1997 Adventure GrantsHome to Headwaters
On July 12, four teenagers from Astoria, Oregon, set off on the adventure of a lifetime.
The winners of the 1997 Outside Adventure Grants presented by Hi-Tec — Morgan Beasley, 15; Michelle Olson, 16; William Gunderson, 17; and Dan Solmon, 16 — attempted to kayak, bushwhack, and climb their way north to the expedition's goal of Mount Sir Sandford, an 11,590-foot glaciated peak deep in the remote reaches of British Columbia's Selkirk Mountains.
The team reported regularly on their progress, starting with the training and planning phase and what it takes to undertake an expedition. 1997's Adventure Grants trip was truly a multimedia expedition — we've got journal entries, audio clips, and photographs to tell this tale of roughing it in the wild.
Covered in glaciers and surrounded by some of the most impenetrable wilderness in North America, Mount Sir Sandford wasn't climbed until the 20th century, and today is usually approached by helicopter.
But these young explorers took to the task under their own power — they kayaked 50 miles up McNaughton Lake and bushwhacked through dreaded devil's club to establish basecamp at the foot of Sir Sandford glacier. And then the fun started. They scouted a route up the glacier, then began the journey across the crevasses to the summit. Did they make it to the top? Read their dispatches to find out.
In addition to their mountaineering adventures, the team searched for the elusive and endangered woodland caribou. One of the few remaining herds lives near Mount Sir Sandford; the team met with wildlife biologist Dr. Bruce McLellan to document this North American reindeer in an attempt to save it from extinction.
Planned and led by the kids themselves, the expedition received training and safety instruction from the National Outdoor Leadership School.
The Oregonians' proposal was selected based on its potential for exploration, conservation, and adventure.
"There were so many incredible proposals that it made judging real work," said Kitty Calhoun, the top American female mountaineer and one of the judges who waded through the expedition dreams of 500 teams from around the country.
You might also want to read about the 1996 Adventure Grant trip.
