Being from Colorado, I pretty much grew up with Rocky Mountain National Park in my backyard. You can imagine I was a little nervous when it came time to move from the mountains to a large city. But the outdoors never left me after I arrived at UChicago. It was halfway through my first year that I got an email advertising a spring break backpacking trip to the southwest with the Outdoor Adventure Club (OAC). With my limited knowledge of the club and the trips they organized, I decided to enter into their lottery for the upcoming spring break trip. One week later I found out that I was selected to join, and I would be road-tripping to southwest Utah to visit Moab and Zion National Park!
I arrived in front of the library on Saturday morning with my sleeping bag and backpack in hand and was warmly greeted by eight new faces who introduced themselves and shared how excited they were for me to join them. We were a diverse group of people from all years and backgrounds. We loaded up our two vans and set off, driving across the Midwest into Nebraska, through the Rocky Mountains and ultimately ended up in Moab, Utah.
We spent three nights camping in Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. We hiked through canyons, visited dinosaur museums and ate s’mores. I loved getting to see the sunset on Delicate Arch because the shadows were intricate and mesmerizing.
After spending a few days in Moab, we headed over to Zion National Park. One of my favorite things we did in Zion was the exhilarating hike up to Angel’s Landing. The path is about two meters wide with a straight 1,500 foot drop on either side. The only thing keeping you from the edge is the hand chain held in place by the rock itself. When we finally made it to the top, the views did not disappoint!
Upon returning to campus, I decided I should probably learn more about this awesome club that I had joined on a whim. I learned that the OAC trips fall into three main categories; on campus, weekend and spring break.
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On campus: These excursions are fun get-togethers like movie nights or bonfires with s’mores on Lake Michigan. On nice days, they’ll even set up a slackline and hammocks on the quad for people to enjoy!
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Weekend: These trips typically last for a couple days. The group will usually go camping or backpacking to a location close by. Some of the most recent trips have been to the Upper Peninsula in Michigan, Isle Royale, and the Indiana Dunes.
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Spring Break: These trips generally involve renting cars and driving out to some cool location like the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Colorado, or the Appalachian Trail. You’re exploring the beautiful places that you’re visiting for an entire week!
I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve made some of my most meaningful relationships through the Outdoor Adventure Club. I’ve seen incredible places, eaten countless s’mores and even hiked across a canyon or two… or five…