Final reflection

This trip has been nothing short of amazing. The wilderness is an inspiring place, where the disconnect for the complications, create concrete memories that last lifetimes. From the Blackhills to the hikes in the Tetons to Beartooth Pass, the places we have visited have been beautiful, powerful, and educational. However, what makes this trip so special are the people, the team, and the memories we created together. 

In the Blackhills and the Badlands, it was the spaghetti and the Crazy Creek Chairs. In our first night roughing it together, I expected some rough, awkward interactions, but that was never the case. For what seemed like hours, Kelly and I attempted to boil water on the camp stove to cook the spaghetti. Although the rest of the group was hungry and getting impatient, sitting around together in those chairs brought us all closer together that first night. I don't specifically remember the conversations or the contexts, but what I do remember is that comfort that I felt with everyone. Although we all go to Furman, our lives, our majors, our friends, and everything else are mostly, very different. On that first night, we shed all of the walls we put up to protect ourselves and acted as a family in a way I've never experienced before. That night, I realized how incredible this trip and this team would become.

In the Tetons, it was the hike to the Hidden Falls. Although a beautiful and mysterious force of nature, the most fun part of this hike was the epic snowball fight our team engaged in on my we reached the falls. For what seemed like an hour, it was an all-out war, every man or woman for themselves. I've never a laughed harder in my life. Scanning the battlefield, Elly scaled a rock and dump a whole pile of snow right on top of Kelly, Kathryn and Dr. Suresh made and delivered snowballs rivaling the efficiency of Will Ferrell in Elf, and everyone else had huge smiles across their faces. Although under-dressed and somewhat cold, every single member of the team was having the time of their lives. No cellphone or movie or computer game could recreate the purest form of fun that we were experiencing. I hope that in the future, people will still choose to disconnect from the world and enjoy their fellow man in engaging activities such as snowball fights.

In Yellowstone, it was the last night at our campsite. We sat by the campfire for hours laughing about the experiences we had and the people we encountered. However, what made that night memorable was what happened after everyone retired for the evening. Tim and I, selecting to go to bed later in hopes that we might extinguish the fire via other ways then water (use your imagination), were charged with putting out the fire. Getting impatient for the rest of the team to go to bed, we decided to use the available bathrooms instead. Apparently, after retiring for the night, the Park Police saw our fire still raging late into the night and unattended. Acting like a creeper, the Police Officer (just doing his job I might add) approached the nearest tent, which was a group of girls, and asked them to put the fire out. Tim and I slept through the entire incident. We only heard about it from our disgruntled team members who had not only mistaken the Park Policeman for me playing a prank and treated him rudely but had been unable to get the rest of their beauty sleep. Although it could have been a more serious incident, the experiences were growing the family dynamic of our team with everyday. 

In Butte, it was the campground. Remote and unencumbered by human waste and destruction, this was by far our most remote camping outpost. (The first night, we had to ration the toilet paper because the park attendant was nowhere to be found.) But what made this campground great, was the true lack of connection to the outside world. From pumping and filtering our water to closely circling around the fire for warmth, we had become a family. Although only together for 20 days, that's all the time it took. We had abandoned our connection to the outside world (except for the occasional text to let mom know we were okay or hilarious, ratchet snapchat), and in doing so, our team become willing to let each other know the ins and outs of our lives.

On this Rocky Mountain May X, I not only learned about the Geology, the Mineralogy, and the Ecology of the Rockies, I found a new family.

Phelps Lake Hike

     Long, exhausting, exhilarating, slim chance of seeing a man-eating grizzly bear to never be seen again, and mind-blowing views of a beautiful, unforgiving  environment. Sign me up. This was the Phelps Lake and Death Canyon Hike in Wyoming. Although our team for the most part were novice hikers, we approached this long, full-day hike with the tenacity of a linebacker blitzing the quarterback or a shark who smells blood. 

     A mile into the hike, we came to a lake that only a week earlier had been frozen all the way across. With the Tetons for a backdrop, Phelps Lake was absolutely stunning. Nature is awesome. Our team was stunned at its beauty. Untouched and unhindered by human contact, it was an inspiring example of what nature is supposed to look like. Without cell reception, our team could experience nature in its truest form and how our ancestors got to experience it. My hope is that future generations will come to Phelps Lake and be able to experience its beauty as we experienced it. My fear is that development and progress will destroy it. But for now, Phelps Lake stands as a reminder of how beautiful nature is without human interference.

