A Summer Of High Adventure

By Kristen Coates and Deirdre Dougherty

There is nothing better than spending a week with good friends in the outdoors, doing things you enjoy. This past August, Venturer Crew 70 traveled to West Virginia to do exactly that. The crew experienced a week of canoeing, caving, rock climbing, and exploring the countryside.

On the first day, they arrived at Eagle’s Nest Outfitters of West Virginia. The group set camp and prepared for a three-day canoeing trip on the Potomac River. The next day, the group water-proofed their gear, and after a lecture on river safety and how to avoid destroying the canoes by hitting bridges, they were then ready to embark upon their trip.

At first, the river was mild and shallow, and the crew simply drifted along. Although the scenery was beautiful, the distance traveled that first day was so great that the post didn’t have time to fully enjoy it. As they navigated the last rapid, the group spotted the campsite. Railroad tracks ran parallel to the river, making the campsite seem secluded on one side. However, a turn of the head revealed the golden arches of McDonald’s, Stop and Save’s logo, and the lights of the main stretch of Moorsville. Civilization seemed too close. That night, after a long strenuous day of paddling, the crew slept well.

The next day, the group only had to travel half the distance of the previous day, and therefore had more time to take in the views and wildlife. Previous to departure, the outfitter at Eagle’s Nest had warned the group about rapids, fallen trees (called strainers), and bridges. This “safety talk” worried many members of the group.

“By the time we actually got to the river, we were feeling a little paranoid,” crew member Jeff Heller said.

However, the group soon found the river was calm and shallow, so shallow that at many points the canoes needed to be pulled and pushed by the group. Previous canoe trips had prepared this group well. Although the post did not feel challenged by the river, they enjoyed themselves.

On the last river day, shortly after leaving camp, the group spotted a bald eagle perched in a nearby tree. As the group watched it, a train approached, causing the eagle to swoop over the canoes. This fleeting intervention of nature lifted the group’s morale and sparked teamwork necessary to complete the last stretch of the journey.

Returning to Eagle’s Nest, the crew packed their gear and drove to Seneca Rocks for caving and rock climbing. The campsite at Seneca Rocks was not only clean, but also included warm showers.

Rainy weather was the setting of the next day. The group went caving at Trout Cave, where each member of the crew spent six hours exploring formations and crawl spaces. This was an exercise in trust and dependence, as the crew battled fears such as claustrophobia and the fright of the impenetrable darkness.

The following day arrived, bringing bright and sunny skies, perfect for rock climbing at Seneca Rocks, a popular site amongst climbers because of the sheer face of rock that protrudes from the top of the mountain. They are exposed, beautiful, and can be seen from miles around. Wearing harnesses and helmets, the group members had three climbs to choose from, each of a different ability level. When the members were not climbing, they were either socializing, eating snacks, or cheering for their friends who were climbing. Group members had developed a strong sense of respect for each other.

The next day, the group traveled to Virginia to a commercial cave, Luray Caverns. In contrast to Trout, the wild cave in West Virginia, Luray was a popular tourist attraction. Paved, lit walkways, handicapped accessible entrances, formations were more impressive than those at Trout, but the natural aspect of caving was lost in the gift shop.

“I enjoyed being able to observe, in quick succession, both the commercialized ‘nature’ of the modern tourist, and the natural beauty of a world still untouched by man,” said Jeff Corbeil.

The final part of the trip was a visit to Hershey, Pennsylvania. After setting up camp, the group spent the night playing on the playground and making use of the arcade at Hershey High Meadow campground.

An early morning tour of Chocolate World began the day, which ended by strategically depositing the group in the Hershey gift shop. The group then experienced the rest of Hershey Park, going on different rides, occasionally stopping for a photo opportunity with people dressed in Hershey Syrup bottle costumes.

“Most of us stuck together in a mission to ride all of the roller coasters there,” Jeff Heller said. “Out of seven, we only missed one.”

After leaving Hershey, the group made the long trek home, reflecting on the trip. After the week together, the group felt much closer. Good-byes seemed difficult. Another trip, another experience, a little more of the planet is explored. The ever-changing group is fortunate to share this special time each summer, and every  member can agree; the trip must come to an end, but the memories last a lifetime.

Venturer Crew 70 is a group of Newtown Youths who participate in a coed group experiencing high adventure. The eight youths who went on the trip included Kristen Coates, Deirdre Dougherty, Dan Corrigan, Dan Cruson, Andrew Cruz, Jeff Corbeil, Jeff Heller, and Ed Tella. Adult leaders were Aaron and Amy Cox, Chris Ciuffo, and Eleanor Sloane.