“I loved how it wasn’t about the destination, but the people and the journey.” Megan, a member of the inaugural expedition captures the essence of Black Mountain Expeditions Mission, Adventure with purpose, in her reflection. For a generation of youth that does not know life without cell phones, Facebook, text messaging and game systems, 13 Days with 7 group members for 32 Miles, 3 mountain passes and 12,000 feet in elevation gain in the rugged Sequoia and Kings Canyon National park of the High Sierra’s in California was quite the accomplishment.

“Look at the map…” was the phrase that the participants became very familiar with when they asked “where are we?” “how much further?” “what elevation are we at?” or “what time will we get to camp?” We are in a day and age that we can “google” anything for a reliable solution or plug in an address into our cell phone for directions. Most of the group entered the expedition with minimal wilderness experience. By the end of the expeditions, the group was cooking their meals from scratch ingredients, navigating via topographical maps to the next destinations, making complex decisions as leaders of the day, and applying what they were learning in the wilderness to their lives back at home. One participant said “It is life changing, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally! It was fun, beautiful, [and] challenging in a good way. I have learned so much, learned things that I can apply to my life at home. I LOVED IT!”