Yesturday (4/22) i went into the Big City. It was the first time i have been since the beginning of March. It was Earth Day as you all know, and NOLS had a tour bus coming around to cities all over the country and yesturday (and today) they were in NYC.
I got on the train from Central Islip (Long Island), where i go to school at the New York Institute of Technology, at 1:48 and made it to the city around 3. The NOLS bus was at Grand Central Station where there were two streets closed off for Earth Day. There were many booths set up about keeping our country clean and all that good stuff. The National Park Service was also there, which i thought was pretty cool. I finally made it to the NOLS bus after walking from Penn Station (a pretty decent walk). Something i found that was pretty cool was that the bus runs on recycled vegetable oil and solar power, which shows we dont really need gas for our cars.
I got a chance to talk to a couple of the Alumni. One of them had actually been in the Adirondack not too long ago climbing Haystack. We talked about winter camping for a bit. I also talked to another person about NOLS and her experience. I got to have all of my questions answered about just about everything they have to offer. It was the first time since i've been in school here that I talked to someone who actually enjoys the same things i do besides my dad. I got to take home their catalog and a bunch of other brochures.
After talking for about an hour i made my way to Paragon Sporting goods and checked out all their gear, and bought the April issue of The Backpacker. After this i went to Barnes and Noble and read for a little about Aaron Ralston and a book titled Extreme Survival. Finally I came back to Penn Station and made my way home. Being in The City is really nice. It was pretty liberating even tho there's always people and there's no woods. It was nice to just be able to walk around the city by myself and get away from school. Its a different kind of wilderness out there, you just have to know how to enjoy it.
Oh and i decided that i'm definitely going to take a NOLS course next spring and cannot wait!
I got on the train from Central Islip (Long Island), where i go to school at the New York Institute of Technology, at 1:48 and made it to the city around 3. The NOLS bus was at Grand Central Station where there were two streets closed off for Earth Day. There were many booths set up about keeping our country clean and all that good stuff. The National Park Service was also there, which i thought was pretty cool. I finally made it to the NOLS bus after walking from Penn Station (a pretty decent walk). Something i found that was pretty cool was that the bus runs on recycled vegetable oil and solar power, which shows we dont really need gas for our cars.
I got a chance to talk to a couple of the Alumni. One of them had actually been in the Adirondack not too long ago climbing Haystack. We talked about winter camping for a bit. I also talked to another person about NOLS and her experience. I got to have all of my questions answered about just about everything they have to offer. It was the first time since i've been in school here that I talked to someone who actually enjoys the same things i do besides my dad. I got to take home their catalog and a bunch of other brochures.
After talking for about an hour i made my way to Paragon Sporting goods and checked out all their gear, and bought the April issue of The Backpacker. After this i went to Barnes and Noble and read for a little about Aaron Ralston and a book titled Extreme Survival. Finally I came back to Penn Station and made my way home. Being in The City is really nice. It was pretty liberating even tho there's always people and there's no woods. It was nice to just be able to walk around the city by myself and get away from school. Its a different kind of wilderness out there, you just have to know how to enjoy it.
Oh and i decided that i'm definitely going to take a NOLS course next spring and cannot wait!