Later on in the hike, we reached a rock on the lake where a couple was sitting and sharing a snack. A dentist and his wife, they had visited Southern Sudan on medical missions and had also seen a black bear and her three cubs on that very hike two weeks before. Unpredictable and unforgiving, nature is the strongest thing on Earth.

After scaling the part of Death Canyon that we could (snow and avalanches blocked parts of the trail), we found ourselves struggling to find the bridge to cross the lake and finish the hike. After filtering water for us, our fearless leaders regained the group's composure and were able to find the bridge and our team continued. Although it seemed like hours, our ability to regain the trail was yet another positive experience of the exhausting hike. 

Upon reaching the van sweaty and exhausted, our professors had to make a quick grocery stop for bread for lunch the following day. After stopping for the bread, the professors walked from the store to the van with a little slice of heaven. Now, I'm not saying that the ice cream the professors surprised us with was the best ice cream. Oh wait. Yes I am. That ice cream bar was the best-tasting and most refreshing thing that I've eaten in recent memory. It was amazing. To show my appreciation, I devoured the bar in no time, and I'm sure that I came very close to ingesting the popsicle stick as well. I was content, and the team falling asleep on the way back to the campsite was evident of the joy from the day's worthy accomplishment. 

Today, was a great day. Today, we grew closer. Today, we accomplished the hike as a team, as a family. I am happy. 

The Team

This trip has brought a very different group of people together and given each member of the team distinct opportunities to serve one another. Whether deciding who was cooking each night or who would sit in the back of the van on a long, windy road trip (keep in mind that 13 people in a van can get awfully stuffy and awfully smelly), each person chose to sacrifice some of their own pursuits or desires for the betterment of the team. 

On long hikes, Kathryn and Alex act as trailblazers going before the entire team. Although they put the other people hiking in the group to shame with their stamina and agility, they were constantly scanning the terrain ahead and helping others traverse the often difficult obstacles in our paths. 

After exhausting days, Tim and Kelly always have good jokes or funny stories to encourage the weary travelers of our team. From clapping his hands around a stick on fire and accidentally burning himself to finding a tube of bubbles and acting like a child, Tim's positive demeanor creats a comfortable group dynamic. Kelly, often referred to as the group matriarch, constantly succeeds in breaking down barriers among teammates. Although somewhat unorthodox, her ways of bringing the group together into one, big family were successful and entertaining. 

Elly and Phoebe: these girls are awesome. I have never heard either of them speak a negative word about anyone or anything on the trip. Even when weary, these girls seek out the fun in every situation, and fortunately, choose to include others in their pursuit of fun. Elly, although she seeks to become the first world dictator, is hilarious. Her phenomenal attitude is contagious and constantly cheers up those around her. Phoebe, probably the most underrated sense of humor on the trip, always made the group smile with her puns or innocent jabs. 

Melissa is the glue of our entire trip. She constantly seeks to make others feel welcome and apart of the team and group dynamic. She is a servant. Whether waiting for the feeding frenzy at lunch to subside or offering to help with dinner or the dishes, Melissa is a servant. It's awesome and inspiring to see her interact with the team and I'm looking forward to getting to know her.

Kelsey and Anna, an unlikely pair, but I have really enjoyed getting to know these two thus far on the trip. They are funny, strange (in a good way), and creative. From singing random songs in the car to a beautiful rendition of "Amazing Grace" around the campfire, they make the most of every opportunity.

Last but certainly not least, the professors: Dr. Ranson, Dr. Garihan, and Dr. Suresh. Always positive, always engaging, always willing to teach and learn, these are three amazing people, not just professors. The group often ready to leave a site will always find Dr. Suresh snapping the last picture In an attempt to capture the moment. Dr. Garihan, who still refuses to own a cellphone, is constantly mumbling something that I find hysterical. Like my grandfather, Pop, his wisdom is something not to be taken lightly especially regarding the different, amazing geological features of the Rocky Mountains. And Dr. Ranson, who is constantly encouraging the team to learn more and achieve a deeper understanding of the material, is always willing to go out of his way to make the team members learn and feel comfortable in whatever environment we find ourselves in. These three men are perfect team leaders, and it has been an incredible, unforgettable opportunity to learn and live with these men. 

