“The mountains are calling, and I must go.”
― John Muir, The Mountains of California
Students were responsible for a bulk of trip preparations. In addition to learning about natural history and current land use practices, students planned the food menu, researched hiking routes, set the itinerary for the trip, completed the Educational Fee Waiver form, and conducted multiple fundraising activities to cover over three-quarters of the trip's expenses. This promoted a natural "buy in" and sense of agency. Students walked away from this experience with a greater appreciation for public wild areas and the recreation activities made available by them.
Highlights from the trip include:
- Warm-up morning hike to Lower Yosemite Falls;
- Guided tour of the riparian valley adjacent to Merced River from the Parks as Classroom Ranger Program;
- 6.4 mile hike on the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Trails;
- Views of Liberty Cap and Emerald Pool from the John Muir Trail;
- Scouting for rock climbers with binoculars on El Capitan - we saw three!
- Birdwatching and nature sketching in Hodgdon Meadows;
- Swimming in glacial Tioga Lake in Tuolome Meadows at 9,639' elevation!
- Waterfall hikes on the McCloud River.