Fall 23 Camping and Backpacking Trip

On the afternoon of November 3rd, trip leaders Alex Parachini & Nikhil Kathuria made the final preparations for their journey into the beautiful Ouachita National Forest. As the trip participants trickled into the OA lobby, their excitement grew to all-time highs. What the participants didn’t realize was that they were about to embark on an experience unlike anything else offered at SMU. The van was loaded, Nikhil took the driver seat, and the 4-hour drive began as Fred again echoed out of the van speakers.

The group stopped to fill their bellies with the culinary masterpiece known as Chick Fil a. Needless to say, everyone was blown away after such fine dining. They soon arrived at Shady Lake Campground, where they would sleep for the night. Alex & Nikhil guided the group through setting up their tents in the dark and prepared for the next morning.

The next morning Alex & Nikhil prepared an exquisite Michelin starred meal consisting of Folgers instant coffee and turkey bacon breakfast tacos. They received the grandest compliments from Kylah, who described the food as “warm”. Feeling nourished and full of energy, the group packed their backpacks, loaded Rafiki, and drove to Buckeye Trailhead.

As they entered the backcountry, the participants were bubbly with anticipation of the unknown. The group went up and down, traversing across the 2000’ peaks of western Arkansas. After absolutely crushing the first three miles and ascending 700 ft, the group rewarded themselves with an all-time OA favorite, peanut butter bagels.

After eating, team morale was at an all-time high, and the group stopped for a photo shoot with world renowned photographer, Alex Parachini. The quality of his photos will be determined if the participants choose to post his photos on “the gram”.

Upon reaching their campsite for the night, everyone went for a swim in the nearby creek. They all enjoyed the natural spa formed by the waterfall above. Because the water was just a bit chilly, the group foraged for firewood, building a fire akin to the timeless flames of Mt. Olympus. As the fire crackled, Nar produced marshmallows, chocolate, & gram crackers, and everyone enjoyed delicious trail smores. As we all know, dessert before dinner always hits different.

For their post dessert dinner, the group munched on macaroni with marinara and parmesan. Everyone enjoyed themselves as they joked around the campfire referencing their favorite memes and movies.

After everyone cleaned up and packed their smellables away, they embarked upon a two hour saga to successfully hang the bear bags. Nikhil managed to launch one of the ropes around a tree that was caught like a grappling hook. After trying around 5 different methods, they finally got the rope down, hung the bags and went to bed listening to the peaceful white noise of the waterfall.

The next morning, the group hiked out to the road, Nikhil ran up to grab the van, and Alex blessed the participants with his superior DJ abilities. After a ride in Rafiki filled with Fred again and the Black eyed Peas, the group returned to SMU, feeling accomplished and nostalgic over their incredible weekend.

Nikhil Kathuria, SMU Outdoor Adventures Trip Leader

Posted in Trips | Comments Off on Fall 23 Camping and Backpacking Trip

Fall 2023 Mineral Wells Climbing Trip

All twelve of us piled into the van at dawn. It was Saturday. Despite the previous night’s festivities and the early departure time, everyone arrived promptly and excited for the trip to come. Some of us caught an extra hour of sleep on the ride out of Dallas, while others conversed freely. All enjoyed the gradual change in scenery from metroplex to open country—the pavement and strip malls giving way to Texas’s trademark orange-streaked purple skies, sprawling fields and yellowing autumnal forest.

Only an hour and a half west of Dallas, Lake Mineral Wells State Park feels like a different world. We entered the park eager and awake. We stopped to sign-in at the visitor center, where we were greeted by a gentle breeze coming off the lake not yet visible. A short drive from the visitor center brought us to our final destination, Penitentiary

Hollow—a small but proud canyon-in-miniature with sandstone walls thirty to forty feet tall. Although the canyon’s name suggests incarceration, we all felt a sense of freedom as the gear was distributed in the parking lot. While Levi and I set up the top-rope anchors on the rim of the canyon, Sasha and the rest of the company descended into it, where they explored its maze-like twists and turns until we were all ready to climb.

