My First Semester in Adventure Studies at TRU by Keiran Rankin
The last few months have been a whirlwind tour of hard work, fun and adventure unlike any other time in my life. From day one it has been go, go, go! But unlike the rush of a “normal” post-secondary education, this is a workload that you hope will never end.
Our first day at TRU was spent with introductions. We heard a little bit from everyone about what their experiences have been in the past and why they were here. Dave Freeze, one of the faculties’ most hilarious instructors, facilitated some icebreaker games with warmth and zest that we have come to know him for. He also read us a poem titled The men who don’t fit in. It struck a nerve with many of us who have tried many other programs that didn’t turn out for us in the end. Were the kind of people who don’t see success solely in terms of how much money we make; we just want to work doing what we love. Were an eclectic bunch of people in Adventure Studies at TRU and proud of it.
We were given a tour of the facilities on campus which includes the programs epic gear bay. Dozens of canoes and kayaks line one wall while others are chock a block full of rows of paddles, PFDs, helmets, Ice axes, skis and racks of climbing hardware. Row after row of shelves are piled high with climbing ropes, tents, tarps, stoves and the miscellaneous camping gear. The programs vehicles are parked outside; fifteen passenger vans equipped with dually rear wheels and massive stainless steel gear racks. This is a gear-hogs heaven and not a bad place to be if the zombie apocalypse comes.
That evening we had a welcoming barbeque where we had a chance to meet the second year students and fatten up on some free burgers. A hacky sack circle was soon formed and I had to draw upon all but forgotten experience from high school. It was amazing how fast friendships began to form with a group of people so diverse yet so like-minded. Plans were being drawn for runs on the nearby Adams River for the few free days we would have over the next month.
Our first field course was Wilderness Travel. We spent a few days in class going over orienteering, leave-no-trace principles, weather observations and other theory. We headed out to Wells Gray Provincial Park to test our mettle on a back packing trip off trail and through the forests and alpine meadows around Trophy Mountain. We split up into groups of six students each led by a mountain guide, most of which were former TRU students.
Each day we would each take a lead for a portion of the day and were expected to pinpoint our position on a map and any given moment. Our major goal for the trip was Battle Mountain. We camped up high at 7500 ft. and woke at Six am to a Tequila Sunrise over the Monashee Mountains. It was an amazing experience that helped the group bond. We reached Battle Mountain without a hitch, but holy moly it was Ptarmegeddon up there. We must have seen a dozen of those fuzzy footed mountain pheasants. We all learned a lot on Wilderness Travel about pacing, route finding and leadership principles.
White water kayaking was my moment to shine. I have been paddling both canoes and kayaks on B.C. Rivers since I was 14 years old. Because of this I was able to help other students and focus on learning new techniques. We started out in the pool on campus where we were given a crash course in wet-exits and Eskimo-rolls. Next, we moved down to the Thompson River here in Kamloops and practiced some basic strokes with the assistance of second year students and a number of instructors.
With the basics covered we headed out to paddle for three days on the Clearwater River. We stayed at a bible camp in the town of Clearwater which was a real treat. We had warm bunks and a full size kitchen to come home to after each gruelling day of “pain and repetition” which head instructor Sharman Leary insisted was the key to success. As we upped the ante to grade three rapids many of the new paddlers were falling over and pulling out. Watching the instructors pick up the pieces of our self-described “crazy train” was entertaining to say the least. Our final exam was on the Adams River’s grade three canyon which suited me just fine since I have paddled it before. Most people did really well and the course won over a few converts to paddling white water for life.
The last field course I did this fall was a basic Mountaineering course in the Rocky Mountains. I was really excited for this course since I have wanted to push my hard skills in the mountains for some time now. I have been scrambling for years but have wanted to learn about rope work and glacial travel. Our course took place on the Wapta Ice Field near Lake Louise and was led by some extremely experienced mountain guides. We hiked into the Bow Hut which is a palace compared to many of the mountain huts that I have visited in the past. It has a separate sleeping quarters and a spacious kitchen. The outhouses are even accessible without leaving the hut!
We used this as a base for the next week to travel out across the glacier and ascend a number of the area’s prominent peaks. We practiced travelling as a rope team across glaciated terrain crevasse rescue. The white out navigation that we had been anxiously awaiting since wilderness travel finally materialized and made for an interesting day ascending Mount Hable. The knife edge ridge of Mount Olive was also very exciting. The fantastic view of many other peaks in the Rocky Mountains that its peak offered was the highlight of the trip for me.
With the field season over it was time for some “real school”. We had two courses this semester. Guiding Leadership taught by Terry Palechuk and Ian Stewart- Patterson, both experienced mountain guides. Introduction to the Adventure Tourism Industry taught by Angela Bueckert a former student at TRU who has worked for years as a sea kayak guide. It was hilarious seeing a group of students that so obviously pined for the outdoors trying their best to sit still and take notes, but with numerous breaks filled with hacky sack sessions to burn off our energy, we got it done.
In fact we all learned a lot from these courses. Guiding Leadership taught us techniques for leading and facilitating groups in outdoor environments, group dynamics and decisions making; all extremely useful skills for aspiring guides. Introduction to the Adventure Tourism Industry really forced us to tease out our goals in the industry and to make a plan about how were going to get there. I now have a much better understanding of how the industry works and where I am headed.
Classroom courses are now over and we are moving on to a Wilderness First Aid Course before our Christmas break. I’ve made a lot of great friends here at TRU who I go to the climbing gym with and paddle on our days off. Unlike other university programs that I’ve been in there is a real camaraderie that can only be formed by spending time together in wilderness settings, rescuing each other from a rapid, and holding a fall when someone steps into a crevasse. My first semester here at TRU has been a blast and I’m very excited about the Ski-Touring and Professional Avalanche courses that we will be taking early next semester. Don’t tell my parents, but for the first time I don’t want to go home for the holidays.’
