Post holing, switch backing and glissading

After waking up at 3:30 am to catch a bus to the Denver International Airport, we are finally on our way back to Connecticut. Our time in the mountains was challenging, frustrating, inspiring, exciting, intense and rewarding. After a hot breakfast at the dining halls on Tuesday, our group broke up into two separate patrols to tackle two different mountains: Homestake and Galeena.

Over the next three days and two nights, each patrol faced steep uphill climbs, post holed through soft snow, endured freezing temperatures, glissaded down mountains, tasted fresh snow melt (sterilized with iodine of course), supported their teammates through challenge after challenge, orienteered through the wilderness, enjoyed magnificent views from peaks you can only reach through sweat and tears, bonded over hot food with good friends in base camp and found peace (or at least a full night of a sleep) in solitude during the solo night.

When we returned to the OB base camp on Thursday, everyone was more than happy to free their feet from their boots and enjoy the Starbursts that Dr. Douglass surprised everyone with. We all then shared a warm lunch and dinner (mmm barbequed chicken!), tackled one last initiative (the WALL!), visited the beaver dam we helped construct earlier in the week, received our Outward Bound pins and enjoyed s’mores around a campfire. The campfire eventually turned into a dance party- who knew you could dance to “Colorado Stars”?- before everyone made their way to a warm bed for the night.

It was an incredible and trying expedition into the mountains. Words don’t do it justice- I’m not sure if photos will either but here are a few from both patrols…

Elsa, Renee and Brendan by South Dining hall before the hike out.

Learning to orienteer

The Outward Bound guides' mantra!

Climbing rock by Homestake.

The view from part way up Galeena- look at that snow melt!

Corey and Haley cooking with Renee- delicious!!

Corey and Sydney by the rock cairn we created on the summit of Galeena with our dedication rocks.

Mr. D, Marquisha, Dimaisha and Desirea trying zucchini in the great outdoors!

Desirea and Mr. D contemplating life.

Sabrina and Matt making quesadillas with Elsa.

Fred enjoying the view.

Crazy reflection in Galeena Lake.

Making the climb while taking in the view.

Traversing snow on the saddle of Galeena.

Group shot!

Joe on snow!

Dimaisha glissading... and loving it??

On the summit!

Marmot on a rock.

On the summit!

Matt glissading down Homestake.

Ms. Twohig prior to the infamous face plant.

Lunch break on Homestake!

Taking a  break below the summit!

On the way down!

Ms. LeGault's solo set up!

Sydney by the wilderness boundary sign.

Sydney, Corey and Taylor by Galeena Lake.

Taylor getting fresh water from a mountain stream.



Uzziah constructing his snowman on the side of Galeena.

Sabrina getting the support of her classmates to get over the Wall!

The PSA staff relaxing at the final campfire on the last night :)

And before I sign off, here is a view from right below the summit of Galeena. Enjoy the view- I know we did...