One by one we bravely tied in to the rope, gripped the sharp rock, and pulled ourselves off the ground. Although many of us had climbed in gyms or at the rec center before, few had confronted the austere challenge of ascending real rock. There was, to be sure, a learning curve, but novices and veterans alike all found themselves victoriously standing atop the canyon before lunch time.

Having worked-up an appetite, we took a break for lunch as the mercury on the thermometer rose and a familiar balminess interrupted the mild and pleasant temperatures of the morning. Fortunately, everyone’s stoke was high and much of the canyon remained shaded under its angular walls and the tall oaks whose canopy shielded the canyon floor. Many climbers were able to snag another send after lunch as their peers cheered them on.

The sun began to sink behind the canyon walls, which we knew meant our day was coming to a close. Reluctantly, we packed up our gear and headed

back to Dallas. Content and satisfied after our full day of fun, many slept soundly on the way back. We arrived at Dedman Fitness Center just before 6pm. Our newly-callused hands waved goodbye to one another at the end of this very successful climbing trip.

Joshua Pollard—SMU OA Trip Leader in Training

Posted in Trips | Comments Off on Fall 2023 Mineral Wells Climbing Trip

2023 Fall Break Blog Post

This fall break we set out with nine students in Rafiki (our van) in the Ouachita Mountains in Arkansas. We met at the rental shop in the morning packed up, and got on the road. 

We made a quick stop to fuel up and grab snacks at Bucee’s before leaving Texas. Once we reached camp, we sorted out our gear and all set up the tents. The Outdoor Adventures (OA) trip leaders threw together some fresh pasta. Ingredients included a block of artisan parmesan cheese and a single onion OA leader Alex took from his mom’s house. After some minor complications with the stove, dinner was served. Now nice and toasty from our campfire, we all headed to bed to prepare for the long hike tomorrow.

In the morning, we feasted on breakfast tacos, divided up the gear, carefully balanced our packs, and set off in Rafiki for the trailhead. The first mile was steep, but everyone motored through it. We stopped after a mile for well-deserved peanut butter bagels and to take in the killer view. All you could see were tree-coated hills for miles. 

We powered through the rest of the hike, crossing overgrown trails and narrowly avoiding a Queen snake. After four hours, we made it to the campsite, set up our tents, and learned proper outdoor restroom etiquette. Next, the OA leaders gave us a quick lesson on how to get and safely sterilize drinking water from the creek. To wash off the trail grime, we took a swim in the creek and enjoyed the waterfall. 

After drying off we huddled around the campfire to warm up, befor

e finally getting a demo on how to use the backpacking stoves. We cooked up some tasty chili and rice, then packed and hung our bear bags (the bags where we store food and other smellables to keep them out of reach of animals) to make sure no critters would come visit us at night. 

The next morning, we all cooked oatmeal before packing up for the hike back to Rafiki. Then the leaders walked us through Leave No Trace principles which are the commonly accepted principles used to respect the environment, animals, and other people when you are out in the outdoors. We headed out and after three miles and a quick snack break, we made it back to the van.

The bus ride back was silent, as everyone was worn out from a long hiking weekend. We hit Wendy’s for lunch, where OA leader Levi shocked us all with his ability to devour fifty chicken nuggets in under a half hour. Now fed and rested, everyone was thrilled to head home and take a much-needed shower. 

Lindsay Templeton- SMU Outdoor Adventures Trip Leader in Training

Posted in Trips | Comments Off on 2023 Fall Break Blog Post

Fall 23 Zip Lining Trip 1

On a bright and crisp Sunday morning, 7 participants joined Alex and I as we led them on the first Outdoor Adventures (OA) trip of the fall semester – ziplining with family-owned New York, Texas Zip Line Adventures. Departing in the OA van, Rafiki, we began to the hour-and-a-half drive to our destination to the soothing sounds of house jazz. Before we knew it, Rafiki was winding his way through the trees up a small mountain. Atop we were greeted by the kind staff and their two adorable dogs. We took a moment to take in the sights during this refreshing summer day, and then were thoroughly suited up in all the gear necessary to hit the lines.

