Journal #3

Journal Reflection #3 - Blue Mountains Trip

For this post, I am going to follow the format of “what, so what, now what?” in hopes that my reflectional piece will be able to provide some insight into just how this weekend affected me and the others I had the pleasure of sharing it with.

WHAT?

Day 1:

Day 1 of our trip consisted of a bush walk through the Katoomba region of the Blue Mountains. We were treated to views of the infamous Three Sisters, bell bird calls, and the challenge of 900 steps carved into the natural rock face. Easily my favourite part of the day was watching Jeremy push his limits and make it through the hole challenge. As a big guy, it was not easy for him to get through, as he said so himself. I found it amazing to watch Jeremy make it through with his perseverance, and watch our whole group motivate him to the best of their abilities. Go Jeremy! That evening, we cooked dinner with our cabin mates and had a campfire classroom session before heading off to bed for a good night’s rest.

Day 2:

Day two proved to be one of more challenging perspectives, mentally, physically and emotionally. We started from Evan’s Lookout overlooking a huge canyon, only to be told we would hike down into it, and THEN back out of it again. With Jake as our leader, we were treated to solo walks, tai chi by the river, the discovery of a shelter by the river, self-reflection at Junction rock, a spectacular 30-metre waterfall and the grueling two hours of uphill hiking and burning calves before making it out of the canyon to be greeted by a human tunnel. Easily, my favourite bush walk I have done so far while here in Australia.

With different levels of fitness and past bush walking experience, there were some gaps in the pace of our group. However, what our whole group was able to do together was to motivate, cheer and help our fellow adventurers the whole way up the canyon and  support our physical and mental struggles. It may have taken us a while to make it up the canyon with multiple breaks along the way – but with the amount of support from everyone, I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

Day 3:

The last hike was around Wentworth Falls, an area I had been dying to see. Misty, foggy conditions made for a mysterious air to our walk. Easier than the day before, it meant for more laughs and photographs with beloved Cabin 6 before heading back to reality, as our three day trip came to a close.

SO WHAT?

At the end of the second day, Nicki asked us to reflect on three aspects of this trip, which I believe were relevant in my experience this weekend and the concept of “so what?” in how this affected me personally.

Self: I have felt many things amongst nature. Relaxed. Re-energized. Rejuvenated. Happiness like none other. But this weekend, while given the opportunity to walk a section of the track alone on Saturday, I felt something I have never felt in nature before; humbled. When hiking with others, I think sometimes we get caught up in conversation and the screen of our cameras. However, when I was alone, the sensations of the surrounding nature was almost overwhelming. It was a reminder of how powerful nature is to be surrounded by giant cliffs, running water so loud you can’t hear your own breathing, and green absolutely everywhere. It was a moment in which I truly felt small compared to the enormity and strength of the natural environment.

This is a video of my solo bush hike - the enormity of nature is astounding!:  
                                             https://youtu.be/cu_EiCPA25g

Others: Between the Friday and Saturday bush walks, I watched to different individuals push themselves to their limits, physically and emotionally. What was empowering to watch was their perseverance and personal discovery in how strong they really could be. Both started off doubting themselves with the task at hand, and by the end, both were amazed and proud at how they had accomplished this said task. As I watched these individuals accomplish these tasks which they thought to be impossible, it made me realize that if they can power through their struggles, then I have nothing to complain about and I need to take on their mind set when facing my own struggles in the future.

Cabin 6 getting silly at Wentworth Falls!

Nature: At the beginning of our Saturday walk, Nicki informed us that at one point, the entirety of the Grand Canyon had been underwater millions of years ago. It was interesting to see how the water had carved out the canyon, and to learn that a canyon as large as that one could be affected so drastically by water. I had never seen one so large before and did not realize this was possible to that extent. It was again a reminder in the power of nature, and how sometimes we as humans take for granted how powerful, and consequently devastating it can be.

 

NOW WHAT?

This trip really allowed me to see how the concepts studied in class can be applied to experiential learning and the environment. The hole-challenge on the first day represented one of the first concepts we discussed in class – “challenge by choice”. Everyone is my group participated in the challenge, and although some were unsure, tested their limits to complete it. At no point was anyone forced or bullied into participating – experiential learning and the desire to participate was what drove my classmates to participate in the challenge. Consequently, this made for a safe, healthy learning environment, one in which some grew substantially as not only an explorer, but in ways applicable to their everyday lives by taking on a challenge.

In terms of the cabin group I was involved with this weekend the concept of the Group Development Stages, posited by Tuckman & Jensen in 1977 was not exactly met. We did experience four of the five stages – Forming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning/Mourning. Very quickly I felt a bond and sense of solidarity with my cabin mates, but at no point did we experience the second stage of “Storming”. I wonder if this was because we were compatible personalities, or if this stage would have arisen were we in a more mentally/physically demanding environment, or together for a longer period of time.

With regards to the environment and the impact it plays on human beings, my experience this weekend played into the environmental health discourse. Environmentally, despite the increasing concerns globally, including climate change, pollution, loss of biodiversity, etc. as a country, Australia has done a spectacular job in sustainability in their natural environments. The bush walks and parks we experienced were impeccably well-kept, clean and maintained to ensure human’s have the least impact possible. It was hard to imagine that these things are currently occurring around us at a global scale as Australia has done such a remarkable job at keeping the parks healthy here at home. It seems as though Australia’s imagery could be used in the Humanistic Discourse argument, in promoting a healthy human-nature relationship by using what is available to us currently as a source of helping people to understand how it benefits us in having a positive effect on the environment (Taylor, 2015; Strife, 2010). Related to this theme of nature’s positive benefits on us, I found myself to be mentally happier and less stressed after this trip having been stuck in the city for some time before this. The concepts of Japanese “forest-bathing” and the Finnish Forest Research Institute discussed in class have shown scientific research showing that nature can in fact have the effects that I described as experiencing this weekend, which was interesting to actually experience something shown in the scientific field of human-nature connections.

I have also included my video from the end of the last day, about my thoughts on nature and the professional world, specifically with a focus on my future career plans. https://youtu.be/FoU9saZu30Q