The members of Class XLV gathered earlier this month at the Rancho San Antonio Preserve in Cupertino for a practice hike of 4.5 miles with moderate elevation led by their classmate Laura Seaman. The day is, in many ways, a preparation for the upcoming Wilderness Experience in July.
Following a group check-in, we began the hike to Deer Hollow Farm, where a trio of baby goats were on display. At least one Fellow had spent (their) childhood on a farm, and a few stories were told before we were on our way to more difficult aspects of the hike. Climbing over the next 2 miles of the hike is an effective method of helping the Fellows become “present” to the reality of the upcoming Wilderness Experience hike in July. Many of the Fellows spoke of this being an impetus to creating a weekly hiking regimen in preparation for July, along with serious discussions of walking poles and shoes.
About three-quarters into the loop we were back at the farm’s picnic tables for lunch and a discussion about expectations at the Wilderness Week. One of the Fellows who had flown to NYC the day before, amazingly flew back to SFO that morning so that she could join us for lunch. The class clearly values the ALF Fellows Program experience and their dedication to participate is laudable.
During the discussion, there were many questions about the material conditions at Gold Lake, including showers and bathrooms, the physicality of the hikes, creating basecamps, mosquitos and ticks, etc.
The group spent some time discussing how often in their lives they disconnected for 6 days, took time in silence, learned to listen for birdsong or looked for what was less explored in themselves and in the world around them. They discussed feeling indispensable at work and home and also the fear of disconnecting. The ALF Silicon Valley Wilderness Experience is the physical wilderness of Gold Lake and the Sierra Buttes, but there is also a psychological, perhaps spiritual, wilderness that each Fellow experiences when given the gift of time.
The June session is the beginning of facing the physical and psychological challenges and discoveries to come.
