Caldwell Fellows Mountaineering Expeditions
Adventure expeditions have become an integral part of the Caldwell Fellows opportunities for personal and leadership development. Participation in Outward Bound courses, National Outdoor Leadership School and in the campus planned mountaineering expeditions have long been encouraged and valued as a means of meeting the Caldwell Fellows mission.
History & Activities
Since 1985, when Caldwell Fellows Director Emeritus Gerald Hawkins contracted with NC Outward Bound School, adventure-based trips have taken off from campus. That year, Student Health Center Director Jerry Barker joined the Fellows on a spring break course in the Florida Everglades, and a partnership was born. Hawkins promoted the philosophy of "outward bound," and Jerry loved wilderness camping and the power of the outdoor "classroom." Together they nurtured NC Outward Bound School spring break trips into Big Cypress and the Thousand Islands areas of the Gulf coast Everglades from 1985 until 1991.
In 1986, Jerry Barker organized the first western expedition - a 10 day trip to Idaho's City of Rocks and the Teton range in Wyoming, including a summit climb of the Middle Teton. This was followed with expeditions each spring (usually during the month of May after exams and graduation). Co-leaders with Jerry have included Aram Attarian, Bengt Carlson, David Fountain, Robert Horner, Lee Jackson, Weston Monroe, Chad Rehder, Shawn Rosenquist, Mark Wagoner, Todd Wagoner.
Goals
- To have time and opportunities for self-discovery and personal development, stretching personal boundaries and safely handling the uncertain and uncomfortable
- To experientially nurture group dynamics, teamwork and leadership
- To learn camping and mountaineering skills
- To have fun and see other parts of our country
- To "ensure the survival of an enterprising curiosity, an undefeatable spirit, tenacity in pursuit, readiness for sensible self-denial, and above all, compassion." (Kurt Hahn)
Trip Locales
| Year | Location | Leaders |
| 1989 | Grays Peak, Colo. | Barker, D. Fountain |
| 1990 | Conundrum Peak, Colo. | Barker, D. Fountain |
| 1991 & 1992 | Mt. Belford, Colo. | Barker, D. Fountain |
| 1993 | Mt. Columbia, Colo. | Barker, M. Wagoner |
| 1994 | South Sister, Ore., & Mount St. Helens, Wash. | Barker, C. Rehder |
| 1995 | North Cascades & Olympic Peninsular, Wash. | Barker, C. Rehder |
| 1996 | Cascades Range, Ore., & Mount St. Helens, Wash. | Barker, C. Rehder |
| 1997 & 1998 | Sierra Nevadas, Calif. | Barker, M. Wagoner |
| 1999 | Escalante Canyon (Coyote Gulch), Utah | Barker, M. Wagoner |
| 2000 | Black Canyon of the Gunnison & Mt. Harvard, Colo. | Barker, M. Wagoner |
| 2001 | South Sister, Ore., & Mount St. Helens, Wash. | Barker, M. Wagoner, A. Attarian |
| 2002 | Sierra Nevadas, Calif. | Barker, C. Rehder, A. Attarian, A. Banzet |
| 2003 | Mt. Yale, Colo. (Delaney Gulch route) | Barker & M. Wagoner |
| 2004 | Mt. Yale, Colo., & Sinks Canyon/Tetons, Wyo. | Barker, C. Rehder, T. Wagoner, A. Attarian |
| 2005 | Zion National Park, Utah & Ariz. | Barker, S. Rosenquist, T. Wagoner, B. Carlson |
| 2006 | Black Canyon of Gunnison & Mt. Yale, Colo. | Barker, B. Carlson |
| 2007 | South Sister, Ore., & Mount St. Helens, Wash. | Barker, R. Horner |
| 2008 | Zion, Buckskin Gulch & Bryce Canyon, Utah | Barker, T. Wagoner, L. Jackson, B. Carlson, W. Monroe |
| 2009 | Sierra Nevadas, Calif (Cloudripper Peak) | C. Rehder, B. Carlson, R. Horner |