“Hot Pizza/Cold Beer” said the black and white sign. “Last Chance” is what that metal sign said in all 24 of our young minds, as we questioned the next 11 days before us. The potentially gluttonous invitation for hot pizza and cold beer being the last vestige of the civilized world, or so we thought of it in August of 1987, as the van from then Chapman College turned up a simple Sierra Nevada mountain road. The now mental messaging for the basic need of drink and food, burned to our memories for later uses, rooted in self-pity and the human tendency to complain about self-growth while in the moment.

Having just turned 19 years old and unsure of my new adventure into the next phase of academics, leaving home to live elsewhere and now heading out on an adventure with two dozen other admitted freshmen to Chapman College, I really was a lost pup.

Peak Experience was the name of the official program we all signed up for through Chapman College and put down $500 dollars to enjoy God’s country in the High Sierras. In 1987, $500 was a lot of money for a hike in the wilderness and we thought we were about to enjoy some fun camping and dining “’round the old campsite” as we all bonded and shared anecdotes about ourselves and life.

Not to be! The first night found us all buddy-up’ d, sharing our tents, dining on morsels only to wake up to several hours of hiking. A few of us asked our leaders where the food was, as we had soda crackers and tuna fish for dinner. They said we are eating smaller portions. We then astutely asked what the $500 covered if not accommodations for our bellies. The leadership replied it all went to insurance costs. Needless to say, I was greatly disappointed in the harsh lesson of the litigious world we live in. My shelter-half buddy and I both stole a Kudos bar from the group pack that evening and hid the wrappers. We ate in silence and with a growing understanding of our plight for the next 10 days.

The next day brought one of the group members to heat exhaustion, as she fell to the prairie floor about mid-way into the day’s hike. Several of us were able to stay with her and rest, as the other half went on to set up camp a few miles away. It was interesting to see the first few days bring out the best and worst in all of us as our defenses were stripped away by lack of food, privacy and heat exhaustion. Also, to see how the group handled activities such as rock climbing and learning to belay. Some of us took to it and others were afraid of the wilderness, rock climbing and opening up to others. Many in the group made fun of those who were afraid and others went to their side. It wasn’t until the fourth day that we all started to bond and enjoy the amazing beauty around us.

We braved an odd August in 1987. There were over 500 forest fires reported in our area and we could sometimes see the smoke. Then freak rain and lightning storms would hit for a couple of days. At one point we all helped each other on some rocks, nearing the tree line, to remove pots, pans and other metal objects to avoid being struck by the lightening. We all took shelter with ponchos and waited the worst of it out by singing songs like “Desperado” by the Eagles.

Around day eight the leadership announced a 32 hour solo. We again dined on soda crackers and tuna, hoisted up the remaining food into a tree, so bears would leave it alone and set out to be alone in tube tents for 32 hours. We were given water and journals to chronicle out experience.

This was one of the most impactful moments of my life. I went from being in a John Muir type of mind (or so I thought) to talking to myself, looking for pine nuts (wrong time of year) to being scared nearly to death. The scared part was due to an unknown large animal sniffing around my tube tent in complete darkness the solo night. After what was most likely only several minutes, and what felt like hours, I had gone so rigid and did not dare make a sound until the animal left. I was at this point grateful for being so hungry and not having any food on this solo. Obviously I did not smell too good and I had no food to attract the animal (I stopped my Kudos-stealing career the first night). The next day, I wrote in my journal many thoughts. These were mostly rooted in how I was looking forward to school at Chapman, my feelings for one of the women in the group, my hunger, the beauty of the wilderness and how grateful I was for the life I have and privileges we all were granted. Privileges of family, shelter, food, education and love.

Just before becoming delusional, we were all called back to main camp. Everyone was happy to see each other and we then had a feast compared to previous meals. Even the powdered eggs were incredible. This is when I said one word after eating in silence. “Classic.” The leaders liked this so much they put “Peak Experience – Classic” on our t-shirts when we returned to Chapman.

On day 10 we came across a glacier lake above the tree line. It was hot out and we all stunk pretty good I must say. I decided to dive into the water. I do not recall how I ended up on a rock about 25 feet from shore but I was up on it in seconds as the water took my breath away. I will say it was worth it as I smelled a little better and I really felt alive. Going back to shore was tough and I recall whining a bit.

We then climbed up to a place called “Saw Tooth Pass” at around 12,000 feet. There were glass jars and cans with notes in them left by previous hikers. We added to them and read some of the notes. All touched on the beauty of the world and wilderness and how they were moved to be in touch with themselves more. We spent the last night above the tree line and woke up covered in frost. We then were told to break camp immediately as the fires were really bad in the area now.

As the 24 of us descended to the area where the vans awaited to roll us back home, we all sang songs out loud, to ourselves, watched in wonder at the smoke from various angles coming closer and were truly alive.

I found it interesting how the same sign reporting the last chance for hot pizza and cold beer really did not look that great to me. What did, was the trail behind us and the many moments of life we experienced. The only part I never missed was when three of us ate all the dried fruit in desperation one afternoon and paid the price. High altitude and large portions of dried fruit are bad brothers indeed.

This was an incredible 11 days for us all and a meaningful way to start our Chapman experience. Writing this now in a new August some 28 years later, I think back to this time a lot and even have a photo of a few of us at the top of Saw-tooth Pass in my office. It is a reminder to look out for each other, other life and our planet. A reminder that some of the best inventions are those we create outdoors and in our own mind’s heart.

headshot-hogan-bradyBrady Hogan ’92 (MBA ’14)


 

 

 

Brady Hogan graduated from Chapman University in the first graduating class of the University status in 1992. After graduation, Brady joined the US Army and ultimately served in the 10th Mountain Division during three campaigns. He then started a career in property management. This led to Real Estate and specializing in large lease-up residential income properties. After receiving a scholarship to earn an MBA from Brandman University, Brady came back to his alma mater to work full time and graduated a second time at Chapman University in May of 2014. He is now the director of alumni engagement.