In the summer of 2024 I went on the Lost Lake backpacking trip. Something that stood out to me about the experience was even though I had never been backpacking or done anything like it before, everyone on the expedition wanted to teach me all about backpacking in the wilderness and how fun it could be. Also it was so awesome to meet teens from around the state and get to share about why we wanted to be there and find out everything that we all had in common.
While on the trip I got to not only learn about the other teens that I was on the trip with but also about myself. I learned that my body in fact can carry a big pack up a mountain and that there are certain ways to do things out on the trail to stay safe like making sure that all our food was in a bear box at the end of the night. While not only learning about myself on the trip I also learned about the lands we hiked on were so important to the diversity of our state. On our trip we hiked 10 miles into a lake that I never even knew existed because of how remote it was. To this day the lake is still one of the most breathtaking places I have ever been to and I did it with 15 strangers that by the end were friends. It also really puts into perspective how much public land is out here in our beautiful state for us to explore and it can bring people together.
This expedition inspired me to keep exploring, giving back and caring for public lands because of all the happiness and memories it created for me. I know that although we live in cities it is important to make the public lands cared for for all so the same joy I experienced others can have it too. Every time I think of the wonderful expedition that I got to go on with Alaska Geographic on Alaska’s public land makes me appreciate the state we live in more and more. It makes me feel that since I live here it is one of my responsibilities to care for our public lands so they are here for generations to come.
NAME
Kinsey Greninger
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Participant
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