For incoming students who have never explored the outdoors in the beautiful state of Colorado, climbing a 14,000 foot mountain their first week in may seem just a little bit intimidating. CMU’s Outdoor Program is here to get rid of that pressure and introduce students, alumni and staff to the world of common adventuring.
According to the OP, a common adventure trip is one that highlights “education, communication and teamwork.”
“Everyone pays the same rate,” said Justin Malloy, a CMU finance student and recent OP employee. “We’re not guides. We’re just a group of friends with a common thing we’re trying to accomplish – getting down the river or canyoneering or climbing rocks. We’re not taking you out and guiding you, but we’re teaching you.”
The OP does everything from kayaking to river rafting to backpacking, and they can provide students with the tools, resources and knowledge to do each of those things.
Malloy has done as many as 20 trips through the program, his favorite being a rafting trip through Desolation and Gray Canyons during last year’s fall break.
“If it hadn’t been for the OP, I would not have been on any of the trips I’ve taken in the last 12 months,” he said. “The trip was five days, with just the right group of people. Everyone was helpful and friendly. We were all on the same page about a lot of different things.”
One of the peak experiences for Malloy during the trip was putting together a river sauna which involves heating up iron bars, using oars and tarps from the boats and heating them until they’re red hot.
“You build a long hut with the oars, get in there at nighttime and bring some water and you can start throwing the water on the bars,” Malloy said. “You can sweat it all out and then jump in the freezing cold river. It’s such a process but totally worth it.”
Last year, Malloy also had the opportunity to go canyoneering through Blue John Canyon – the same canyon from the book and film “127 Hours.”
“It took us a lot longer than we thought,” Malloy recalled. “We didn’t get out of there until midnight, and it started snowing. We were cold and out there for so long. It was a pretty crazy experience. I’ve learned how to teach and be patient with people. It’s not always easy stuff to learn, and it’s a lot of information when we go out. Of course, there are always risks with everything we do, but we’re responsible for making sure we’re not putting our peers in danger.”
Along with trips and equipment rental, the OP provides kayak sessions at the pool every Monday night, Wednesday Night Wanderings and Thursday Afternoon Outings.
Wednesday Night Wanderings are free and take place in the University Center Ballroom, where a slideshow and workshop series are offered for anyone from the Grand Junction community as well as CMU students.
Thursday Afternoon Outings are a great way to get outdoors and get pumped for the weekend. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., students can participate in free activities including cross country skiing, Frisbee golf, bouldering and more.
The Outdoor Program is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located north of the University Center next to Residence Life.
Recent Comments