This summer vacation I did not have any plans to go out and so I and my friends decided to go on a trekking trip to Deo Tiba Base Camp, organized by Adventure World. This was a very memorable experience with so many different things that took place during the whole trip.

L1 (Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth)

I had never been on a high altitude trekking before this, I noticed that my strength was my stamina as the trek was a long journey of 6 days going from low altitudes to higher ones where the level of oxygen dropped. I was never in the back of the group but instead with the ones leading the line and did not find the long 4 hours of the journey a huge problem. The area of my growth was my balance because the trek was in a totally isolated area and everything was surrounded by nature, causing the path to be very rocky and slippery at different times, which is why I slipped multiple times during the trek. As we progressed I was getting used to the conditions and got better with my balance.

L2 (Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills)

I am someone who is not used to big changes around me. This trek was a whole new experience for me as it forced me out of the comfort zone of my home to out in nature, and not only that adjusting to things like sleeping in tents, as we progressed higher the oxygen level also decreased which was something I have never experienced, adjusting to that was my biggest challenge. As we progressed I faced challenges and the new skill I developed was making a campfire, as the temperature dropped below 0 degrees Celcius we had campfires to keep our bodies warm before going to sleep.

L4 (Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience)

This trek was one way, after we began there was no going back and at the last base camp, we had an optional peak that only a few of us reached. Perseverance was the key to the trek and looking back wasn’t an option we had to reach the highest peak which requires a lot of perseverance. By the 4th day of the trek, I was very exhausted with lack of sleep and both my legs being sore making the next day very difficult for me physically and mentally.

L7 (Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions)

Trekking was located in total isolation from human society and the people who lived there were very mindful of the impacts they made on nature. During the whole trek, we were carrying a lot of stuff some of which could be disposed of, this meant litter in nature and we were in a place which was totally isolated by modern humans, this meant that all this caused damage to the fragile ecosystem existing there. Every day we collected the trash we could find on the way to campsites, made garbage cans for our trash, and cleaned the campsite after everything is packed so we have as less impact as we could possibly achieve.

Overall this was one of the most memorable experiences in my life, we faced a lot of challenges and obstacles but being surrounded by my friends and determination we reached the peak and had tons of amusement and experience like never before. It was like a small break from the regular lifestyle and one that ill never forget.