I
SIX- Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, December 3, 2014
PERU TRIP
-ContinueJfrom PACE ONE
After an initial meet-
and-greet. the group spent a
couple of days in Lima get
ting acclimated, and were
taken on a walking tour
that included Lima’s colo
nial sites and the National
Museum of Archaeology,
Anthropology, and History.
Ellis said that one thing that
made the trip successful
was their 36-year-old guide,
Ciro Villavicencia Callo,
who not only spoke excel
lent English but was also
a history major and very
passionate about the history
and culture of his country.
"We really benefitted
from that guide versus an
other. He had just a plethora
o f know ledge. No note
cards,” she added. “ For
someone who was not at
tracted to group tours, there
was no disappointment. We
couldn’t have asked for a
better trip.”
On Oct. 28 they left
Lima to fly to Cuzco and
explore the Sacred Valley
and Pisac. Cuzco, which
had been the capital of the
Inca world, sits at 10,909
feet, which presented some
challenges of its own.
“You could really tell
a difference in the air,” El
lis said. “From the altitude
you get nausea, shortness of
breath, and sometimes the
feeling like you just can’t
get enough air. It only lasts
a few seconds, but it can
give you a panicky feeling.”
Ellis said the Peruvians
chew on coca leaves to
relieve motion and altitude
sickness—which she said
doesn't provide a “high”—
but hotels in the Sacred Val
ley also offer oxygen tanks
for their guests.
Letters to the Editor
Ellis said the Valle Sa-
crado, or Sacred Valley, was
the core of their trip. She
said the valley is considered
sacred because of the rich
agriculture, which includes
crops like corn, potatoes
and quinoa.
“There were a bazil-
lion varieties of potatoes,”
she said. “We ate a lot of
potatoes.”
Along with the crops,
the valley also contained
several Incan ruins.
“ It’s beautiful,” she
said, “surrounded by super,
super tall mountains.” Ellis
said that, even though the
group was at nearly 11,000
feet and wearing t-shirts,
they could look up at the
taller mountains and see
snow.
The first ruin they vis
ited was Pisac.
“That was where we
had our first ‘wow’ moment
of the terraces and the size
of them,” Ellis said. “Actu
ally being next to them and
seeing how many rocks had
to be moved, just seeing the
manpower that went into it,
is amazing.”
From there, the group
rafted up the Urubamba
River to Ollantayambo,
where the visited more
ruins and received the wel
come surprise of walking
into a small town where a
festival was taking place.
“All the people were in
their traditional wear, and
all the schoolchildren were
parading through the town.
There was lots of street
food,” Ellis added.
While they sampled the
street food, they didn’t eat
too much, since their next
stop was to join a Peruvian
family for a home-hosted
The tour group members all took along gifts that they gave to
local people they encountered. The gifts ranged front school
supplies to pocket knives to hand-carved spoons. Here, two
Peruvian girls are pictured with the Heppner t-shirts they
received from Janelle Ellis. -Contributedphoto
The Heppner Gazette Times will print all letters to the Editor with the following
criteria met: letters submitted to the newspaper will need to have the name
o f the sender along with a legible signature. We are also requesting that you
provide your address and a phone number where you can be reached. The
address and phone number will only be used for verification and will not be
printed in the newspaper. Letters may not be libelous. The GT reserves the
right to edit. The GT is not responsible for accuracy o f statements made in
letters. Any letters expressing thanks will be placed in the classifieds under
“Card o f Thanks" at a cost o f $10.
Upper Left: “Team Lauritsen,” Pat and Carl Lauritsen of
Heppner, at Machu Picchu. Upper Right: At Machu Picchu,
“Team Healy”: (Back L-R) Jerry Healy, Janette Ellis, Jon
Ellis. (Front L-R): Jean Healy, Jonas Healy, Joseph Healy.
-Contributed photos
lunch of cuy, a local deli
cacy saved for special oc
casions.
Cuy is guinea pig.
“ We had some who
were a little hesitant,” Ellis
said. “It tasted a lot like the
dark meat on a turkey.”
