WildLink October 2025: Mariposa County High School

2025’s last WildLink expedition saw the first year Mariposa CountyHigh School participate in the program. The most local school, only one hour away from Yosemite valley yet ten out of eleven of the participants had never backpacked in Yosemite National Park and were excited to explore their back yard. Chaperoned by their brave Kerry and Peter the group arrived at the National Environmental Science Center (NESC) on a Sunday afternoon. There they met one of their educator guides, Katie, and would soon meet their second one, Cassie, the following day. The group settled into cabins and reconvened for dinner and an evening together around a fire. There important pieces of information were shared and the participants had an opportunity to reflect and welcome the week ahead. 

Monday morning arrived and after breakfast the group gathered the personal belongings they wanted to take on the backpacking expedition and went to Yosemite valley. In the valley the group met their second educator guide and gathered all the necessary equipment and clothing layers for the backpacking trip ahead. Once the group was ready with all the gear, clothing, and food they would need for the next four days they explored a bit of Yosemite valley before heading back to the NESC for dinner and another evening around a fire. The following morning the group woke know it was the day they would hike into wilderness for the next four days. No phone, no distractions, just pure uninhibited human connection and connection to nature. A short drive from the NESC, which sits with in Yosemite National Park right across the street from a trail into designated wilderness, the group arrived at their trail head: McGurk Meadow. The group unloaded the vehicles and gathered their heavy packs, filled with everything they would need to survive for the next four days. After some last minute vital gear distributions like, whistles and mosquito head nets, the group began their hike into the woods. A beautiful trail in early October led them through a meadow, one of the last homes to the largest owls in North America, the great grey owl. After hiking for some time the group finally arrived at their destination. An amazing forested area by Bridalveil Creek. The group unloaded their large packs and took a break for lunch before getting to work setting up camp. 

Once camp was set up the group took their time settling into the space that would be their home for the next four days. The creek was close by so water was gathered from it for dinner and staying hydrated. The first evening came to a close sitting around a fire with full bellies and a sky illuminated by stars. 

The second day in the backcountry the group was greeted by clear sunny skies, and after some breakfast and some more gathering of water from the creek the group got ready to go explore. Everyone geared up with snacks, warm layers, water, and they were on their way deeper into the forest curious and excited for what they would find. More beautiful forest with a clearing here and there led to an old growth fir forest where trees were up to five feet across and hundreds of years old. The trial finally culminated abruptly, suddenly coming to an end as the ground dropped off for thousands of feet below. The group had made it to the southern edge of Yosemite Valley at Dewey point. From there you could see the valley floor about 3,000 feet below and the vast Yosemite high country outlined the horizon to the north north east and the valley opened up to the west where the sun would set.