We began our adventure with a brief tutorial of the zip-lining process, and then quickly made our way up the stairs to the first zipline. It proved a fun introduction – but only a taste of what’s to come… We continued to tear through the treetops, with some of the more adventurous participants flipping off the platform before launching down the zipline. Our adventure ended with the fastest zipline, and participants had the joy of flying down the zipline at 45 miles per hour! After the final run, we went to enjoy the much-anticipated PB&J sandwiches we had packed for lunch – only to discover that the crucial peanut butter and jelly were missing. Fortunately, the incredibly kind owner, Connie, offered to provide us with peanut butter and locally made-jelly for our sandwiches!

After a wonderful lunch, we packed back into Rafiki and headed back to campus. The tuckered-out participants took the opportunity to rest up on our way home, and we managed to make it back by 3 pm – making for a fun-filled half-day of ziplining for our participants. The participants, many of whom were first-time zipliners, all had positive experiences – so we’re already looking forward to our next trip of the season.

Sasha Falenchuk- SMU OA Trip Leader.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Fall 23 Zip Lining Trip 1

Carson National Forest OLT Trip


On a bright Monday morning myself, our program director Dr. Albert Mitugo and four soon-to-be OA trip leaders piled into our beloved van Rafiki and headed west for Taos New Mexico. Along the way, we sampled some of the local cuisines before arriving at our first camp for the night. The next morning, we had a quick backpack packing course before we loaded up and drove to the sparkling Cabresto Lake at 9,255 feet. On the shores of the high mountain lake, we got out our maps and went over the plan for the next five days. Once we were satisfied with our preparedness, we set out into the wilderness on what would be the first of four breathtaking hikes through Carson National Forest.

A couple hours and about two miles later we reached our first backcountry campsite. Still full of energy from the relatively short hike and excited for the next few days we decided to swim in the creek next to our camp. The cold mountain water rushing over us was exactly what we needed. After drying off and changing we prepared a pasta and sausage dinner before heading to our tents for the night. Wednesday morning brought forth beautiful mountain sights and sounds as we geared up for a longer hike that day. Once we had purified two liters of water for each of us, we were ready to take on the next four miles that Bull Creek Trail had in store for us. This was the toughest hike for some of us. Heavy backpacks, thin mountain air, and dizzyingly steep trails formed a trifecta that proved to be challenging but doable. With our legs feeling like jelly, we arrived at our third camp in the early afternoon. Having made great time, we had all afternoon to set up hammocks, read in the sunlight, and explore our new surroundings. Mountain meadows sprawled around us as we relaxed, recovered, and prepared for an even longer hike the next day.

After another restful night, the six of us prepared for what Albert had dubbed “up and over day” a seven-mile stretch of trail where we would traverse the Latir Mesa. On Thursday shortly after leaving camp, we hiked up above the tree line headed for our highest altitude of the trip at 12,500 feet. With large sections of trail missing, we followed a string of rock cairns along exposed ridges that granted us 360-degree views of the wilderness around us, seeing all the way down to the plains far below. This was my favorite hike of the trip; we went from the dewy dense forest to sweeping barren peaks and back down again cheering each other on the whole time. We arrived at our camp next to Heart Lake and cooked up some chicken quesadillas before heading to bed early that night looking forward to an easier hike the next day. Friday morning rolled around, and it was time for our four future leaders to prove themselves by hiking out on their own. After a thorough emergency procedure class by Albert, he and I departed on our own leaving the rest of the group at camp. Having given ourselves a two-hour head start we set out on the 5.5-mile return hike to Cabresto Lake that was thankfully all downhill. Once we spied the familiar shimmer of the lake through the trees we knew we were almost there.

