Time To Hit The Trail | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Sports

Time To Hit The Trail

Why every teen boy should go backpacking.

21
Time To Hit The Trail
Joseph Draper

Last summer I had the opportunity to serve as a backpacking guide for Camp Timberline in Estes Park, Colorado. It was one of the most fun and unpredictable summers I have ever had. From weeks of rain and cold to those filled with beautiful star filled skies and blue skies, there was never a dull moment. I wouldn’t trade the memories and laughter from those trips for anything.

I had the opportunity while on the trail to converse with and get to know some really cool young guys and gals. For the purpose of this article, I have decided to focus on the things I saw in my boys on trail and why every teenage boy should get to have the same experience they did. I’m sure there are some very capable ladies out there who worked as guides who could talk about why backpacking is good for growing girls, and I think they could do a better job discussing that than me.

While out in the back country an interesting thing happens to teenage boys who are constantly being told they have to follow rules and conform to society back at home. They are given a lot of freedom and room to run around. It was fun to watch the progression over the course of the trip as they realized they were free to do pretty much anything they wanted. Now, of course, there were some limitations, but not very many. Day one they would ask my permission for just about everything, but by day three, they would be climbing everything in sight and trying to catch fish out of the lakes with sharpened sticks and knives.

Spending a week out in the wilderness is an incredible way for a teenage boy to get a break from all the chaos of regular life. Today’s teenagers are constantly juggling a plethora of events. Between academics, sports, theater, and trying to have a social life, there is not much time to just enjoy being young. Even over the summer, there are clinics, camps, and classes to take. The boys I had on trail were able to take a whole week to enjoy nature and be away.

Another fun thing to experience is how much of an equalizer nature is. Boys who sleep in the same tent and share a week in the wilderness will be friends in spite of any differences they have back at home. There were many friendships I saw develop in the back country among guys who would never have been in the same friend circles back at home. The most unlikely boys will join together for the most interesting and epic adventures.

Because of the small nature of the groups out on the trail, no one can hide or be forgotten. What I mean by this is that it is incredibly hard for someone to quietly hang back and not partake in the activities of the group. Even the quiet and shy kids end up growing tight with the group and starting their own jokes within the group. Going on a backpacking trip encourages boys to see past their differences and get along in spite of differences that would exist back at home.

While many parents might disagree with this as a benefit, boys have a chance to get hurt and to get dirty while on trail. Scrapes and bruises happen, but fortunately my fabulous co-guide was a very capable back country doctor, and for the boys they can become battle scars to take pride in. Dealing with the injuries and bleeding that can occur from time to time in the back country encourages them to have a measure of toughness and durability. We live in a culture that is afraid to let growing boys fall and get hurt, but in order for them to be strong men capable of leading, they need to be able to endure some pain.

Lastly, going on a backpacking trip is a tough experience. The hikes will be tiring and the mornings are cold and come early sometimes, but the feeling of finishing it is so worth it. I can think of many stories both from my trips and those of my fellow guides where there was fear that a kid would not be able to finish the trip. When they did, which is the vast majority of the time, they were so proud and amazed by what they had done. They learned they could hike farther than they thought possible and be a part of a team of friends willing to embrace a challenge. For boys in today’s world, this is an incredible advantage. They can take that memory back to their schools where it will be useful in academics, sports, band, and anywhere else they are a part of a club.

Backpacking trips are a lot of fun. Sure there are trials and tribulations along the way, but everyone can find some redeeming quality from a backpacking experience. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to do it again, but you can still be amazed at how well you did and apply that to other aspects of life. I would encourage every teenage boy to take advantage of the opportunity to take a couple days out of their busy schedule to explore the wilderness. As we said on the trail this summer, “Go Beyond and Defy Your Limits!”

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
girl with a hat

This is for the girls who have dealt with an emotionally, mentally, physically or verbally abusive father.

The ones who have grown up with a false lens of what love is and how relationships should be. The ones who have cried themselves to sleep wondering why he hurts you and your family so much. This is for all the girls who fall in love with broken boys that carry baggage bigger than their own, thinking it's their job to heal them because you watched your mother do the same.

Keep Reading...Show less
Blair Waldorf Quote
"DESTINY IS FOR LOSERS. IT'S JUST A STUPID EXCUSE TO WAIT FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN INSTEAD OF MAKING THEM HAPPEN." - BLAIR WALDORF.

The world stopped in 2012 when our beloved show "Gossip Girl" ended. For six straight years, we would all tune in every Monday at 9:00 p.m. to see Upper Eastside royalty in the form of a Burberry headband clad Blair Waldorf. Blair was the big sister that we all loved to hate. How could we ever forget the epic showdowns between her and her frenemy Serena Van Der Woodsen? Or the time she banished Georgina Sparks to a Christian summer camp? How about that time when she and her girls took down Bart Bass? Blair is life. She's taught us how to dress, how to be ambitious, and most importantly, how to throw the perfect shade.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

11 Moments Every College Freshman Has Experienced

Because we made it, and because high school seniors deserve to know what they're getting themselves into

403
too tired to care

We've all been there. From move-in day to the first finals week in college, your first term is an adventure from start to finish. In honor of college decisions coming out recently, I want to recap some of the most common experiences college freshmen experience.

1. The awkward hellos on move-in day.

You're moving your stuff onto your floor, and you will encounter people you don't know yet in the hallway. They live on your floor, so you'll awkwardly smile and maybe introduce yourself. As you walk away, you will wonder if they will ever speak to you again, but don't worry, there's a good chance that you will make some great friends on your floor!

Keep Reading...Show less
laptop
Unsplash

The college years are a time for personal growth and success. Everyone comes in with expectations about how their life is supposed to turn out and envision the future. We all freak out when things don't go exactly as planned or when our expectations are unmet. As time goes on, we realize that the uncertainty of college is what makes it great. Here are some helpful reminders about life in college.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Lessons I Learned My Freshman Year

The first year of college opens your eyes to so many new experiences.

70
johnson hall
Samantha Sigsworth

Recently I completed my freshman year of college, and boy, what an experience. It was a completely new learning environment and I can't believe how much I learned. In an effort to save time, here are the ten biggest lessons I learned from my first year of college.

1. Everyone is in the same boat

For me, the scariest part of starting school was that I was alone, that I wouldn't be able to make any friends and that I would stick out. Despite being told time and time again that everyone had these same feelings, it didn't really click until the first day when I saw all the other freshman looking as uneasy and uncomfortable as me. Therefore, I cannot stress this enough, everyone is feeling as nervous as you.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments