A Baylor Walkabout trip that was truly memorable to both me and the students was the trek on the Appalachian Trail in the Smokies during winter break 1995. I was taking some of the same students that I had led on an almost identical trip exactly three years prior to this date. During the first adventure, the group had survived sub-zero temperatures and considerable ice along the trails and in the branches of the forest. The hoarfrost alone made the first trip rewarding. Three years later, we wanted to see if we could come close to duplicating the original experience. We hardly believed it was possible to confront as harsh and beautiful a situation. To our surprise, the conditions were event more challenging and sublime. It snowed almost three feet one night when we were camping in an Appalachian Trail shelter. The wind was howling and the snow made traveling exceedingly difficult. Frequent white-outs reminded me of the past scenes from Buffalo, New York winters. Although we were pushed to our limits, we continue to recall how incredible that trip was to this very day. The pristine snow left an indelible mark in our memories.

by Kurt Emmanuele, Math teacher

 

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