For those who were
brave enough, they were
also able to see how it was
caught and skinned, and
then participate in its prepa
ration before the meal.
The next day they took
a two-hour train ride to the
modern town o f Machu
Picchu Pueblo and then
endured a 20-minute bus
ride to the ruins of Machu
Picchu.
“And it’s switchback,”
Ellis said. “It's basically
walls straight up.’’The alter
native, she said, was to skip
the train and the bus and go
on a four-day hike through
the Andes.
While the group didn’t
opt for that, they did get
in some hiking on their
second day exploring Ma
chu Picchu. Most o f the
group took advantage of
the time to hike to the Sun
Gate and Inka Bridge. The
Lauritsens, who had been
attracted to the trip at least
partly by their love of hik
ing, trekked up Wayna Pic
chu, the “ Death H ike.”
Despite the name, Ellis said
they seemed to manage it
easily enough.
After Machu Picchu,
they returned to Cuzco,
where they were able to see
the celebration o f Dia de
los Muertos, of Day of the
Dead, which Ellis said was
not sad or spooky, but more
of a celebration.
Other highlights of the
trip were a visit to a wom
en’s weaving cooperative
and a visit to a local school.
At the weaving coop
erative, the women showed
them how they clean and
dye the wool, and tour
members got to try their
hand at weaving.
“Some of us were better
at spooling wool than oth
ers,” Ellis confessed.
It was the school visit,
where the students per
formed poems and songs
before they got a chance
to visit one-on-one, that
really struck a chord with
the visitors.
“This really stuck in
people’s hearts not only
because it was our last visit
but because we got to inter
act with the kids, and it was
really fun,” Ellis said.
“Very different class
rooms, very sm all,” she
added. “No computers. All
of the posters on the walls
were made by the teachers.”
Ellis said that, of the
entire trip, one moment
that stood out was facing
the ruins in Sacsayhuaman,
which are constructed of
huge stones, some weighing
nearly 30 tons.
“ The b oulders that
made the walls were un
real; they were the size of
vehicles,” she said. “There
was no mortar. The grind
ing of the stones to make
them fit with no mortar, no
cracks, was unbelievable.”
Otherwise, while other
members of the tour might
have their own opinions,
Ellis said would have a
difficult time choosing a
highlight.
“Machu Picchu is an
obvious highlight o f the
trip, but in general the Inca
culture, the Sacred Valley
in general...” she said, “the
agriculture, the culture, the
ruins. The slower-paced
life.”
Sports Schedules
Cardinal Basketball
Boys
12/5/2014, Fri 7:30pm vs.
TBD (lo n e B asket
ball Bonanza - lone
School)
12/6/2014. Sat 5:30pm
vs. TBD (lone Bas
ketball Bonanza - lone
School)
12/12/2014, Fri 4:30pm @
TBD (Heppner Kick-
O ff Tournament - Hep
pner)
12/13/2014, Sat 2:30pm @
TBD (Heppner Kick-
Off Tournament - Hep
pner)
12/16/2014, Tue 7:30pm
vs. Irrigon
12/19/2014, Fri 7:30pm @
Riverside
12/30/2014, Tue 5:30pm @
Joseph
1/3/2015, Sat 5:30pm vs.
Sherman
1/9/2015, Fri 7:30pm @
Arlington
1/10/2015, Sat 5:30pm vs.
Dufur
1/16/2015, Fri 7:30pm
@ M itchell / Spray
(Spray)
1/17/2015, Sat 5:30pm vs.
South Wasco County
1/23/2015, Fri 7:30pm @
H orizon C h ristia n ,
I
Hood River
1/24/2015, Sat 6:30pm vs.
Condon / Wheeler
1/27/2015, Tue 7:30pm @
Stanfield
1/30/2015, Fri 7:30pm @
Sherman
1/31/2015, Sat 5:30pm
@ Condon / Wheeler
(Fossil)
2/6/2015, Fri 7:30pm @
Dufur
2/7/2015, Sat 5:30pm vs.
