1993 is past, and many “peonle look at the new year as a fresh start. While some may have regrets about what they did or didn’t

‘do in '93, ‘94 is a whole new game, Even

though some resolutions have probably al- ready been broken, it's not too late to make new ones, What are your goals for

1994?

Three-week Outward Bound course challenges hikers mentally and physically

THIS PAST summer | had -an ‘experience of a lifetime, that I would like to share.

b& By Margaret Bryant > ZAP! Contributor . . <2

I took an Outward Bound ‘course. It was a three-week mountaineering course, held in the ’ Coast Mountains of B.C.

‘This was not just a course that “teaches you’ how to climb moun- ains. This course also teaches you

-lot'about yourself, by pushing ‘you, to fyour -limit. You gain.a ‘sense’. of. achievement and _ self- confidence « by..doing things, that you possibly thought you would “never dos...

.The‘course is a challenge phys- ically. ‘and mentally. ‘There were ‘times when’ [- was cold and hungry and just» wanted to go. home, however I knew that any suffering ‘I fhad- endured . was ‘weil: worth it when | was ‘standing on top‘of a ~ mountain’ peak, or sliding down a

snow field. - :

The' course. started in Pemberton

“/ when the crummy (a truck :made ‘especially . for..bumpy logging roads) picked: us- up at the bus ‘depots. 2 |, >’ "We ‘drove to. the base camp where :ve would .spend-our first ight :. before’ we headed up into the mountains '— a couple. picnic ‘tables with. a.tarp over, them and -two outhouses.’ . . We. Inet.” our’ instructors, : ‘two ery “experienced : mountain

“climbers. My group of five guys -

and five girls, including me, sat in ~aicircle’ and, > after. introductions, :_ told the group about ourselves. o, We:>had - all-' ~dlothing’.and «supply. list when .we Signed “up. "We went: through a

“2, check’ list with: our instructors: to | ~make-sure everyone brought ade--

“quate clothing,’and boots, ete. “That night. we slept'in the two

“tents. we weuld “be sleeping in- for.

.> the next 21 ‘nights... None of. us :. really .slept that night; the’ mos- “Two. WEEKS: ‘ago we ask for “your. opinion’ on -smoking,.. and

for feedback on an article about “smoking. (North Shore’ News,

Friday, Dec. 24, page 30).

No Ido not smoke, but I have 1 _ considered it, however it’s ex- “pensive and people who I know, who nre young, have come down ~ with cancer. -. [think that people “who do smoke are trying to be cool but they don’t know what coo! really is, they are misguided and I. feel : Sorry for them. ot

been: given a

‘before and loved it;;it was the best high in the .

Photo submitted

SUTHERLAND SECONDARY school student Margaret: Bryant (middle row, left erid) along with the ‘others In her Outward Bound group got a natural high from camping in the mountains and commun-

ing with themseives. ‘quitoes were really - bad‘ and by

“morning we were’ all covered in

bites. The, next day. we played some trust. games. One game involved

‘falling off the top of a picnic table |

backwards, relying: on the rest of the group to catch you. We played these games so: that everyone would learn to trust each other. — |

This ‘is very important when you’re rock climbing aud repelling because the other. people in your group are. the ones holding the safety ropes.

learned about ‘tying. knots and belaying. We then got to do some rock: climbing.: | had never done it it was awesome. |

1 think there needs to be a lot more. education like you had on Friday ‘about the dangers and what it does to you. More girls smoke now because peopie are trying to fit in and it’s an easy way to fit in if you want to sa- ciufize,. but. EF. think it’s disgusting.

It is amazing, though, what influence your friends can have. I don’t smoke, but ‘my parents were away and [ had a friend ‘over who smokes. She wasn’t pressuring me at all, but f found myself almost starting just so we had something to do. .

If you ‘just. educate people more and you won't have. as “many people smoking.

wi. Deep

1 think smoking is fine because

‘if people want to smoke it's their

choice. They. can’t tell us what to ‘do because it's our choice.

oo Beep

'Can’t people find better things to do. Take up sports or read,

~.. there are better things to do than -

“smoke.

We hiked to a rock face and .

. world! The next day we got a ride

‘up a logging road where we camped for the night. We left the next morning with our 30 pound packs loaded to the brim with the food, clothing, tents, pots, stoves,

ropes, helmets and ice picks which |

we would be using for the neat three weeks, |

The. first day of . hiking was really hard. It was hot and there

were lots of mosquitoes. li was all

uphill and we were hurtin!

