By: Keely Ganong, Sierra Slam Trip Leader
Picture this: 12 kids, two cars, one trailer, and two weeks in the beautiful and epic Sierra Nevada. We’re talking hiking, fishing, backpacking, rafting, and swimming in rushing rivers, pristine lakes, and remote hot springs.
Welcome to Sierra Slam: an epic adventure. Our Slammers made the mountains their home while exploring the diverse and beautiful landscapes of Yosemite, the Eastern Sierras, June Lake, Owen’s Valley, Mono Lake, Lake Tahoe, and the American River.
From day one, there was a natural eagerness to make friends, and the first 36 hours showed us the magic of Camp Tawonga’s community bonding instincts that followed us on the road. Questers commented on the fast rate at which they were getting to know each other at and how close bonds could form even in such a short time, saying “It’s only been a week? It feels like I’ve known you guys for months!”.
After two nights of camping in Yosemite National Park, we led the group into the backcountry for a backpacking trip to Cascade Creek. Beautiful old growth forests, flowing creeks, and jumping pools made us feel right at home in this new environment.
This group of kids came to Quest eager for adventure and time in the mountains, but also, equally important, excited to have some good food! There was a strong interest in cooking elaborate meals and tasty cuisines, so we adapted our campsite kitchen to be suited for delicious ramen, Mediterranean gyros, and even pupusas! We loved watching each quester grow their skills and confidence in the kitchen. We hope they go home to their own kitchens inspired to make new dishes and teach their families about some of the food we made together.
Slammers found even more wonder in the Eastern Sierras. We drove down the scenic stretch of highway 395 appreciating the vastness of California, set up camp beside June Lake, and dreamt of catching a big fish followed by a much needed shower. Summertime classics of kayaking, swimming, and wading in hot springs made for special memories the Questers can hold on to throughout the year.
The highlight of the trip for both questers and trip leaders was our Shabbat celebration spent at the natural hot springs. We arrived as the sun was setting and walked down to the rock pools heated from the earth and shaped by the formation of the Sierras in front of us. After our jam-packed week of hiking adventures, including adjusting to a variety of different altitudes, we could finally sit back and enjoy the day of rest. We sang songs as the first three stars appeared in the night sky and soaked up the last bits of our summer night. We cherished this moment as a group and felt inspired and proud of what we had accomplished.
We headed north after time in the High Sierras, stopping to learn about the history of Mono Lake, and reached our next destination in South Lake Tahoe. Questers took in the blues of Emerald Bay as we hiked to peaks and granite lakes in Desolation Wilderness.
To close it all out, our final leg of the trip was spent rafting down the beautiful American River. Our teamwork was ever present among the rapids as we worked in teams to move through technical sections with ease and then shared the joy of floating on our backs like river otters with the soft current. We celebrated the end of our memorable trip with a song session around the fire, feeling warm and grateful for such a beautiful summer in the Sierras.
They say there’s no place like Camp Tawonga, and similarly, there’s truly no place like Quest. We are so proud of these Slammers and can’t wait for another amazing trip next summer!