Upon the arrival of the others at the van we headed back down the mountain and into the village of Questa where we enjoyed a delicious meal of burgers and fries from the local joint Wildcat’s Den. With our stomachs full we slept briefly at our first camp again before beginning the drive back to Dallas. Serene winding mountain roads eventually gave way to rigidly straight and flat highways as we made ground towards Dallas. We debriefed quickly back at SMU and went our separate ways all looking forward to that first shower after a long trip and the semester ahead.

Diego Olson, SMU Outdoor Adventures Trip Leader.

 

Posted in Trips | Comments Off on Carson National Forest OLT Trip

Fall 2023 Camping and Backpacking Trip

Late into a Friday afternoon, a crew of 7 gathered at the Rental Shop to prepare for our trek to Arkansas. We quickly loaded up Rafiki the van, briefed the participants, and were out, finally leaving the shop at a little before 6 PM. While driving through the pretty East Texas countryside, we stopped in the great city of Paris for some nice Chick-Fil-A before making our final stretch to the Ouachita Mountains. Unfortunately, because of our late start, we didn’t make it to camp until sometime around 11 pm. Thankfully, we were able to get headlamps out and set up camp pretty quickly, staying in an improved backcountry site. The next morning, we had some truly fantastic, culinarily extraordinary egg and cheese tacos. It is undeniable that these would be enough to make a man cry after several days in the backcountry. It was also at this time we met Billy the campground supervisor. Appearing out of nowhere like a game character intent on offering us a quest, he came to share with us his wise words of wisdom, as well as jotting down the personal information of our trip leader for safety reasons.

We broke down camp and took Rafiki to the trailhead. Soon enough, we were off, keeping a rather brisk pace when considering the steep incline, we were forced to endure. Thankfully, the participants were all experienced hikers and were able to handle the strain. Out in the Ouachitas, it’s nothing but small, heavily forested mountains as far as the eye can see. What this meant was an up-and-down trek on the ridgeline for some time. While eating lunch atop one of the peaks, it started to sprinkle a little. Diego, being smart enough to have kept up with the weather forecasts, had warned us of afternoon showers, and we knew that their time had now come. But alas, luck was on our side! The sprinkles subsided with haste, and the rest of the day was bright, sunny, and extraordinarily pleasant. When we set up camp, everyone decided to make the most of our precious time and take a several hour-long nap. Armed with hammocks and crazy creek chairs, we were perfectly poised to take full advantage of our leisurely opportunities in the woods. We also took a quick dip in the waterfall and got some nice pictures on disposable cameras. Once night had come, we made some extraordinary marinara pasta with chicken. We managed to eat quite well in the backcountry!

As for our last day, we made exceptional time, breaking camp faster than anticipated. We also got back to the van in what was almost record time. According to Diego’s tracker, at certain points, we had a pace of around 7 miles an hour! We then began the journey home. We stopped at Panda Express along the way and listened to excellent music on our way back. The participants were all exhausted at the end but seemed very satisfied with the experience! They were able to learn about LNT principles, how to operate a backpacking stove, how to poop in the backcountry, how to purify water, and how to safely use bear bags and practice bear safety during the trip. All of the participants had experience hiking and camping, but few had experience in the backcountry. So, while they were able to learn a great deal about backcountry safety, they already came in with a decent bit of knowledge. It was a fun trip, and a productive one too!

 

Dillon Quicksall

SMU OA Trip Leader in Training

Posted in Trips | Comments Off on Fall 2023 Camping and Backpacking Trip

Spring 23 Zip Lining Trip

Meeting bright and early at the OA rental shop, 10 participants joined Outdoor Adventures for a day zip Lining trip in LaRue, Texas. Loading up food and participants into our van Rafiki, we jammed out to great tunes along the short ride out. As we arrived, the flat Dallas landscape suddenly transformed into a small mountain with trees towering over the country roads we drove in on. Climbing up the hill with all of Rafiki’s might, we summited the top to be greeted by the New York, Texas Zip Line Adventures staff and their two adorable dogs. After enjoying the scenery, we were outfitted in harnesses and sent out to conquer the zip lining course!

