The twelve student participants in the Western New Mexico University outdoor program’s first ever wilderness orientation returned to campus healthy and enthused Monday.
Many of the freshman on the multi-day backpacking trip through the Gila Wilderness signed up to try something new and branch out.
“I thought it would be a new life and wanted to start with something different and see how it went. It was great — better than I expected,” said Luis Chavez, who plans to be a wilderness orientation leader next year.
Raegan Carpenter from Los Angeles County, California, said, “I’ve always wanted to do something outdoorsy so when my advisor told me about this trip, I thought, ‘That’s pretty cool.’”
Over several days, the group hiked 40 miles from TJ Corral toward Woodland Park, through The Meadows, down the Middle Fork of the Gila River, and then out of the wilderness via Little Bear Canyon Trail.
“I’ve been hiking and to camp but nothing as crazy as that,” Carpenter said. “Hiking with all those river crossings was really hard. [Outdoor Program Director] Kathy Whiteman always said it’s like college: challenging but you can get through it. Everything was so pretty and it looked magical. Whatever you want is worth the work you put into it.”
Arizona native Francisco Estrella admitted, “It was not all sunshine. It was really difficult but it helps you build character and gets you in the mindset for college.”
While the group saw wildlife like deer, bears and javelinas, Estrella most appreciated the reptiles and amphibians. “Every step we took, there was a frog or a lizard. I’d be like, ‘Hey look!’” he said.
Student leader Daniel Avalos said the experience introduced freshmen to the beauty of the Gila but also taught them important skills like cooking over a fire and leaving no trace. “I believe the students learned a lot that will be useful on their next outdoor trips,” he said.
WNMU’s Dr. Corrie Neighbors provided Wilderness First Responder support for the trip, physically assisting tired hikers and treating blisters but also imparting valuable wisdom.
As Estrella put it: “Wear high socks.”
The WNMU Outdoor Program is operating under a Special Use Permit with USDA Forest Service in the Gila National Forest.