Fandom Island and Town

"We're going to the place that popular culture would like you to think is an automatic death-trap," Yang announced.

"Deserts take up about one third of the Earth's land surface, and usually have a large diurnal and seasonal temperature range, with high daytime temperatures and low nighttime temperatures. Seriously, day temps that can reach 45 °C/113 °F or higher. The dry desert air is incapable of blocking sunlight during the day or trapping heat during the night without water. Thus, during daylight most of the sun's heat reaches the ground, and as soon as the sun sets the desert cools quickly by radiating its heat into space."

"So, how are these deserts formed?" Yang continued. "Well, most deserts are formed by rain shadows; mountains blocking the path of precipitation. Deserts are often composed of sand and rocky surfaces. Sand dunes called 'ergs' and stony surfaces called 'hamada surfaces' compose a minority of desert surfaces. Exposures of rocky terrain are typical, and reflect minimal soil development and the sparseness of vegetation."

"Like I mentioned earlier, many people equate deserts with a hostile environment that conspires against human life," Yang said with a shrug. "In the popular media, desert areas seem to be considered to be at the top of the wilderness list for danger. The historical fact is, however, that on Earth, the human race was cradled in arid lands and people are well adapted to survive in deserts. Learning to be part of the desert's ecosystem, and not view it as an antagonist is the first step of desert survival. Preparation starts with how you dress. People stand upright and receive only 60% of the solar radiation that animals on all fours do. By adding a proper hat, with a wide brim and closed crown, the head and body are further protected. A common mistake made by new desert visitors is wearing shorts and sleeveless shirts. Loose fitting long sleeves and pants provide good air circulation and much better protection than sunblock."

"Deserts are defined by their lack of water. Learn to ration sweat, not water. By staying in the shade, limiting activity to cooler times such as night and using your available water, your chances for survival increase greatly. Sipping water does not get it to the brain and vital organs. Take a good drink when you need it. People have been found dead from dehydration with water in their canteens. Also, do not rely on tricks such as depending on solar stills as a primary water source. These will often produce more sweat digging the hole than is obtained from water gained. Learn to locate water through areas of green vegetation, flights of birds, converging animal trails and digging in the outside bends of dry creek beds."

Right on cue, the portal flared to life, awaiting its passengers.

"So today, we're going to Australia. Where everything wants to kill you!" Yang, don't sound so cheerful about that. "Larapinta trail, here we come!"

"Let's get explosive!" Yang cheered, after her team had assembled. "As in, one of my favorite terrains, the volcano!"

Yes, she was absolutely poking fun at her own explosive temper.

"In a bit, we're gonna head over to the place that most English speakers call Mount St. Helens -- known as Lawetlat'la to the Indigenous Cowlitz people, and Loowit or Louwala-Clough to the Klickitat --which is an active stratovolcano, most famous for its catastrophic eruption on May 18, 1980, at 8:32 am PDT which was the deadliest and most economically destructive volcanic event in the history of the United States," she stated. "Fifty-seven people and uncounted amounts of wildlife were killed; 250 homes, 47 bridges, 15 miles of railways, and 185 miles of highway were destroyed. A massive debris avalanche caused an eruption, reducing the elevation of the mountain's summit from 9,677 feet to 8,365 feet, and replacing it with a one-mile wide horseshoe-shaped crater."

"This little planet may look like a single solid mass with some water on top, but it’s really made up of several massive plates of earth and rock. These crustal plates are constantly moving and colliding with one another, creating earthquakes and the pressure zones that lead to volcanic eruptions. Underneath those sliding and colliding plates is hot, melted rock known as magma; it sometimes collects in areas of high pressure called, naturally enough, magma chambers. When this pressure builds up and becomes too great, the magma sometimes explodes upward in a great cataclysmic event. This is a volcano."

"Unfortunately, there is not much a single person can do to prepare for a volcanic eruption, but it is always good to have a good knowledge of them. Be aware of the hazards that can come with an eruption: the flying debris, hot gases, lava flows, potential for explosion, mudslides, avalanches, and geothermal areas. Prepare provisions, water, food, blankets, and medical supplies if you live around a volcano before anything happens. Also be ready to get up and outrun flowing lava . . . and yeah, I'm totally serious. Lava is fast. Above all, use caution when near an active volcanoes. Even if you've got a superpower, do not venture toward any activity, and consult local experts on the area. Follow all recommendations, regulations, or requests of officials."

"If you do become trapped near an active volcano, there are things you can watch out for. Stay away from lava flows. Not all of them will be red-hot and obvious; some move very slowly and appear as dark and solid, but are liquid beneath the surface. Also, do not try to cross an active flow; you might get trapped by multiple lava streams. Keep an eye on the Colcanic domes - Volcanic domes and plugs in craters may seem harmless, but they can explode without warning. Footing and glassy rocks can also be very dangerous. Some cooled lava of this sort can resemble jagged pieces of glass. Wear good, solid hiking boots on the mountain - never go barefoot. Be sure of your step."

