Will Adams, 20, of Roanoke, Virginia, recently completed a wilderness expedition traveling in the Pacific Northwest with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS).
Adams and his coursemates kicked of their semester in the Pacific Northwest with a sea kayaking section. The course began in Tahsis, BC and traveled to the western shore of Nootka Island and surrounding fjords for 19 days.
Students learned and implemented Leave No Trace ethics for living in a coastal environment. Daily routines involved early mornings to avoid afternoon weather, backcountry cooking, assembling camp, and team building activities. The students learned rescue skills, navigation, and paddle techniques that were all applicable to a coastal environment.
The student group then relocated to Squamish, BC to develop technical rock climbing skills. Students learned important techniques such as multi-pitching, anchor building, top rope management, and cleaning sport anchors during their time at Squamish. These skills allowed students to lead climbs to the summits of multiple rock monoliths and leave the section as competent rock climbers.
Adams and his coursemates then traveled to the North Cascades National Park to begin the hiking portion of the semester. The group hiked 97 miles through temperate rainforest and alpine grasslands all while gaining 14,000 feet of elevation. To test an entire semester’s worth of newly acquired skills, students embarked on a four-day expedition independent of instructors. They were met with gale force winds, snow and rain challenging them to stay warm and dry. The group persevered and left the North Cascades National Park with a deep appreciation of the coastal and mountain environment.
Adams and his coursemates transitioned from land to sea as they began their sailing course in Campbell River, Vancouver Island, Canada. For 18 days the crew, aboard 2 sailboats, explored Desolation Sound and the upper reaches of the Georgia Strait. Curriculum focused on, crew structure efficient chart and compass navigation, sail raising and lowering, reefing, vessel maneuvers, and sail theory.The highlight of the section was navigating through tightly packed islands during heavy weather conditions. The group traveled over 340 nautical miles.
Adams and his course mates graduated from their NOLS Semester in the Pacific Northwest equipped with technical outdoor skills, wilderness ethic and leadership skills they will use for the rest of their lives.
Since legendary mountaineer Paul Petzoldt founded the school in 1965, more than 254,000 students have graduated from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Graduates emerge as active leaders with lifelong environmental ethics and outdoor skills.
To discover the NOLS experience or to bring a course to your business or organization, call (800) 710-NOLS (6657) or visit www.nols.edu.
