I just returned from a wonderful trip to Sequoia National Park. It was my first time there and planning an EDT in an unfamiliar location was a little nerve wracking. I wasn’t worried about safety or communication issues, but was more concerned about providing a positive experience for the students. However, as I found out, this resilient group of students would have made any experience a positive one as they truly enjoyed being out on the trail and having each other for company.
We hiked in along the High Sierra Trail to Hamilton Lake and returned via the Middle Fork Trail of the Kaweah River. We saw beautiful scenery and an abundance of wildlife, including bear, snakes, and deer. However, the highlight for me was the way in which the students embraced every aspect of the trip. Each student helped each other out, took initiative with chores, and approached each situation with a positive attitude. Our third and fourth days were highlights for me. We took a day hike up to Hamilton Lake for lunch from our campsite along Lone Pine Creek. After the day hike, we collected our gear and set off to camp in Little Bear Paw Meadow. However, Little Bear Paw wasn’t very appealing and the students decided to press on and were rewarded with a gorgeous spot along the river with plenty of soft, flat ground. It was a long day, but students immediately set about getting camp together and dinner set.
The plan the next day was to cross the river on the bridge and eventually link up with the Middle Fork Trail. However, there was no bridge and the river was running swiftly. A few students went up stream to scout the river for a safe place to cross. They found a nice ford and worked together to get the packs and students across safely. They then had to bushwhack quite a way to meet the trail again. It was great to see the way in which the students solved the problem, executed the solution, and cared for and helped each other along the way.
A lot of learning goes on during EDTs and it was great to see the students work together to figure out a solution to a situation that isn’t going the way that they envisioned.
