Angelina Smith
Anticipatory Nerves and The Bus Rides
I woke up the morning of the big drive to Bears Ears National Monument and headed to Stuen Hall to meet some cabin mates for morning yoga before we headed on the buses. At this point campus in general had been a place of unfamiliarity. Today though, I began to truly appreciate the new traditions that HMI had established. Ellery was the first to join, then Estella, and finally Vivian. These people I had met three days ago were stretching with me in a circle just as the sun was coming up, appreciating and realizing that we were going to be away from campus for two weeks in the canyons.
After stretching, we packed into the bus and drove for 9 long hours down to Bears Ears. For most of the group, the bus ride was full of naps and sightseeing. In other words, it was a fairly quiet bus ride outside of the playlist we had created (named Bertha after the name of the best HMI bus). Perhaps the silence was caused by the early morning start time, or the stunning views of the Colorado mountains and Utah desert. Others might associate it to the natural level of unfamiliarity between us all.
After two weeks out in the field, comparing the bus ride back to the initial trip is almost comical. The bus ride back consisted of us belting music by the likes of Justin Bieber (2000s Justin of course), Chappell Roan (we all grew to either love or hate “Pink Pony Club”), and Noah Kahan (getting a couple tears out of some of us). Snacks were being passed from row to row and inside jokes were flying around the bus. There was immense joy in using an actual bathroom in the gas station. Additionally, the energy from the passionate lip synching to Bertha 2 was palpable. This kept us energized and made the time fly by until we reached the promised land of Chipotle. I know it was only twelve days that were added to the original three on campus, but a lot can happen in twelve days out in the field.
Charlotte Goltra
The Facts of First Expedition
Thirteen nights spent in the canyons, with nothing but our tarp-tent separating us from the starry, Utah sky. I saw more shooting stars during our nightly meetings than I ever had before. “Bed by 9?” we said every night, hoping to get in our sleeping bags by 9pm at the end of each long hiking day. I’d say we accomplished this half the time. An 8 hour bus ride from Leadville to the Utah canyons, filled with nervous giggles and anticipation. I remember looking around at the kids I’d met just a few days before, realizing I’d rely on these people I barely knew for the next two weeks.
Five meals of rice and beans, cooked over finicky fry bake stoves. When our stove refused to light one night, members of my cook group resorted to whacking the stove on the ground in frustration. This was, in fact, the most effective method of fixing a stubborn stove. Four instructors who gave their all to everything that they did. Classes, games, trail navigation…Even blister care was done with contagious enthusiasm. Three separate expedition groups, all uniting back at campus. The first few days were spent recounting stories, sharing pictures, and unpacking our backpacks that had been our livelihood in the canyons. The people who I first met only 2 weeks prior in my cabin turned into some of my closest friends. This is due to the magic of expeditions at High Mountain Institute.
After 2 weeks of backpacking around the canyons, everyone was ready to hit the showers and do laundry. I scrubbed the red canyon dirt off of everything I could, but even today I find red clay embedded in my gear. One expedition group emerged from the desert covered in blisters, very in need of showers, hungry for food that didn’t come from a camp stove, and happier than ever that we got to experience so much joy with such great people.
Ellery Pelletier
The Power of Backpacking and The Lessons Learned
The first time I put on my backpack, it felt like I was carrying a small elephant on my shoulders. It controlled the movements of my entire body and made the decision for me of where I put my feet. It even bruised my hips. I assumed carrying a heavy pack was similar to feeling the gravity on Jupiter after living on Earth for 17 years. I could only focus on putting one foot in front of the other and praying that I didn’t have to step onto a rock higher than 3 inches off the ground. I was constantly checking my watch; making sure that Sarah (our expedition leader) was sticking to the 30 minute walking intervals. During that first day in the canyons, there were 12 of us in total. We hobbled along like a tired pack of wolves through the sand between canyon walls. It felt like an endless march through a crack in the landscape; the high walls towering over us like skyscrapers.