Although not quite sure what my role is on the team, I hope that I have served those on our team with a great attitude and an encouraging mindset, and given my Furman legacy a positive stamp. 

Gros Ventre Campsite

      Today marks the last day at our Gros Ventre Campsite. After wandering through the Black Hills and the Badlands, we packed up camp and moved to Gros Ventre. With the mighty Grand Tetons for a backdrop, the setting was perfect for the camping experience to ensue. With cooking groups fixing up gourmet meals, professors cracking jokes, and the overall weirdness of camping, the Gros Ventre campsite furthered the bonds that we share with each other. Through all the fun of camping and the isolation that it naturally brings, I have had the incredible opportunity to read and reflect on two books, The Heart and The Fist by Eric Greitens and American Spartan by Ann Scott Tyson. Both of these books although military non-fiction at the surface, have much deeper meanings and resounding messages to me as an individual. 

The Heart and The Fist

This book details of the trials and adventures of Eric Greitens, a Rhodes Scholar turned Navy Seal who sacrificed a prominent desk job to serve his country. Although I find myself neither as athletically talented nor as scholarly as Mr. Greitiens, his willingness to pursue something that will impact the lives of future generations is truly inspiring. Entering into a new time in my life and a new school, I hope to give myself the same opportunities to impact future generations as Mr. Greitens. Whether through service to my country or through service to my friends, my desire, like Mr. Greitens, is to not only help others but give them the tools to help others. Without the ability to pay if forward, people will take the service of others for granted. As a future servicemen, I hope to not only give people the opportunities to help themselves but the opportunities to help others who they see in need.      

       

American Spartan

This book details the trials and tribulation of Major Tim Gant, a brilliant yet controversial Army Special Forces soldier who spent years attempting to empower local Pashtun tribes to defend themselves from Taliban assimilation. Not only does Gant respect the Pashtun tribes unlike any other servicemen, but he completely assimilates his unit of American soldiers into the daily life of a local Qalat in Mangwel. The people of Mangwel grow to love Gant and his men, but his tactics were ahead of his time and his eventual stretching of the rules lead to his demise as a Special Forces Operator. Although he no longer operates in the United States Army, his style of selfless leadership and seamless assimilation into the lives of Pashtun tribes is inspiring. Without his willingness to learn and understand the ways of Pashtunwali (a code of honor), then he and his men would have undoubtedly failed their mission. Successful leadership is not always about being blunt and forceful, but it comes down to the willingness of the leader or leaders to listen and understand those they are attempting to lead. The best leaders are those who are willing to sacrifice their own pride and self-gratification for the sake of those they are leading.

Innovation and the Opening Experience

        The first full day of the May X was spent exploring and discovering the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota. Although cold and windy at times, the beauty of adventuring through these mysterious elements of nature left much to wonder. Centuries before, when Native Americans roamed these lands, the abundance of wildlife and the austere of the Badlands were a much different scene than the land and wildlife that we experience today. With climate change and the continued erosion of the Badlands, the scenes today are almost frightening. When will the Badlands be gone entirely? Will future generations come to these beautiful areas to find high-rise condiminums or housing developments or strip malls, or will humans find new ways to save the Badlands? My hope says that we will find ways to save these awesome parts of nature, but history suggests otherwise. 

        In the age of innovation and the pursuit of more, humans have become enamored with stuff. No longer do we try to preserve what we have, but waste has become the societal norm. When in doubt, throw it out. If it doesnt work, don't even try to fix it, just throw it out and get the latest and greatest version of what was broken or lost. This norm has caused a dangerous trend that continues to destroy the environment. If we continue down this dangerous path, the great and mysterious forces of nature we see today will not be witnessed by future generations. 

       On a more positive note, the trip so far has been amazing.  The people, the places, and the adventures have all been new and incredible. From eating spaghetti with the sunsetting on the Badlands to sitting around the campfire on Stockade Lake, South Dakota is a remarkable place. Although this is just the beginning of the experience, I cannot wait to see what these places have in store. I am looking forward to the Grand Tetons as well as Devil's Tower, and I look forward to post in the coming days.

-Tyler