Backpacking with some chilluns in Sequoia

So after leaving Tuolumne I met up with Skyeler, Kayla and a whole bunch of other Boojum instructors in Sequoia for an eight day course (five days with the kids). There I had the privilege of going on a two day scouting/trip prep backpack with my Co-leader Jakob who was awesome to work with the whole time. This trip consisted of about 10miles from Rowell Meadows to Big Meadow Campground with about 2-3 miles covered per day with the kids and a lay over day at Weaver Lake to summit Shell Mountain and do some lessons and have a bit of personal time.

Once the kids got there we did some inventories of what they'd brought, get to know you ice breakers and a bow drill/camp fire time. The next morning we packed up and headed out. The first day was the slowest hiking day with some unbalanced and heavy packs, we averaged about 1/2 mph. Upon our arrival to our first campground we ate lunch, picked some wild gooseberries and blue berries that were in season and played some games and were rained on during dinner which Jakob and I agreed added a little character to the trip.


The Group

The next day we played games through the morning before heading out just after lunch to our next site in a wooded ravine that was bordered by a talus field of bright white granite boulders. Not a terrible site, especially with it being a few minutes walk from a bubbling mountain stream. That night I led an astronomy lesson, regurgitating much of what I learned during staff training, I was pleased that I remembered as much as I did!

Just showing off on a giant stump

The next morning I woke up and packed up early so the kids could hike to a special breakfast burrito stand in the Jennie Lakes Wilderness that was occasionally manned by a Boojie (an excuse to unload extra beans and rice from the previous night's meal). A nice chance for some alone time away from the hub bub of 10 8th graders and to catch up on Anna Karenina. From there we kicked it at Weaver with Geology lessons, talks with rangers (informative, not punitive), games, swimming, summiting of Shell Mountain and general schloobing.

A marmot that kept the kids occupied for a solid 1/2 hour


The view from the summit of Shell, with King's Canyon in the distance.

The last day we woke up early (5:15am) and cruised back to the campground for derig and departure. After the kids were gone the staff loaded up and went to a post-course meal on Boojum before heading up to Yosemite.

Stay tuned to the start of, and depending on rest days/free time the end of my Yosemite climbing, swimming and hiking adventures.