In October 2004, students from three United World Colleges: UWC-USA, Pearson College, and UWCSEA, came together for a week-long expedition into the Grand Canyon. The fruition of an idea that had first been discussed at the Pearson College Conference on experiential education in June 2002, the expedition was a journey into the heart of the both the Canyon and cross-UWC logistics.

 

During the early hours of Friday morning, 8 October 2004, a minibus carrying six participants from Pearson College and seven participants from UWCSEA pulled into the UWC-USA campus to meet seven second year wilderness-trained students from UWC-USA, who would form their guides and travelling companions for the upcoming Grand Canyon expedition. 

 

Splitting into three groups for three separate trails, the teams began their expedition the next day from Mather Point in the Grand Canyon, hiking 30 miles over the next five days through expansive and rugged terrain. 

 

Preparations for the expedition had stated in earnest the previous May when Tom Lamberth travelled to the Canyon to purchase the backcountry permits that are required for travel. Professional guides were invited to join the teams, campground reservations were made, and emails of lists, medical forms, and schedules started flying between the Colleges. 

 

 “The Canyon always presents interesting challenges to our second year wilderness leaders,” explains Tom, “and this time the challenges were intensified by the short time the students had for direct training and preparation with their team members. Most of the food planning and equipment packing was done before the other students arrived, but briefings, clothing checks, pack and boot selection had to wait until the team could ‘size up’ their guests personally. 

 

“The Canyon smiles on early risers, so we all started off at 4am on the first day,” says Tom. “Early morning rising became the pattern, and we often found ourselves hiking under the stars in order to beat the heat of the day. The first day saw clouds and occasional soft showers, which made hiking a cool, pleasant experience for all three teams. Sunny days and starry nights were the norm for the next five days of hiking. 

 

The expedition did not run entirely smoothly. Katie Giddings, Wilderness Assistant and guide for Team 2, slipped on the first day and sprained her ankle, leading to a return hike back to Mather Point and a frantic search for a new team guide. Thanks to staff back on campus, talented and enthusiastic replacement Bob Zalinski was soon found to accompany the team on their original route. 

 

Depending on schedule and terrain, the teams hiked anywhere from two to nine miles each day. “We walked through slot canyons, where we were alternately squeezed by the inner gorge into something approaching claustrophobia, and treated to incredibly expansive views, impossible to grasp without turning around to complete the 360° view,” says Tom. “For me, there's nothing like the Grand Canyon to make you feel small. Overwhelmed by its immensity, surrounded by its walls, buttes, and spires, I approach something spiritual as the beauty of the Canyon becomes a part of me.”

 

Students from Pearson and UWCSEA thoroughly enjoyed their Canyon experience, and theUWC-USA students were ready with maps, food, discussion topics, morning energizers, and enthusiasm to spare. 

 

“One challenge that all student leaders faced was how to include the students from other Colleges in the planning and decision-making process of responsible backcountry travel,” says Tom. “On a major expedition like this with our own students, we have weeks to discuss and plan our roles and responsibilities; but with recently arrived guests, it was somewhat more difficult. I have to admit, we weren't altogether successful in sharing leadership responsibilities with our team members, but we can learn from this for future trips.” 

 

While proving to be an exciting adventure, the expedition also proved difficult, and has offered a number of suggestions and pointers for future linked UWC hikes into the Canyon. “We now have a solid frame-work to base future trips on,“ explains Tom, “but importantly we can now see how essential good communication is during the preparation for the expedition – in future we will put all our team members in contact with each other much earlier so that the students who are not at UWC-USA can be as involved as much as possible in the planning stages. It will allow any questions and concerns to be dealt with and explained earlier, and subsequently give the students more ownership and responsibility for the expedition.”