays the same. Our men came back with great news and announced that another native settlement was found, so we prepared our gifts: needles, and mirrors, and medals, and ribbons, and all accessories that looked rich and beautiful. We had already repeated the ritual a hundred times, but every one felt equally important—we needed their help."

Hunting expedition_events.295

The expedition men who had been sent hunting have found an area by the riverbank, filled with every animal that they had encountered during their travel. The question is: which one to hunt?

"The forest was a dream of greenness and bears, wild boars, wolves, deer and bison, hare, foxes and even goats. It was filled with their sounds and movement, like a living book. Nature ran free and unscathed, and the feeling of letting oneself lose was a significant temptation, back to the gardens of paradise."

When the Earth Opened Its Mouth expedition_events.296

"At the mauvish beginnings of dawn, the shadows of the mountains become lilac imprints, carvings on the rocks that mimic their own figures as miniatures displayed in a museum. The gorge gets sharper and narrower, the mouth of the Earth directly pointed at us—some hungers you cannot satiate."

Cabin Fever expedition_events.297

The expedition finds a small hut in the mountains. Half-ruined, it appears to have been used by Spanish missionaries and is now empty.

"This is the perfect place for a mutiny. A riot. I've put these men through arduous perils, that they won't forget. I saw two of them talking earlier today. They muttered among themselves and gazed in my direction only occasionally, proving that their intentions weren't as noble as they seemed. I can feel their eager eyes upon me now. How they looked at the cabin and nodded at each other, "we should stay the night here, sir." Of course they'd say so."

Buenaventura River expedition_events.300

After a long and arduous journey, the expedition has finally come to an end. The most interesting discovery of the journey, was that the long fabled Buenaventura river does not actually exist!

"A disappointment. And a tough one. We revised the maps over and over, checked with the locals, followed the marks, the maps - again. How is it possible for a river to not exist? For it to have so many witnesses and still not be? What did the Franciscan missionaries see, then? A lake, perhaps. Another river. There is a sense of defeat that comes to a man with such a force that makes mountains tremble and the mind shiver. "Nothing," the man next to me says, his eyes hurting with an impassive decency, "we found nothing.""

Oregon Trail expedition_events.301

After a long and arduous journey, the expedition has finally come to an end. The expedition has managed to map the entire length of the Oregon Trail.

"A newly drawn map has been laid out on the back of a wooden wagon. The ink blinks, still wet, and its shining curves follow the just discovered trails as tributaries of a river. A young boy comes bearing a cup of tea; quiet, demure, curious. He tries to take a look at the map, but his education stops him. He leaves the tea on the table and walks away quietly. "His dad got lost in these mountains," another member says, "good thing we got them all mapped now.""

The Great Salt Lake expedition_events.302

After a long and arduous journey, the expedition has finally come to an end. The expedition has managed to find and map the entirety of the Great Salt Lake

"I will always remember our reflection in the water. How the triumphant silhouette of the expedition was painted there like an oil canvas. The colors, all mixed together and, somehow, so pungent. Faces floated in the lake with unrecognizable features. It was us. It could have been anyone else. Ah, but it was us."