Ascending the stairway to the first tree, we remained quiet in anticipation for the first send down the zip line. While the first line was only about eighty feet long, it served as the perfect warm-up for heading into the longer runs to come. Staff members of the course showed off by going down the lines upside down and backwards, inspiring the rest of the group to add some flair to our runs. After only a couple runs, participants’ war cries could be heard echoing throughout the forest as they launched themselves off the tree-top platforms. Time flew by quickly as we zoomed down the 400ft zip lining routes and laughed at others who skimmed branches on the way down while attempting tricks. After finishing the normal 6-line course, we embarked on a (surprise) additional 3 lines to wrap up our day. After a final run that took us from atop the hill, to across a pond, and back to the mountain we started on, the group was ready for a quick lunch under the shade of the trees.

Before heading back to SMU, we stopped to snap a few group photos of the surrounding view as well as the beautiful bluebonnets planted by the host. After a quieter car ride home and a van filled with participants taking naps, we returned back to the Hilltop from an exciting day trip in the trees. Big thanks to fellow leader Nathan Welle and leader-in-training Nikhil Kathuria for spreading great vibes throughout the trip and helping to lead a memorable group of undergraduates.

Alex Parachini, SMU Outdoor Adventures Trip Leader

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Spring 23 Zip Lining Trip

2023 Spring Break Trip

On Sunday morning, March 12,  we gathered at the Outdoor Adventures office, introductions were made, and bags were packed. Around 11 AM we set out on the drive to Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas. We stopped for food on the way and found a nice spot to camp close to the trailhead of the Butterfield Trail. We went over campsite selection info before breaking out our backpacking stoves and cooking up some pasta. The next morning, we got a quick backpack packing class from Dr. Mitugo, one of the leaders, before heading over to a mile-long hike showcasing several caves. Next, we started the Butterfield trail, our main destination, and went an additional 4.5 miles before making camp next to a beautiful waterfall where the night sky was phenomenal!

We got up the next morning and got back on the trail for another 5 miles which went by surprisingly quick due to lack of elevation changes on that section of trail. We found an even cooler spot than we had the first two nights with cliffs, caves, another waterfall, and a makeshift living room with chairs made from rocks piled around a large firepit. We set up camp and later made dinner after which we made a campfire and hang out. The day after that we explored the area around our site and went on a hike to an old quarry. We ended with yoga at one of the two lookout spots we explored. We lounged around camp that afternoon and evening sharing stories and preparing to finish the trail.

The next day we got on the trail early breaking camp at 8 AM, by 10 AM it was raining but that didn’t bring us down, we hiked almost all the way to the road head before pitching our tents in one of the hike-in spots close to the main camping area. We huddled in our tents staying warm and dry before cooking quickly during a break in the rain.

The final morning the rain had ended, but we woke up to frozen backpacks because it was 28 degrees! We broke camp swiftly before heading to what would be our final obstacle, the raging thigh-deep river that stood between us and our van. In order from tallest to shortest and grabbing the packs of the person in front of us we waded through and came out the other side with a great feeling of accomplishment. 5 days, 17.5 miles, and 6 campfires later we returned to our trusty van “Rafiki”. Munching on food that was left in the van we hit the road and headed back to Dallas, arriving just before 6 PM.

Diego Olson, SMU OA Trip Leader

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 2023 Spring Break Trip

2022 Fall Rock Climbing Day Trip

When the first cold front of the season rolls in, the city of Dallas hunkers down. Thermostats are tampered with, much to the chagrin of dad, and blankets are pulled from the cupboard. With northern winds come shorter days, warmer jackets, and more time inside. Saturday at Lake Mineral Wells State Park signaled this changing of the seasons. But what meteorologists might call freezing, climbers call “send temps.” With stoke levels high, seven students bundled up and braved the cold with hopes of climbing hard and reconnecting with nature. Despite no confirmation from the park that the climbing area was open, this group of adventurers set off west with their eyes set on Penitentiary Hollow and that classic North Texas limestone.

