Out of Comfort Zone/ Into the Wilderness

Are you the type of person going to the mountain, taking a picture, stopping at the tourist center, wandering around tourist towns for souvenirs, and goes back home? That was me two months ago before signing up for the Highlands Field Site. Besides attending classes and doing research, the IE students have the opportunities to be on several field trips throughout the semester into the wilderness and explore so many beautiful things. From hiking a 10-mile Boogerman Trail to biking the entire 11-mile loop at Cades Cove and discovering a bear family, these were some of the great experiences that I had this semester. If you were like me two months ago, these are the reasons for you to get out of your car and emerge in the beauty of this beautiful nature:

I. Improve your survival skills

Have you ever wondered how you would survive in the wilderness by yourself? Believe me, if I were in the Hunger Games, I know for sure that I would be the first one to die. Period. But after spending some time in the woods with Jason, Dr. Costa, and Dr. Rada, I would say my survival confidence has been improved by 40 percent from 0. We have learned many survival skills throughout the trips, from directing the wind flow to determine the chance of seeing wildlife animals to how to use a compass to navigate through the thick forest without cellular service. And what do we do when we encounter a black bear? Do not run and be brave to show your powers. On every trip, we learned to be well prepared and adjust according to the weather and elevation of the place that we were about to go. Before every trip, Dr. Costa informed us of the geological and geographical knowledge about our destination.

II. Become a better observer

Since going on field trips, we have become naturalists and better observers ourselves when submerging in nature. What is more excellent than to be able to recognize the plants and trees that you once have seen in the book. We learned how to classify the difference between red maple, mountain maple, and stripe maple; between beech and birch; spruce and fur; and introduce the mysterious world of mushrooms. Sometimes, just like looking at the types of trees, we can learn about the historical events that happened in that area, including the evidence of human development hundreds of years ago. As a better observer, we can indicate the presence of climate change and air pollution during leaf foliage by observing the leaf color change. Not only that, we could identify some of the rare plants in the region like ginseng and lady's slipper. How awesome is it!!

The idea of "Drive-in wilderness" has been popular among the tourists coming into the mountain. But looking at nature through the car's windows does not fulfill the knowledge and the beauty of nature. Emerging your senses with beauty and appreciate the value of nature's presence on this planet. Although it is not always easy to hike since many things can happen in the wilderness, from falling on slippery rocks, walking on soaked shoes, and hiking in terrible weather. But these are what made the trips more memorable and meaningful.

V.P