Arlington
2/10/2015, Tue 7:30pm
vs. Horizon Christian,
Hood River
2/13/2015, Fri 7:30pm @
South Wasco County
2/14/2015, Sat 5:30pm vs.
Mitchell / Spray
Girls
12/5/2014, Fri 6pm vs.
Enterprise (lone Bas
ketball Bonanza - lone
School)
12/6/2014, Sat 4pm vs.
TBD (lo n e B asket
ball Bonanza - lone
School)
12/12/2014, Fri 3pm @
TBD (Fleppner Kick-
Off Tournament - Hep
pner High School)
12/13/2014, Sat 1pm @
Vilsack refuses to
address local concerns
and needs
To the editor:
As the people of Eastern Oregon continue to speak out
on the “Travel Management Plan” (i.e. road closures) and
the Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision (the foundation
needed to justify road closures), Secretary of Agriculture
Tom Vilsack continues to turn a blind eye and deaf ear to
our concerns. Many local residents from around the 11
counties of Eastern Oregon, as well as county officials,
have spoken out in regards to how these plans will nega
tively impact our ways o f life.
Mr. Vilsack’s staff continues to stonewall the public
from any real actions and seems to take pleasure in see
ing just how far they can push the envelope in regards to
limiting our access to the public lands we have depended
on for the last 150 years. What will it take for Mr. Vilsack
to address this issue, or more like, who will it take? As
the people of Eastern Oregon do not have a champion
politically connected to grab his ear to address the issues,
what action will trigger his attention to address what is
obviously becoming a railroading of the local rural resi
dents of our region?
Mr. Secretary, you speak in great pros of your love
and economic concerns for rural communities and all that
they offer to our country. You speak of your commitment
to us, and to your passion to improve our ways of life;
when then, sir, do we get to see that commitment come
through?
There is a fundamental disconnect between the words
you speak and the actions of your staff in the U.S. Forest
Service, and that begins at (USFS) Chief Tidwell’s level
and is carried down through to your supervisors’ offices.
You speak of supporting and building rural communities,
while we see your leadership in the U.S. Forest Service
tell us that this isn’t about our communities, but about a
national need.
When do you step in, Mr. Secretary, and tell your
staff to act accordingly, and allow us the access we need
to protect our communities? When? You are a representa
tive for the people for the entire state. That includes rural
areas. Denying access hinders rural economic growth,
tourism dollars “trickle down” that would benefit us all.
When will you take action?
Terri Denton, Heppner
Morrow County fair
seeks new logo
The Morrow County Fair
is looking for a new logo and
they want your help.
Entries must say “Mor
row County Fair” and must
incorporate 4-H and FFA. All
entries are due by March 15.
Grand prize is $200.
To find out more or turn
in a logo, contact Ann Jones, The Morrow County Fair
541-676-9474, or P.O. Box is looking for a logo to
replace this one.
464, Heppner, OR 97836.
Mustang Basketball
TBD (Heppner Kick-
Off Tournament - Hep
pner High School)
12/16/2014, Tue 6pm vs.
Irrigon
12/19/2014, Fri 6 p m @
Riverside
12/30/2014, Tue 4pm @
Joseph
1/3/2015, Sat 4pm vs. Sher
man
1/9/2015, Fri 6pm @ Ar
lington
1/10/2015, Sat 4pm vs.
Dufur
1 /1 6 /2 0 15, F ri 6pm
@ M itchell / Spray
(Spray)
1/17/2015, Sat 4pm vs.
South Wasco County
1/23/2015, Fri 6pm @ Ho
rizon Christian, Hood
River
1/24/2015, Sat 5pm vs.
Condon / Wheeler
1/27/2015, Tue 6pm @
Stanfield
1/30/2015, Fri 6pm @ Sher
man
1/31/2015, Sat 4pm @ Con
don / W heeler (Fos
sil)
2 /6 /2 0 1 5 , Fri 6pm @
Dufur
2/7/2015, Sat 4pm vs. Ar
lington
2/10/2015, Tue 6pm vs. Ho
rizon Christian, Hood
River
2/13/2015, Fri 6pm @
South Wasco County
2/14/2015, Sat 4pm vs.
