Second Expedtion Newsletter

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This last expedition was fun and we even got to spend two days at the Watuga Lake Shelter. On the seventh day, after my friend Cecelia got sick and had to leave the group, we hiked seven miles everyday. After I finished hiking to a different shelter everyday, I felt really tired but I also felt proud of myself because I accomplished something.

Everyday, after I finished hiking, my shoulders and waist felt much more relieved because when I was hiking my backpack was 60-65 pounds, or at least it felt that heavy. This was my first time hiking on the Appalachian Trail. When our group hiked to the top of the mountain, it made me feel good but also it made me feel homesick.

The mountains were HUGE! When we were on the trail, I didn’t see any bugs but I really didn’t want to. When I was on the trail, I really wanted to see wild ponies, a black bear and some deer. I had a lot of fun and I really want to go back by myself someday when I’m older. I had a really amazing time. I felt like this last expedition changed my life forever.

Andrew

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Hiking on our last expedition was very hard at some points but it was worthwhile. I will remember and cherish the many adventures at SOAR for the rest of my life.

On the Appalachian Trail, we each had roles. We worked very hard everyday to complete our roles to the best of our ability. Each person’s specific role has a responsibility. We worked very hard to fulfill our responsibilities.

We saw lots of bugs, took amazing photos, hiked between ½ and 8 ½ miles everyday. We carried really heavy backpacks with all of our stuff in it along with our group’s gear and four bags of food per person.

We saw beautiful mountain views. Those views made me feel like I was on the top of the world. I could see the sunrise and sunset and clouds. I felt so high like I was an eagle trying to touch the sky.

We learned to take responsibility of ourselves and to be mature enough to be responsible for our actions. During this expedition and even after, we have learned to work better as a team. Even now we argue with each other a lot less than we used to.


Cecelia


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The last expedition started in Damascus, Virginia, and lasted two weeks until we got to Tennessee. It was the most gorgeous place you can ever imagine. I have always wanted to hike the Appalachian Trail and I am so grateful to have had the privilege to do so. The Appalachian Trail has the most beautiful waterfall, trees and leaves you could ever imagine.

The main purpose of this expedition was the hiking. I am not a big fan of hiking but when it comes to beautiful trails like this I don’t mind it as much. I think that it’s a tough sport because if you don’t look where you are going you can get hurt or you can fall. That’s what exactly happened to me. It was a cold morning and I couldn’t think straight so I unexpectedly fell down a hill… not all the way down but half way. It was the most embarrassing moment ever!

The second purpose of this expedition was the waterfall. I think that the main waterfall on the Appalachian Trail is called Dennis Cove. It gave me a lot of solace to be there. Being in nature relieves stress.

The third purpose of this expedition was the backpacking. Wearing those big, heavy backpacks is the most tedious thing to carry on your body. Carrying your food, clothes and cooking equipment is hard work. Not only is backpacking tedious it mostly makes you feel like a barbarian. At least that’s how I felt.

The fourth purpose of this expedition was learning responsibility. Each of us was responsible for having a role. Some of us cooked, some of us cleaned and some of us filtered the water.

The last purpose of this expedition was to learn to appreciate nature. There were multitudes of trees on the hill including poison ivy. Poison ivy is a pretty plant but it isn’t something you would want to grow in the yard of your house. That wouldn’t be a smart thing to do if you don’t want to get rashes all over your body. I discovered that using a walking pole while hiking helps you walk more easily while going uphill.

If I were you and you were bored or something and wanted to be away from civilization I would hike the Appalachian Trail. Check out the huge hills and beauty of the trail, the waterfalls and the beautiful trees. Hope you enjoy this beautiful trail as much as I did.

Check out these websites for more on the Appalachian Trail: http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.jkLXJ8MQKtH/b.715465/k.9731/Hike_The_Trail.htm
http://www.fred.net/kathy/at.html


Emily


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While on expedition, I had to write journals for every day we hiked. For four of the days, I decided to write poems to express what I saw and felt at the time and I would like to share these with anyone who is reading. The poems are titled Sight, Attention, Hidden, and Burning in that order.

Sight

There are some things in this world
That I would like to see.
I want to see some trees of green
And every kind of bee.
I want to watch some flowers bud
And see a llama spitting cud.
But after all of this is done,
Will you come sit with me?

Attention

The thing I hate the most
Is when someone tries
To get attention in
Someone else’s eyes

They try and try and try
Until they finally find
That they will end up getting
A piece of someone’s mind

They think they are the most
important people in the world
but something they shall learn
is about to be unfurled.

They shall soon know
what it means to be friends
and what it really means to be like that
until the very end

Hidden

A trail hidden
By the many leaves fallen.
I see things like this
While I am walking.

