2025 Wild Things Blog
We had a wonderful week of summer weather and an equally wonderful group of students at our Wild Things Camp! After setting camp at Stetson Hollow, we paddled from Middlesex Dam to Waterbury on Monday. As always, the rapid swimming at the bottom of the Mad River was a favorite.
On Tuesday, we got up early and headed to climb at Bolton Dome. Before lunch, all students completed between three to five climbs (most climbed barefoot), and just as the hot sun hit the rock wall, we were done and ready for a swim at Huntington Gorge.
Marveling at the stunning rock formations on the Winooski River.
Cooling off in the cold and clear Mad River.
On Wednesday, we were up early again and on the way to caving. The cold of the deep underground was a welcome change after the summer heat. On the way home, we picked loads of blueberries at the Sunshine Valley Farm in Rochester.
Thursday morning started with blueberry pancakes cooked over a fire. We headed for Lareau Farm, where we stacked firewood and picked potatoes and raspberries. Then, we moved to Knoll Farm where we spent the afternoon picking blueberries for Meals on Wheels. We ended the day with a potato soup made from Lareau Farm veggies and blueberry cookies baked with the Knoll Farm berries.
Peeling cedar farm posts.
Friday greeted us with a clear, cool morning. At 6:30 AM, we were at Lincoln Gap ready for the ascent of Mount Abe. It was a perfect summit day with the unrestricted visibility, providing clear views of the Adirondacks to the West, Canada to the North, the White Mountains to the east, and down the spine of the Greens to the South. The camp ended with a funny skit choreographed by our multi-talented apprentice Clara Schwartz.
Part of what made this week so special is that the students talked about stories, nature, and adventure instead of social media and the digital world in which they live. This made for a healthy social environment, where everyone was able to be fully present, noticing the wonders of nature, and supporting one another, while instructors did not have to put hardly any energy into redirecting the student conversations. The week was also marked by kindness, respect, and mutual support. I want to thank the families of Mad River Path Adventures for choosing to raise your children to value making real-world connections to one another and our beautiful natural surroundings.
Picking blueberries for Meals on Wheels at Knoll Farm.
At the end of this week, we wished farewell to our summer guide, Anna Mairose, who headed back to Cincinnati for her junior year in college. Thank you, Anna!
Ahead of the MRP team are the two weeks of busy Path work before our final trip of the summer, an expedition to the Ashuapmushuan River in Quebec with a group of families.