“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir.

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“Just a few hundred more feet and you’ll be able to rest” I remind myself with the knowledge that Camp Muir is just over the crest of the snowfield I am tirelessly trekking up.  Other hikers on their way down greet me with a joyous “You’re almost there!”, which provides much needed mental relief.  I know I can make it to the high-camp, but each step takes an immense amount of energy.  It’s not the first time I’ve made a summit attempt, so I should remember how difficult walking is when you are climbing up to over 10,000 feet at a steep angle, not to mention in slushy snow. With the knowledge that reaching the high-camp puts me closer to my eventual goal of summiting the most technical, and tallest glacial peak in the lower 48, I push myself up the snowy trail packed by boot prints into Camp Muir.  In all of her glory, Mount Rainier has shown me that even hiking to the high-camp and staging area for climbers who are making a summit attempt, Camp Muir, is no easy feat.

“Ambitious climbers, seeking adventures and opportunities to test their strength and skill, occasionally attempt to penetrate the wilderness on the west side of the Sound, and push on to the summit of Mount Olympus. But the grandest excursion of all to be made hereabouts is to Mount Rainier, to climb to the top of its icy crown.” – John Muir on his 1888 summit ascent of Mount Rainier

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I am inspired to climb mountains and explore the wilderness not for the sport of accomplishment, or “peak bagging” as outdoor enthusiasts might refer to it, but instead for the journey.  Discovery along the trail is often where I gain the most, whether it be a marmot casually lounging on his stone throne, or tiny brilliantly orange wild mushrooms growing on a fallen hollow tree.  There is so much beauty and intrigue to be found in just the details of the natural world.  It’s surprising how just simply loosing cell phone service after entering a national park allows you to shed distractions and stress—forcing you to live in the moment.  After even the shortest time away from civilization I feel rejuvenated and pure because I have a heightened awareness and appreciation for everything around me.  I know I am at the mercy of nature, understanding I must be prepared for anything, as I am no longer in my comfortable Southern California bungalow in the suburbs.  It only takes a few days of backpacking to remind me I don’t need the modern advancements to survive, nor technology to be entertained.  Instead I am able to be engulfed into the natural world, not looking at it from afar, but embracing it, becoming a part of it.

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Although I had always been the kid to play in the mud looking for “roly polies”, it wasn’t until I graduated from Chapman University that I made my outdoor adventures a priority.  In the last few years every single vacation I have taken has been a mission to explore nature and gain the riches it has to offer.  I soon realized that I not only enjoyed spending time outside, but that I was passionate about it.  I began dedicating every weekend to get outside somewhere, whether it was hiking, camping, rock climbing (or usually a combination of the three).  I got excited about what new piece of outdoor gear I could buy, and was less concerned about how fashionable my clothing was and instead more concerned about its outdoor function.  I had become addicted to possibly the healthiest substance in the universe—nature.

After accepting the reality that I was hooked on the fresh air provided by my outdoor adventures I knew I needed to find an outlet to share this amazing discovery with others.  I quickly found that I was excited to teach others about the world we live in, and the importance of preserving it for future generations to enjoy just as I do.  Thus, I knew I should teach those who are to inherit the world—our youth.  I am able to daily share my passion and enthusiasm with my students who I hope to inspire to have their own experiences.  One of the best moments as a science teacher is returning from a vacation break and being bombarded by students who want tell me about their outdoor adventures.

As a high school science teacher, John Muir has been a great educator to me.  Reading his research and experience in the natural world not only inspires me to spend as much time outside as possible, but also to encourage my students to learn by experiencing the wilderness on their own.  I am able to teach my students the concepts of how the universe functions but they can only truly appreciate this information when experiencing it in the wild.

“I finally made it!” I exclaim as I pull in to Camp Muir, more excited to take my 35 pound pack off than to have actually reached my goal.  I set down my pack and immediately pull out my puffy jacket and begin to layer up because dusk is quickly approaching.  As the sun begins to set I am able to truly appreciate the beauty of this experience.  The most vibrant shades of orange, pink and blue streak the sky with sharp contrast to the black volcanic rock and white glacial snow.  In this moment I realize why I push past the fatigue and sore muscles— to feel like I am on top of the world, just a tiny person looking out at the vast wild beauty of Earth.

headshot-beener-danica-2Danica Beener ’13


 

 

 

Danica Beener is a 2013 graduate of Chapman University where she received a B.A. in communication studies, a leadership and organizational studies minor, and completed a multidisciplinary cluster in science. While at Chapman, she was a Chancellor’s Scholar, served as a Chapman Ambassador, and worked on Associated Students/ University Program Board for all four years.  In May of 2015 she completed her single-subject teaching credential in both biology and geosciences at University of Redlands where she is also currently finishing her master’s degree in learning and teaching.  Presently she is employed at La Vista High School in Fullerton teaching biology and earth science to at-risk youth.  When she is not fulfilling her passion of helping her students, she enjoys rock climbing, horseback riding, camping in national parks, and of course, when back in service range, watching Netflix.