Canoeing/Trekking, 'Sea To Sky Adventure', British Columbia, Aug 2009, ID 785
42F Sqn ATC
The ’Sea to Sky Adventure’ was absolutely awesome!!!..this was the considered opinion of all participants on the August trip to British Columbia of members of 42 F Kings Lynn Squadron ATC.
After a great deal of planning, the trip finally began on July 31st. Arriving in Vancouver after lunch, the team transferred to the University of British Columbia for a night of rest before the expedition and to store the kit needed for the second part of the visit.
The next morning, highly qualified guides collected the team in Vancouver and after full briefings, all travelled up to Squamish along the Sea to Sky Highway to begin the adventure with a hike up to the Elfin Lakes. This introduced the group to the terrain in the Coastal Rainforest and water safety concerns in this region. The next two days were spent Rafting on the Elaho River (class 3-4). Cadets and staff were exposed to the planning component of the trip and the concerns that we need to be aware of. After a hike to Alice Lake for a swim, and then preparing the rafts and equipment we travelled to the river. The excitement of taking level 3-4 rapids and experiencing some good rafting ensured spirits were high . Camp was then set up on a small island on the Squamish River. Another day on the water was followed by the steep ascent of the valley's highest mountain - Wedge Mountain. On arrival at the top , the more adventurous ones in the team took a quick dip in the glacier waters of the lake. Other hikes followed this and some hard mountain biking on the quality green high mountain trails took up another day of the expedition. The hardest days hike took the team to Barrier Lake, Lesser Garibaldi Lake and then onto Garibaldi Lake itself – with waters so clear and air so clean and a view that is out of this world!!
All of this, coupled with learning about the environment , the geology of the area , the ice fields and the culture of the First nations , and then the US, civic, and City visits during the second week made this adventure such a special event ...one that cadets and staff will remember forever and will encourage the young people involved to spread their wings and see so much more of our wonderful world.
We would like to express our gratitude for the generous grant from the Ulysses Trust. The Ulysses Trust is very grateful for the support for this expedition from the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.
Thanks to
|
|
working in partnership with
|
|
|
