Notes from the Road: Sierra Slam Quest 2024

Today’s blog post takes you behind the scenes of this summer’s Sierra Slam Quest.

In late June 2024, Tawonga’s Sierra Slam Quest returned from two weeks of camping, hiking, swimming, horseback riding and river rafting. Enjoy highlights and photos below!

Quest Leaders

Shiloh Atkinson, Coral Thayer & Aidan Dawn

Questers

12 Questers – rising 7th & 8th graders

Quest Itinerary

• Camping in Stanislaus National Forest, Inyo National Forest, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
• Backpacking to Chilnualna Falls in Yosemite with epic waterfalls and swimming holes
• Day hikes in Yosemite
• Two days of whitewater rafting on the American River
• Horseback riding at Mammoth Lakes
• Swimming at all destinations including Trumbull Lake, Lake Tahoe and on the American River

Quest Highlights

• Hannah’s beach birthday on the shore of Lake Tahoe. Cheesecake, swimming, a magical appearing birthday chair, music and an epic game of infection tag
• Nate’s pie-filled birthday on the last day. A sweet appreciation circle and all the pie flavors you could dream of!
• Backpacking at Chilnualna Falls with a camper-led talent show under the full moon and “tarp-tacos” (wrapping up the kids in their sleeping bags and a tarp because it was unexpectedly cold!)
• Enjoying the alpine scenery at Virginia Lakes and rock jumping into the water
• Infiltrating a pizza parlor in the town of June Lake and having more olive pizzas than one would consider normal

Quester Quotes

• “My star is playing cards with Aidan, and my wish is that when Aidan is 50, I will knock on his door with a deck of cards in my hand and say ‘Hi, do you remember me? Want to play?’ ” – Last day stars and wishes
• “Pirates on a boat” – Everyday, multiple times a day
• “Wow it’s gonna be so hard to get back up this river…” – While rafting down the river

Quest Leader Inspiration

Quest leaders Aidan, Coral and Shiloh reflect on their favorite parts of Quest:

“Our highlights of Quest are too many to count! The best part of Quest for us was laughing with the kids, learning from them and watching them grow and challenging themselves. Whether it was witnessing them work as a team to set up camp, take care of dinner and the dishes all by themselves, or encouraging each other to reach the top of an epic hike – these were the most special moments. Each and every kid we got to know are such incredible young humans. They were quite a joyous, silly and special bunch. Thanks Sierra Slammers! We love you!”

Learn more about Tawonga’s Adventure Quests here.