Outdoor Program Summer 2024 Recap

Lake Tahoe & the Pacific Crest Trail

Dates: July 8-16, 2024
Students: 9 upper school students
Instructors: Chris Watkins & Natalie Sheffield

Words by Emma S. ’27

“The Lake Tahoe Summer trip was amazing! Nine students from grades 10-12 got to spend a week hiking, spending time in lakes–fishing, swimming and pack-rafting, and backpacking. The first few days we spent taking smaller hikes to lakes, (Eagle Lake) and preparing for the backpacking portion of the trip (on the third day). Hiking to Eagle Lake was probably one of the highlights of the trip, I loved swimming out to the tiny island in the middle. We set off backpacking into the Wilderness Desolation Area, and after hiking for about 31/2 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. Finally, we got to the lake. Lake Aloha was amazing–the water was so clear and there were barely any people! We had the lake all to ourselves. Swimming in Lake Aloha was a highlight, despite the cold, I loved exploring the many sandbars and islands underwater. We had a rafting day the first day after we set up camp-it was so cool to see the waterfalls that ran straight from the snow! The last day that we were at Lake Aloha, we hiked up to Mount Tallac, the highest mountain in the Tahoe basin. This was a learning experience for me because I realized that hiking wasn’t only about the destination, but also about the path to get there. The hike was beautiful, and I think along the way, many students were able to connect more with one another. The top of Mount Tallac was stunning. We could see the lakes that we explored earlier on in the trip, and could see all the different mountains and geography in the area. Despite the flies and the heat, every person was able to summit the mountain, overcoming our struggles, and allowing us to get out of our comfort zones. This was my favorite part of the trip, I really liked how the hiking experience taught me so much. The next day, we hiked out of the Wilderness Desolation Area, and had pizza. It was delicious, but I was sad to leave all of the serene beauty of the wilderness behind. The last few days, we chilled and got unpacked, and it was time for us to leave Lake Tahoe. I learned a lot from this trip, there were amazing experiences, and I feel like I made a lot of new connections along the way.”

Gates of Lodore Rafting

Dates: June 9-13, 2004
Students: 10 middle school students, 3 upper school student leaders
Instructors: Ally Siegel & Justin Joslin

A trip summary written by Maddie G. ’26, Andrew N. ’26 , and James K. ’27

This trip was absolutely phenomenal. There were so many new experiences we shared together that brought us closer, especially between grades! A high was definitely playing games as a group. It was so fun to see the kids bond over competitive fun and create friendships that way. It was also so great getting to know them, both as their leaders and as friends. A learning experience was discovering just how enjoyable life on the river can be. Your day is filled with rafting down incredible canyons and getting soaked in whitewater—the sky is always above you, and you fall asleep under a curtain of stars and the sound of running water. It had such a beautiful simplicity that we’ll definitely never forget. It was also a great way to start summer because it allowed us to get away from our responsibilities and technology. It got us in the summer mood by showing our entire group how fun being outside and active all day is. It was a great experience that differed from a normal weekend because of how active we were; rafting half the day and then playing around camp until it was dark. We appreciated the river guides’ kindness and the amazing food they made. They were always happy and talkative. We appreciated the time the guides gave us and how they made the entire trip so enjoyable. They even told cool stories about their lives which made us become better friends. We would definitely do it again!