Mitchell / Spray
Boys
12/5/2014, Fri 5pm @
K n a p p a ( W a r r io r
Tip-Off Tournament -
Warrenton)
12/6/2014, Sat TBD @
W arrenton (W arrior
Tip-OfT Tournament -
Warrenton)
12/12/2014, Fri TBD vs.
Crane (Heppner Kick-
Off Tournament - Hep
pner)
12/13/2014, Sat TBD vs.
TBD (Heppner Kick-
Off Tournament - Hep
pner)
12/16/2014, Tue 6:30pm vs.
Condon / Wheeler
12/19/2014, Fri 7:30pm vs.
Imbler
12/20/2014, Sat 5:30pm @
Grant Union
12/22/2014, Mon 5:30pm
vs. South Wasco Coun
ty
12/29/2014, Mon TBD @
TBD (C entral Linn
Tournament - Halsey)
12 /3 0 /2 0 1 4 , Tue TBD
@ T B D ( C e n tr a l
Linn T ournam ent -
Halsey)
12/31/2014, Wed TBD @
TBD (C entral Linn
Tournament - Halsey)
1/9/2015, Fri 7:30pm @
Pilot Rock
1/16/2015, Fri 7:30pm vs.
Irrigon
1/17/2015, Sat 5:30pm @
Stanfield
l
Imbler
1/23/2015, Fri 7:30pm @
12/20/2014, Sat 4pm @
Weston-McEwen
Grant Union
1/24/2015, Sat 5:30pm vs.
12/22/2014, Mon 4pm vs.
Culver
South Wasco C oun
1/30/2015, Fri 7:30pm vs.
Pilot Rock
ty
2/6/2015, Fri 7:30pm @ 12/29/2014, Mon TBD @
TBD (C entral Linn
Irrigon
Tournament - Halsey)
2/7/2015, Sat 5:30pm vs.
12/30/2014, Tue TBD @
Stanfield
TBD (C entral Linn
2/13/2015, Fri 7:30pm vs.
Tournament - Halsey)
Weston-McEwen
2/14/2015, Sat 5:30pm @ 12/31/2014, Wed TBD @
TBD (C entral Linn
Culver
Tournament - Halsey)
2/20/2015, Fri D istrict
Tournament - Pendle 1/9/2015, Fri 6pm @ Pilot
Rock
ton Convention Center
2/21/2015, Sat D istrict 1/16/2015, Fri 6pm vs. Ir
rigon
Tournament - PCC
1/17/2015, Sat 4pm @
Stanfield
12/5/2014, Fri 3:30pm 1/23/2015, Fri 6pm @
@ Knappa (W arrior
Weston-McEwen
Tip-Off Tournament - 1/24/2015, Sat 4pm vs.
Warrenton)
Culver
12/6/2014, Sat TBD @ 1/30/2015, Fri 6pm vs. Pilot
W arrenton (W arrior
Rock
Tip-Off Tournament - 2/6/2015, Fri 6pm @ Ir
Warrenton)
rigon
12/12/2014, Fri TBD vs. 2/7/2015, Sat 4pm vs. Stan
TBD (Heppner Kick-
field
Off Tournament - Hep 2/13/2015, Fri 6pm vs.
pner)
Weston-McEwen
12/13/2014, Sat TBD vs. 2/14/2015, Sat 2:30pm @
TBD (Heppner Kick-
Culver
Off Tournament - Hep 2/20/2015, Fri D istrict
pner)
Tournament - Pendle
12/16/2014, Tue 5pm vs.
ton Convention Center
Condon / Wheeler
2/21/2015, Sat D istrict
12/19/2014, Fri 6pm vs.
Tournament - PCC
Girls
Keep up with your home team at
http://www. osaa. org/