So, we are currently in Lyttleton, which is right outside of Christchurch. We have a nice kitchen and comfortable beds, which is awesome after two insane weeks of intense outdoor activity!
To kick off our adventures, we went to the OPC, as was mentioned in the previous blog. The objective of OPC is to give students a chance to explore their leadership abilities and to push themselves outside of their comfort zones. The center also maintains a policy called “Leave No Trace” ethics, which basically entails a conscious effort to preserve the beautiful landscapes of New Zealand.
Our leader, Matt, wasted no time testing our group’s ability to work together. We were presented with various scenarios, such as being stranded on the titanic (i.e. a wooden platform) and using a rope to swing safely to a “life raft,” or getting all of us through a tire suspended ten feet in the air with no props besides our bodies. Basically, these activities forced us to cooperate with one another and explore each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
After that we climbed a mountain in the Tangirero National Park area, neighboring the famous Mt. Doom (from Lord of the Rings, if you don’t know already.) We appointed leaders throughout the day for each leg of the hike… we, as leaders, were in charge of leading the group up and down the mountain with a map and compass (and a little guidance from Matt). To get up the mountain, rather than hiking, we actually had to “scramble”, or climb, up a rocky gully. When we got to the top there was an incredibly rewarding view and SNOW! The trip down was a lot of fun… we basically slid down the entire first half and the second half involved forcing our way through dense foliage and jumping down muddy chutes. Needless to say, we all emerged covered in dirt and plants.
The next day we had an interesting experience kayaking… the water was freezing and some of us couldn’t figure out how to control our kayaks. Eventually we got the hang of it and Matt decided that we were ready to try surfing our kayaks down rapids using our paddle as a rudder… hilarity ensued. The second half of day two, many of us faced our fears as we entered a dark and mildly claustrophobia-inducing cave. We had to face many obstacles, such as the Panini Press, the Toaster, the Birth Canal, and Pooh Bear’s Crack, with obvious implications. When we thought it was time to emerge, our leaders decided it was prime time to leave us in the cave with some basic knowledge and have us work our way out ourselves, with a half an hour time limit. We followed the underwater river against the current, knowing that it flowed into the cave and after a few trials and errors, emerged into the daylight after only twenty minutes.
Many of us have a fear of heights, so the third day was the most psychologically difficult. At the high ropes courses we walked across swinging bridges, the tight ropes, and a particularly frightening ordeal called the “Monkey Tails,” all fifty feet above the ground. The finale was the Big Swing. To get there you have to climb a rock wall sixty feet high, and then hook ourselves to some wires, and… jump! The reactions were priceless. The day ended with a little fun on the zip line. We had some good laughs when we left Tracy hanging over the gorge unaware of her fate as a plastic bag of water sped down the line towards her. She sadly had no escape, and was pulled back to the platform soaking wet.
Day four was the overnight. We all brought group supplies in our backpacks. This was the most taxing day by far. Starting at 9 am we walked in the rain through rapids, slippery rocks, and dense New Zealand bush. At about three we finally reached dry land… but no sign of a trail. At this point, the leader had to use a map and a compass to guide us through the forest to find the path that would lead us to our campsite. Without much incident, we arrived tired and hungry for a delicious macaroni dinner… alas, none of us had the foresight to bring utensils nor dishes. We ended up drinking macaroni out of water bottles or simply eating it with our hands. The next morning we woke up bright and early to head back to OPC. Before we could shower and eat though, we had one last challenge to conquer: the Seesaw. Basically you need to get all of the group members across a 10′ x 5′ giant seesaw without letting the platform touch the ground, not even once. Earlier in the week we tried the same challenge, which resulted in much confusion and frustration for everyone, and with no luck. But after a week of working with each other, we devised a method that encompassed every person’s best abilities and we triumphed!
When we flew to Queenstown, we had a few hours of rest and relaxation before preparing for our next excursion. We didn’t get our fill of outdoor exploration at OPC so we packed our bags again and set off on the Greenstone/Upper Caples trails for four days of tramping. Basically we walked eight miles a day on average, utilizing similar leadership tactics from the previous week. The scenery was absolutely indescribable… Whether on top of a snowy mountain or walking through the sunlit valleys, we experienced something truly unforgettable. We really came together as a group, which has now allowed for Drew and Karen to take a step back and allow us to make the remainder of this trip our own.
This week we’re looking forward to working with the conservation department and also getting to know a little bit more about the Maori culture. You’ll be hearing from us soon! 🙂
PS- Alana had an awesome birthday, she wanted you to know.
