Backpacking Camp Reflection

On April 27th, 2011 our Outdoor Ed class went on our backpacking trip. We left the school at 9am and got some parents to drive us out to RC-17, which is where we started walking. The walk was intended to be 12.4 km but we walked roughly 11.5 km because we still had to cook our supper and set up camp. The walk out to the camp took us 5-6 hours and we were carrying 25-30 pound backpacks.

It is important to walk at your own pace when your hiking that way you are comfortable and relaxed, if you don't and your trying to keep up with the front of the line then you can easily get dehydrated and get headaches. On the walk out everybody did walk at their own pace, except the class got split up into group because everyone was walking at a different speed which could of been bad if someone got hurt. So when we were at the camp we were sitting in a circle and talking about safety and and what we could do differently on the walk home. on the way back there were two leaders, one at the back and one at the front, Tessa was at the back and I was at the front. Our role was to keep everyone together so nobody would be left way behind.

Some of the tasks that we were assigned to complete took some time, so we had to be patient. For example, cooking our meals took awhile because you have to get the stove set up and get the materials that you need for that meal. When you finish eating there are dishes to be done so you boil more water and clean all the dishes, and put the stove away for the next time it is needed. When you are doing these tasks you have to be at your full attention that way there are no accidents The stove is what really needs your attention because you have a fuel bottle that is right by the stove so that has to be as far away as possible, and if your not watching it someone can knock it over and then you have to start your meal all over again.

While you are in the bush you will come across all kinds of challenges, and these have to be completed one step at a time. One of the biggest challenges that I think our class faced was the walk out to RC-17 and back home. On our walks we had deicated rest spots. There were about 4 of them on the way back. On the way out we took a break pretty much whenever we wanted because we were split up during the walk.

We arrived back at highway 614 at about 2pm on Friday April 29th. We got parents to pick us up at the end of the trail and bring us back to the school. Then we unpacked all our gear in the classroom to let it air over the weekend.