As I unboarded the school bus, my shoes unevenly hitting the gravely road, I stretched my legs and looked around curiously. “This bus ride had better be worth it,” was my only thought during the two-and-a-half hour journey from my school, where we left at 6:00 am, in the cold, crisp morning air.
Despite my irritable mood, my first experience on the rich soil of Pinnacles National Park was the panorama-like view of the sunrise. The clouds mixed with the sunlight created a creamy-orange hue peaking just over the rocky mountains in the distance. Immediately, I was awake and my spirits lifted.
Breathing in the fresh, spring air, I felt a true sense of joy as my friends and I assembled in our day groups, played icebreakers with our outdoor ed guides, and went on long, philosophical hikes through the trees. After lunchtime, with the help of our supervisors, we had the rare opportunity to go rock climbing in nature, fastening our harnesses and scaling the steep, jagged boulders to see the birds soaring through the now clear sky above the treeline. When evening drew upon us, we joked around and played frisbee, laughing until we had tears in our eyes.
By the end of the day, my exhaustion was outweighed by my satisfaction of setting up our tents; it was a long process of bending poles and hammering stakes, which allowed me to truly experience the fruits of our collaborative labor.
My time at Pinnacles was amazing; it created ever-lasting memories with nature and my peers that remain a fond recollection even years later.
Sincerely,
Pinnacles National Park
The jagged rocks at this park formed from the remains of an ancient volcano. This volcano used to be located about 200 miles south of its current location, but tectonic forces along the San Andreas Fault moved these rocks at a pace of a little more than half an inch per year over a period of 23 million years to what is now the national park. Today, these towering spires attract hikers and climbers, as well as falcons, golden eagles and California condors. The park also features grasslands, chaparral, forests and rare talus caves.
State(s): California
Established: 1908
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Greetings from Pinnacles National Park
Camping at the Pinnacles National Park was an expedition that lingered in my mind long after the tents were packed away. What began as a simple outing with classmates quickly unfolded into a breathtaking journey, leaving profound impressions on my soul. Day one was an overture of awe and excitement.…
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Greetings from Pinnacles National Park
Here at Pinnacles National Park, where these rocks have been shaped by nature's work, I walked on the Moses Spring Trail down to the Bear Gulch Reservoir. Walking on the trail, I was treated to many different rock formations. These rock formations varied in many ways and shapes. Up close,…
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Greetings from Pinnacles National Park
My family and I visited Pinnacles in late May and decided to hike the Moses Spring Trail up to Bear Gulch Reservoir. As I weaved between the boulders, I felt akin to a mountaineer exploring the trail for the first time. Tall rock spires colored umber and pale coral towered…
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