"Be careful when crossing lahar - debris - flows, for they can gush in large and small floods. And above all, avoid areas where volcanic gas is released. Carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide can kill quickly and silently. You may not be able to hold your breath long enough. If you see a location around an active volcano with dead vegetation, carcasses, or bones, do not enter it."

"How can you prepare? If you live in an active volcanic zone, always assume that you may have to deal with the effects of an eruption. If you are in an area that could experience a lava flow during a volcanic eruption, know a quick route to safe ground. Once the eruption begins, if you're in a safe place, save water in your bath, basin, containers or cylinders at an early stage - supplies may become polluted. Stay indoors with as much as possible and wear mask and goggles if you go outside, to keep volcanic ash out of your eyes and lungs, and keep below ridge lines in hilly terrain - the hills will offer some protection from flying volcanic debris."

"So we're gonna start at the Johnson Ridge Observatory, named after one of the people that died that day. Then, we're gonna hike to the crater rim. I already got us our permits, and set-up the portal so that we're arriving first thing in the morning, and no matter how long we're there, the gnomes will get us back here with only one hour having passed. We can't go down into the crater itself, but that's for the best. First off, it's a fragile ecosystem. Second..." Yang had the good graces to look mildly abashed. "...I originally wanted to take us to Kīlauea in Hawaiʻi, but, um, there you can feel the heat under your feet, and I'm kinda magma-and-lava-reactive apparently? So, while Lawetlat'la is still active, it's WAY safer for us with the magma farther under the crust."

At that, the portal flickered to life, and Yang gestured for the group to go on through. "So let's go play on a death mountain!"

When the boys arrived at the community center today, they'd find that Yang had made an obstacle course, modeled (vaguely) after rooftops and walls, about twenty feet off the ground, foam mats all over the floor.

"Parkoooooooooour!!!" Yang yelled, pumping her fist. "It's warmer and mostly dry, so we're going free-running around Fandom! In a bit! First, I want you to get a feel for it!"

"When lost or being pursued in a city, sticking to the streets is the equivalent of painting a target on your back," she said bluntly. "Especially if you aren't local; a stranger will stick out like nothing else, and sometimes an alternative view of your surroundings can be suuuuuuuper helpful."

"Parkour is the concept of moving from one point to another as smoothly, efficiently and quickly as possible, using the abilities of the human body. It is meant to help one overcome obstacles, which can be anything in the surrounding environment — from branches and rocks to rails and concrete walls — and is practiced in both rural and urban areas, though personally I think urban is more fun. Parkour practitioners are often referred to as traceurs. Why? I don't know, look it up."

"Now, parkour is an activity that is often categorized as an extreme sport; however, parkour has no set of rules." Fear the unholy gleam in Yang's eyes, boys. Fear it. "Most experienced traceurs think of parkour as a discipline closer to martial arts. It is often said that 'the physical aspect of parkour is getting over all the obstacles in your path as you would in an emergency. You want to move in such a way, with any movement, as to help you gain the most ground on someone or something, whether escaping from it or chasing toward it.'"

"The primary characteristic of parkour is efficiency. Practitioners move not only as rapidly as they can, but also in the most direct and efficient way possible. This characteristic distinguishes it from the similar practice of free-running, which places more emphasis on freedom of movement and creativity. Efficiency also involves avoiding injuries, both short and long term, part of why parkour's unofficial motto is 'être et durer,' which means 'to be and to last.' Those who are skilled at this activity normally have an extremely keen spatial awareness."

"So, today, we're going to start small, with the basic movements, since I don't know how much experience people have with this, and then we'll head outside and tear around Fandom."

When people arrived at the Community Center today, Yang had chests full of winter equipment waiting. Coats, hats, mittens, snow shoes, snow pants...

"Suit up!" she yelled, looking pleased with herself. "We're about to go to Alaska, so move it!"

( There are strange things done in the midnight sun / by the men who moil for gold; / The Arctic trails have their secret tales / That would make your blood run cold. )

Super-small class this term, but Yang wasn't going to let that deter her.

"What up?" she said, cracking her knuckles and grinning cheerfully once her team was assembled.

"So, some of the other teachers normally handle this class, but I was like, nah, I think it should be open to everyone and not just the kids at the school. So! I stole their syllabus and decided to make it mine!"

"Welcome to Terrain! Because sometimes, this island goes nuts and you might get stuck somewhere that is TOTALLY not the type of climate you're used to! A portal could dump you in an underwater city, or the tundra, or, like, a monster-infested forest."

"My plan is to give you a basic grounding in the varying types of terrain you might encounter as either an adventurer, or a resident of Fandom Island. 'Cause let's be honest, the fact you live here is testimony to the fact that you never know where you may find yourself."

"So from cityscapes to icebergs, each week we will look at a different type of terrain, and one thing you can do to make your life easier. And no, I'm not gonna let you know too far in advance what we're doing each week, because I don't want you to have time to prepare for each scenario. Too many times you'll have to work with only the things you have on you during an emergency, and learning to keep your wits about you is important."

"Today? Let's walk and talk. Hope you brought a coat, we're gonna hike around the island, learn about our local geography, and get to know each other! Let's go!"