When .we would take a break and sit down for a minute it was hard to get our packs back on, We had to really help each cther.

When we got to our. destination ;.

that evening we were exhausted. Our backs were sore, we .were covered in mosquitoe bites and we

.»- beep

‘{ think smoking is bad for you. It can help keep you thin but you can get tung disease and heart disease and you can die easily.

te beep

I used to smoke but I quit fast year hecause it slowed me down.

... beep

Why can’t society get with it. Smoking is bad for you and me and everyone in the world. ... beep

I hate smoking because it’s bad for you.

se. beep

T-think smoking sucks. Who wants to ruin their lives and smoke?

... beep

: Just don't smoke, Ox.

were very hungry, but we all felt great.

We had an amazing view, sur- rounded by snow-capped ‘moun- tains and glaciers. We were high enough that there weren't. any mosquitoes, the air was crisp and clean, and we were away. from civilization, noise and pollution. ;:

We were each responsible for a digging |

‘duty, ‘taking turns at latrines, plotting» the - route, or cleaning the campsite. ©

with as little impact as- possible. We were taught fittle things like to put cur kitchen tarp over rocks or grass instead of heather, and to wear our runners around camp instead. of our boots - so’ we wouldn’t crush plant life.

At the beginning of the course our instructors stayed with us while we were hiking. They slowly started: to back off and soon we would just’ meet them at our des- tination at the end of the day or see them when we stopped for lunch.

On the [2th day of the course |

we had to hike down to a logging toad to meet the crummy ‘to resupply us with food. That night we camped just off a logging road so we built a fire and put snow

sea] on our boots. We had not.

had a fire since we left our base camp because of the environmen- tal damage it causes. :

We talked about what we -had

ACTING

learned on the course so far, not:. just what ws had learned about mountaineering, but what .we had learned about ourselves, our goals and our limitations.

The next-day our packs were - very heavy ayain and we were on. our way, to the lake where we would have our three-day solo.

The solo is a very important part .of the Outward Bound course. It is quite an experience to’ spend that much’ time’ all by yourself. You really get to know yourself: Of course the instructors check on you once a day, but that is all the human contact you have. |

We didn’t take books, watches’ or anything else to remind ‘us: of:

. civilization and to distract us from

really getting to know ourselves” and reflecting on what we had al- ready experienced, : I fasted for the first two days of"; the solo because‘I had never done”

. it before and had heard’ that not eating can make you. think more.

clearly. -I personally. found that"-1 was just :really*dizzy and cold.On’. the third night of the ‘solo I ate my peanuts and raisins. »-°.-

When’ ‘the. solo was over, we: were all: very.:happy to see. each other: again and ‘had lots, to: tall about. We had a huge lunch and then.a huge ‘dinner:: We sat and. | talked about our solo, experiences.: +

. The day before we went-home, ;

we went. into the small: ‘town'.¢

Darcy, split. up"into groups: an

‘helped some of the local resident: around their .-yards.. We. helped

people. who --either couldn't ‘ get‘:

‘around very: well” themselves \ or.

whose yards were just too big for them to take care of.

Two of, my: group members and. I cleaned .out ‘an elderly couple’

". gutters. It was really. nice. to. be. _ Qutward Bound. really shows ~ you how to pass through. nature

able to: help them ‘out.. Although: we obviously. hadn't showered or washed at all in three weeks, they

-invited us in for a fresh lunch: We’

also marvelled over their soap,

running water and flush toilets.” . The day we went home we got

up at 6 am. and went for a-ten’;

. kilometre run. We then: had a big ’

breakfast aud received a certificate and pin for’ having’ completed the: course.

I would. recommend Outward Bound to everyone.: ft has made a. very positive impact.in my. life. 1° met many new friends who I know | 1 will stay in touch-with. I ‘tried things that I otherwise might: not ‘ have had the chance to try. It gave me confidence in .the’ mountain : climbing, but most of all it gave. me confidence in life.

Margaret . is :a 17-year-old Grade {2 student at Sutherland’ secondary school, who is ‘inter: ested in’ ‘cycling, skiing, --and reading. She hopes to. work. with the National Geographic Society. -:

PROGRAMMES : fer Kids and Teens

AFTER SCHOOL. OR WEEKEND REHEARSALS: . “JANUARY TO MARCH:: *

Gain sett. contidence while making new friends & va plays For information cali 877-