Why a 23+ course?

Spread out in a NOLS bus, we ride back to the Rocky Mountain Branch revisiting jokes, high points and tough days of the last two weeks. From here, we don’t go back to high school or college dorms, but rather to the so-called real world of careers begun and interrupted, children, divorce and the housing market.

What we take with us, each of us, is a new, or renewed, sense of direction.

As could be expected of any group of strangers from across the nation who signed up for a two-week leadership course in the wilderness, this course—Wind River Wilderness for ages 23 and over—is an assorted lot.

The two youngest, Molly and I, couldn’t be more different. Both of us two years out of colleges on the East Coast; we have spent the last 28 months in very different style.

I just took this position as PR specialist and writer for NOLS to reach a new, healthier balance in my life. This expedition was my chance to not only experience a NOLS course first-hand, but also to get back in touch with the wilderness in which I was raised.

My counterpart, an excitable, vocal young woman, remains in an extended point of transition in the standard college-career or college-more-college progression. Ever the eager student, she brought an enthusiastic curiosity about expedition planning and execution, as well as camping tips. From a post-course, cross-country road trip, she reported, “I felt I came away with all of that.” Having tested the waters of a number of fields following her graduation, Molly leaped whole-heartedly into NOLS experience, going so far on issue day as to ask how she might someday become an instructor. She starts a teaching position in a month with the hopes instructing will be the niche for which she is meant.

The third woman on this course is a strong member of the Wall Street force. Despite being pedicured and appearing almost delicate, she’s resilient and laughed off such disasters as dropping her camelback mouthpiece in elk scat. This may be in part due to her first NOLS course 14 years ago, which she says helped her become the person she is today: a blend of encyclopedic New York knowledge and outdoor skills. She returned to reflect on what comes next, much as Molly and I were doing.

“I set out to take a break from the busy lifestyle in NYC and spend some time in the backcountry reflecting on where I am in life and where I want to go,” she said. “I knew it would be hard work at times, but a phenomenal time for self reflection and introspection.”

Upon returning home, she said the two-week course allowed her to “think about who I am and who my ‘best self’ is.”

Next, we have the professor who has seen the world, ranging from fist descents in the rivers of Maine, Quebec and Labrador to luxury excursions in Iceland. He enrolled to further expand his knowledge of leadership practices and philosophies while examining the difference of NOLS backpacking practices from his own paddling routines. He led us out of our final camp tired but fast, the oldest amongst us at 59.

In addition to achieving new personal goals, Richard arrived with a quest to apply the NOLS leadership formula and partnerships to his career and industry. When we returned, he had a much-expanded vision for his collaboration with NOLS.

“The course content on leadership was interesting, engagingly presented, and of great applicability back at work,” he said after our return. “I look forward to continuing my relationship with NOLS and the incredible people who make it real.”

Richard’s tent mate was the ever-entertaining single dad who recently walked away from an overbearing firm. He, like most of us, is in a point of transition. But for two weeks, all he had to consider was the next fishing hole and new lyrics to his made-up song about our endeavors. We watched his eyes re-open to the sorts of things he’d rather be doing with his time when he returns home, namely, stay more in touch with the outdoors and introduce his kids to what he rediscovered in the Wind River Mountains.

Our next group member was quite nearly a third instructor for us. Erik had also attended a course previously, and it was clear it had informed his outings since. Having returned to come in contact with new and different means of doing what he loves—spend time in the wilderness—he also exposed us to his wisdom about the region, backcountry cooking, and wayfinding. Erik confessed to me he had a bit of a mess in his head the night after our return; he knew the leadership skills he had learned would be valuable to his company, and he knew he’d straighten it all out and implement it in time to justify returning to a NOLS classroom next year.

Finally, we have yet another member in transition—we hope. As the meals wore on, we all rallied behind his dream to someday open a bakery. His focus, however, was a quest for self-improvement. Bob walked out of the wilderness knowing we all saw a better man than he saw in himself and having realized his capacity for listening. In fact, upon returning to the office, he doubled the size of his team and has since been incorporating his new skills to ease the transition. In the meantime, this group eagerly awaits the grand opening of his bakery.

Like Erik, he walked away with so much insight and reflection he’s still sorting through it.

“I did gain the perspective I was looking for, but an actionable plan that I follow and complete will be the only way this opportunity is fully realized,” he noted.

In the economic climate of today, most members of this group were asked why they would put down almost $4,000 for a two-week stint without toilet paper, hot showers, cold beer or farmers’ markets. The answer lies in the question we brought in with us. What do I need to be happy and healthy? What next? How do I become my best self?

Big questions, really, and it’s clear as we drape our smelly selves over bus seats and fall into content silence we’ve come away with at least the start of our answers.