A distant path lined
by a fallen log.
I wonder where it leads.
Maybe to a bog?

A mound of dirt
Hidden by some thorns.
I wonder if it hides
Some fossilized horns.

There are many things
That we can’t plainly see.
So you have to look between the lines
In order to see me.

Burning

A fire in the distance
Burning high and bright.
Shining little sparks
Popping in the night.

As smoke blows around me,
Moving towards the sky,
I think to myself,
“I’m a lucky guy!”



I hope you all enjoyed these poems. I know I enjoyed writing them.
While on the trail I did something very funny. I was hiking and I was very far behind the rest of the group. It was raining and was about 5 o’clock. I was very hungry and very homesick. As I was walking, I fell into a trance, something that happens a lot to me. I became detached from myself. The only thing I recognized about the real world was the path. I started a daydream. Instead of hiking the Appalachian Trail, I was walking up my driveway with my suitcases and my backpack. All of the sudden my sister, Molly, came out of the front door with a giant bucket full of trash. She put the bucket down, reached in and started throwing trash at me. She was screaming, “Travis, the Semester is not over. You have to go back to SOAR and continue hiking the A.T.!” As she finished saying that a lettuce head hit me in the head and I snapped back to reality. I stopped to gather my thoughts. I turned around and realized I had a headache. It took me five minutes to realize what had happened. I saw that I had run into a tree! I started hiking and the ten minutes later a stumbled into the shelter with tears in my eyes. The rest of my team congratulated me and I learned a valuable lesson. These group of kids that are here with me are not just random kids. They are my second family.

Travis

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It is now October the 7th, four days since we got back from the AT. I know that Trinity, David, Travis, and myself have all improved physically and mentally in strength and discipline.
On the expedition, we experienced steep inclines and cold for 50 miles. Rarely did we get a view of the surroundings as it was misty.

I can say that the 50 miles were exciting and very long. I for one enjoyed my time. Some of us in the group were challenged with the trip and… one of us slept on the trail! We got some breath-taking photos.

Today is October 8th and we’re nearing the next expedition. I’m excited for the river trips like the Nanathala. I hope I find some good shots during it. I will also be caving and rock-climbing which should be amazing.

Dylan

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This newsletter is about our back packing trip we just had.

I had a great time on expedition because we wanted to have the best time we could have. We had to share a shelter one night because we had tarps and the other hiker did not.

The various bugs we encountered on the trail impressed me. One blue bug was the most interesting. At first I thought it was a new queen ant going to start a new ant colony but later I figured out it had no wings and therefore, it could not have been a queen. We also saw lots of millipedes. I saw a millipede on a tree and took a picture of it.

I already look forward to our next expedition.

By James

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On our last expedition I had a great time. We did many things on our expedition. In my opinion the best thing we did was hike. Throughout the expedition we hiked about 51 miles. We started in Damascus, Virginia, and ended in Dennis Cove, Tennessee. Our group hiked approximately six miles a day. Although the hiking was tough for some, we all managed to get through it.

Another good part of our expedition was sight seeing. The things that we saw were beautiful. My favorite place was Watuga Lake. Watuga Lake had sand beaches surrounding the water. The views of Watuga Lake were unbelievable. We also went to Laurel Falls. Laurel Falls were approximately 45 feet tall. They were very pretty. On our expedition I had a fun time.


David

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Nature is a gem. Nature is exceptional because it’s always changing. Nature is one of the most gorgeous places on Earth and stays beautiful all year round. Its four seasons make it unique. In fall leaves on trees turn various different colors, fall to the ground, and everything turns bare. They’re getting ready for a cold harsh winter. When wintertime comes everyone bundles up! Snow from the sky covers everything in site, while icicles drip from railings and gutters. Frosted in snow, everything looks the same.

As spring comes, everything starts getting their colors back. The snow melts and icicles disappear. The weather begins to cool down and people start loosing layers. It’s like everything is coming back to life. Summer is here! There’s nothing to play in but sand and grass. Trees get all their colors back and the birds start chirping again.

While hiking on the Appalachian Trail we got to experience fall in it’s fullest. It was beautiful! Fall in the South is one of a kind. Everywhere you looked were a gamut of colorful mountains. It was like you were surrounded on every side. The Appalachian Trail has spectacular sites and views. My favorite was from Vandeventer Shelter. It overlooked a drop of 3600 feet and Watuga Lake. It was especially gorgeous at sunrise. It felt like we were walking on clouds and the sun was just peeking over the hills at us. Without a doubt, nature is one of a kind - just like a gem.

Trinity