2002 Hiking Trip (Persimmon Range)
With all the recent television programs that celebrate extremes in outdoor challenges – an example is the new “Expedition Impossible” – we realized that St. John’s was just ahead of it’s time.
Many of our programs set out to show that the limits we placed on our selves are not the true limits of what we are capable of accomplishing. On hiking trips, canoe trips, snowshoe runs, and even living with each other in community, have all challenged us to see what is inside of each of us.
What are your “no limits” stories? Send us your memories of a time when you realized that you had set the limits too low for yourself.
(Click on the title and scroll down to submit your stories. Click on the photo to see a larger version.)
September 6, 2011 at 8:16 am
I love the Persimmon Range area in Willmore Wilderness.
Colin Belton and I had all of the grade 10 newboys. I think there were 10 of them. Fradsham and Williams are two that I remember. There is a route in Willmore that can have 8 passes in it Now admittedly not all of the passes were incredible feats of derring-do. Carson Pass (The one in the picture) Thoreau Pass, and Persimmon Pass were the only ones that were above timberline. But two, between the middle and north fork of the Berland were on game trails, and the big one, over the Persimmons, was on scree and goat tracks the entire way.
With this group we covered all 8 passes. 28,000 feet of elevation change. 130 kilometers flat line distance.
And you know? It was easy. One of the most positive bunch of kids, er, young men I’ve ever worked with.
On the last day of the trip Colin and I have a time around the fire where we talk about the trip. Get everyone talking about the highlights, the best and the worst. Colin and I then introduced the idea that because this group had been so positive that we had phoned the school, and had arranged for another week’s food to be waiting for us at the bus. We would be taking this same group out again for a one week leadership training course. They would be responsible for nearly everything with Mr. B and I acting as advisors and instructors.
There was a moment of silence. A long moment while this sunk in. Then there was wild enthusiasm, and a pile of excited questions. We let it run for another few minutes, then told them that we’d been kidding. I think most of them were disappointed.
September 6, 2011 at 10:21 am
I really miss the outdoor program.
I was scared every Saturday, scared, but excited, getting ready for snowshoeing, probably for the first 5 years. The need to do well, to NOT be a hinderance to the team, to bring the kids home. Dressing up to go out was much like putting on armour.
For me every year was a review of lessons. Even as an adult, with thirty plus years, I relished the challenge of it.
“Eh?” said the boys when I would talk of this on lake and trail.
Consider: My first aid courses have to be renewed every three years. We taught hypothermia twice a year to everyone who participated in our outdoor program. Why shouldn’t the other lessons need review.
Every trip was a lesson in, “I can!” I can keep going when I want to just sit down and rest.. I can stand the pain of the portage, the ache in back and legs snowshoeing, the overwhelming fatigue cutting wood in the dark after a day dogsledding.
I can figure out where we are. I can handle the responsibility. I can bring these kids home safely I can endure the boredom of the long lake paddle.
. I can face the fear. The step by step progress across a frozen river. The goat track excuse of a trail on the side of a mountain ravine. Oncoming darkness when still a thousand feet from treeline.
I can be cheerful and upbeat. It takes some work.
I can worry and watch over the kids in my charge, even at the end of the day when I’m beat.
These are all lessons I relearned each year.
I really miss the outdoor program. Anyone got a decent substitute?
October 3, 2011 at 4:53 pm
Ok I’m sure Jason remembers this one differently haha but here it is. Grade 12 at SJSA myself and Mike Babik were navigating the Junior Hike. We are about a day and a half away from the Little Bighorn Pass when Coates decides to override Mike and I and take this trail that heads more steeply up the mountain. We both thought it was another trail heading parallel with the mountain at the time. We followed this steep trail up the mountain for almost an hour before the trail petered out then finally disappeared. We had to retrace our steps back down to the original trail Mike and I wanted to take, which proved to be the correct one. Take that Brigade Leader! haha