Whenever I think back to that first day in the canyons, I am immediately overcome with a sense of respect for our entire group. Our determination, perseverance, and commitment to success pushed us forward through the painful haze. Our spirits were torn on that day, yet continued to heal throughout the entire expedition. By the end of the trip, our group decided to start taking breaks every 45 minutes instead of 30. Many participants felt that they could push on for even longer intervals. Our growth was not only physical. As a group, we encountered many emotional challenges throughout the entire expedition. From communication challenges between cook groups to disagreements over the map, we all endured many trials in those two weeks. With the help of our I-Team and our unwavering resilience, we were able to learn from these issues, move past them, and make our entire community stronger. I can confidently say that 1st expedition was one of the most formative and difficult experiences of my life.
Lars Heraeus
Summiting Jacob’s Chair
One of the most impactful moments on my expedition was the day that we got to hike to Jacob’s Chair. Jacob’s Chair is this monumental rock formation that all three expedition groups could see throughout their twelve days hiking. It served as a key landmark throughout our whole trip. On our tenth day in the field, we were provided the opportunity to wake up early and hike to the base of Jacob’s Chair. I was ecstatic! As we started to ascend, I was in awe of how huge this feature was up close and personal. It was surreal to be so high up and be able to look down on all the canyons and places we had hiked during the prior days of the trip. The sunlight hit the walls of the canyons, glinting off of them and surrounding our group in this incredible glow. It was magical. At this moment, I realized how small I was in the big picture of this desert landscape. Seeing these massive canyons and huge mesas (giant rock formations that stick up out of the landscape) serves to be such an impressive sight. From Jacob’s Chair, I was able to see where we started, how far our group had come, and see our current campsite down below. Being able to see all of this allowed me to come to the realization of just how much grit, resilience, and perseverance our group had built throughout the trip. Being able to share this experience with my ten other peers was incredible and is a memory I will cherish from my time during first expedition.
Tia Rosini
Connection Amongst the Stars
Of all the twelve nights spent in the canyons, not once did the starry sky disappoint. Each night as we finished up dinner, we threw our heads back in astonishment at the clearness of the constellations above. Almost nightly, we pointed out the big dipper and the “smaller big dipper” (otherwise known as the little dipper), and we directed each other toward constellations by pointing at what we could name. As the trip progressed, we watched time pass through the phases of the moon instead of the dates on our watches. We saw it turn from a thin sliver to a bright, shining half moon that lit up our camps at night.
Each night, with the star-crowded sky above us, we gathered as a group to participate in our evening meeting. The meeting would always end with “Circle.” During Circle, a question is posed that allows us each to share something new about ourselves with the group. A “power object” is passed around our group twice, giving everyone the time they need to answer the question thoughtfully. As we sat in our circle, bundled up with all the layers we crammed into our packs, we authentically shared and actively listened underneath the night sky. As the moon passed through its phases and grew in our perception, our connection as a group grew with it. I feel so strongly linked and understood by everyone in our group from all the meaningful moments we shared in Circle. Now, whenever I see the constellations, it will always remind me of the unbreakable bonds that I formed over first expedition.
Trilby Schmidt
Friendships, Community & Backcountry Cooking
I hate backcountry pizza, but I can’t deny that it changed my life. Cooking in the backcountry is a completely different beast. With one wrong decision of what spices to add, you can mess up an entire dish. During our pizza night, messing up the tomato sauce resulted in a stomach ache for my whole cook-crew. I didn’t understand the consequences of my mistake until we realized our pizza sauce was way too salty…practically unedible. While this stomach ache led to a rough night at Circle, it also led to a deep connection with my cook-crew.
This small mistake that happened in my cook-crew influenced how I acted the remaining time I was on trail. I found myself laughing more frequently, opening up to people in my expedition group, and feeling like I had a community of individuals that accepted me entirely for who I am. Having this group to lean on meant everything to me throughout the two weeks in the canyons. The support that I felt is hard to communicate and understand unless you were part of the experience.
Coming back to High Mountain Institute’s campus (and healed from any food related ailments), I realized that I have developed a strong, supportive community on 1st expedition within this small community of students. These people that I spent the last two weeks in the canyons with can remind me of the memories made while we continue to build new friendships with everyone else. Everytime I am around any of the ten people in my expedition group and I mention pizza, I can expect to hear gales of laughter. Being provided the opportunity to connect and form community around a shared field experience truly changes a person’s life. As a result, I can confidently say that my life has changed based on the three short weeks I have spent at High Mountain Institute.