Student spotlight: Isaac Stevens
by Vicki Heisser |
At the end of May, PWSC outdoor leadership student Isaac Stevens embarked on a 14-day
capstone expedition, covering nearly 150 miles, kayaking from Whittier, AK, to Valdez, AK.
As part of completing his first year in the outdoor leadership program, which included
rigorous training in outdoor skills, Isaac, along with other outdoor leadership students,
took part in the kayaking capstone project.
For Isaac, the experience was both difficult and rewarding. Reflecting on the journey,
Isaac highlighted both the camaraderie and the challenges he faced:
"I appreciated the team dynamic during the trip. Even during challenging moments,
I was surrounded by wonderful people who made the experience memorable and enjoyable.
However, I found it difficult to be away from certain people and unable to stay in
contact with them. At times, I felt overwhelmed by the pressure of the trip's importance,
but overall, I have no regrets."
Isaac took field notes during the expedition, documenting observations, location information,
and experiences. In his field notes, Isaac recounted his experience at Elf Point near
Columbia Bay, about 100 miles from where he began his journey in Whittier:
"Yesterday, the weather reports predicted heavy rain, thunderstorms, and strong winds.
However, none of that materialized, even though we were in an area expected to be
struck by the storm. We could see the storm in the distance, but only a few scattered
clouds reached us.
Elf Point exceeded my expectations. Despite the weather warnings, we made significant
progress, and everything went smoothly. The weather channel had forecasted a storm
with 50-knot winds, waves up to 7 feet, and a small craft advisory. To err on the
side of caution, we decided to rest today. We enjoyed sleeping in and had a fantastic
dinner party after a surprisingly sunny day. Everything is going perfectly for us;
it feels like we're in our own little bubble, insulated from the outside world."
For Isaac and others, the expedition was an amazing experience that brought them together,
required them to practice the skills they learned, and allowed them to commune with
nature in a way few get to experience.
Congratulations on completing your capstone expedition, Isaac!