Our optimism proved worthwhile as we discovered upon arrival the climbing area was open, with aesthetic lines abounding. Student climbers first warmed up in “The Refrigerator,” familiarizing themselves with face climbing and chimneying, crimping, laybacking, and even a bit of off-width. Once comfortable on the gritty limestone, climbers headed to the Scenic Overlook to play around on an arête and test their fingers in true huecos, those pocketed holds that draw climbers from around the world to the Lone Star State. An abbreviated lunch was followed by a rousing send train of 5.8 Boulder Problem, a classic Mineral Wells route with an overhanging boulder-y start, followed by flowy slab climbing to the anchors.

With pumped forearms and torn finger pads, firmly indoctrinated in dirtbag culture, we piled into the illustrious Rafiki (the van) and made our way back to our Dallas home. Conversations were littered with new skills learned, the recounting of exciting moves, and the tossing about of nicknames generated for each other while on the trip. For some, the trip solidified a passion for climbing, exploration, and spending time outdoors. For others, it sparked a new curiosity for this vertical world. For all, myself included, this trip showed the beauty of a group gathering around a shared interest, the bonds built through outdoor activity, and the importance of actively interacting with our natural world. As they say, a life outdoors is a life well lived. I want to extend an El Capitan-sized thank you to my fellow trip leader, Nathan Welle, and all participants for making this an exceptional trip.

Jack Dorsher – Trip Leader, SMU Outdoor Adventures

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on 2022 Fall Rock Climbing Day Trip

Fall Camping and Backpacking Trip

November really is a tough month for the Fall Semester here at SMU. Everyone is gearing up for Thanksgiving break, ready to go eat some good food and see their loved ones, but there is a lot of work to do before then. And when you are home for Thanksgiving, you spend a lot of it trying to prepare for projects, papers, and final midterm exams. The international graduate students, we were lucky to host on our backpacking trip, echoed these sentiments last weekend. Out in Ouachita National Park in Arkansas, we spoke to them about their experiences in America and doing an accelerated graduate program, and they mostly were grateful for unplugging for a few days and getting to see another side of America in the fall while trying something new and challenging. Most of them had never backpacked or even hiked before and it was really special getting to teach them the ins and outs of life outdoors.

This trip, in particular, stuck out as one of the most interesting outdoor adventures I have ever had. To start, when we left on Friday, we knew we would experience some pretty harsh weather conditions, but everyone was positive and open-minded to the adventure we had planned, so we continued on the road to Arkansas. Head of the OA program Dr. Albert Mitugo bravely drove through the rain and got us to camp safely as we all watched a tornado from the window of the van that passed by us! Great start! Vigilantly watching the weather updates, we knew that the rain would stop around 11 pm, so we took a long dinner, and from the time we got to camp at Shady Lake Recreation Area to the end of the trip, we were blessed with perfect fall weather. 

Throughout the trip, the students got hands-on experience in learning how

to cook while camping, set up camp effectively, how to navigate using a map and compass, and pack their packs and purify water. We all got to know each other very well and spent our time hiking around the 10-mile loop talking and sharing stories, making the time fly by. In the beauty and serenity of the forest, we got to connect with one another in a way that would not be possible on SMU’s campus. For this group, this trip ignited a passion for the outdoors in some of the participants I have never seen before, and it is clear now that no matter where you are from and what your hobbies are: if your mind is foggy and you can’t seem to evade the everyday stresses of a fast-paced life, an outdoor adventure can be a universal cure. A big thank you to the participants, and other trip leaders, Alex Parachini and Dr. Albert Mitugo for making this trip possible.

Louisa Zaharia – Trip Leader, SMU Outdoor Adventures 

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Fall Camping and Backpacking Trip