Group+9+am

**Vocabulary defined-** Any evergreen or deciduous shrub or tree belonging to the genus //Rhododendron,// of the heath family, having rounded clusters of showy, pink, purple, or white flowers and oval or oblong leaves. Caused by or evidencing a mentally disturbed condition: //a pathological liar.// Disposed to take a favorable view of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome. **Furtive**- Taken, done, used, etc., surreptitiously or by stealth; secret: // a furtive glance. //**Logistical**- Of or pertaining to logistics. A waterfall or a series of small waterfalls over steep rocks. Dreamily or wistfully thoughtful: //a pensive mood.// Themes/adventure - **Structure-** How was the story told? In the story, " It's all Downhilll from Here on up", they started off the story in a way at the end, after everything in the story had already happened. They told the story as if the charecter was telling his life experience, about the treasure and his rock climbing. Did the story follow a sequence or order?- The story did have a sequence. When he was telling the story about they're experience of trying to find the treasure they went step by step following the map to get to the treasure.
 * Section on: __It's All Downhill from Here On Up__ **
 * Rhodendron**-
 * Blazes**-
 * 1) A mark on the bark of a tree marking a trail.
 * 2) A destructive fire.
 * Pathologically**-
 * Optimistic-**
 * Cascades**-
 * Pensive**-
 * "Good cheer"
 * "Pathologically optimistic" [[image:abcd.jpg width="250" height="192" align="right" caption="Good cheer!"]]
 * "Jim showed that going out into nature was a completely normal thing to do-- even a necessity. ' A night spent indoors is a night wasted'"
 * "Inability to say anything negative"
 * "It's all downhill from here on up"
 * "Never let the fact that you're having a horrible time get in the way of things"

**Personal Connection, Influential people, adventure-** "After reading the story I realized that I could relate to alot of the actions that were taking place. For instance when Mckenzie and his friends ditched their high school reunion to try and conquer the lost trail, it reminded me of when me and my freinds ditched school to go exploring in the mountains. We were in the search for a lost trail just like they were. Also in the beginning of the story when Jim is walking miserably through the rhododendron bushes, it made me look back on when i used to bear hunt and we had to walk through all sorts of thorny tall bushes. I understand what he means when he says it is miserable."