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B.O.S.S. 7 Day Survival CourseBY: Adam Medoro | Category: USA | Submitted: 2011-09-30 11:49:38
Its that time of year for me. To embark on another adventure, but a different one, a 7 day survival course in Utah. Every year I get the urge to go somewhere, visit someplace off the beaten trail, which may involve some sort of physical risk. Risk to me, means adventure, whether its diving with sharks in Belize, tracking mountain Gorillas in Uganda or conquering Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, White water rafting, skydiving, you get the point. Years ago I managed to come across, while researching the net, a company named BOSS. The Boulder Outdoor Survival School is just that. They operate 7, 14 and 28 day survival courses along with many other relevant courses in the Utah canyon lands. The school started in 1968 in Provo Utah, Larry Dean Olsen a lifelong student of primitive survival skills and wilderness travel. Larry suggested to the Brigham Young University (BYU) to take the failing troubled students in the wilderness for 30 days, to break them down and rebuild them. The school in its 40+ years has gone through some ownership changes and a significant amount of growth. The program, however, remains true to its original vision: to create a place that teaches primitive skills and helps people grow through their experiences in the natural world. I depart Toronto, transfer in Minneapolis via Salt Lake City. Weeks prior I contacted some of my course mates through the BOSS forum to lower the travel costs to get to Boulder, the town were the BOSS operates out of, 4 hours from Provo. I become better acquainted with some of my course mates over dinner, our last one for a week, at a restaurant in Provo, and of course on last sleep on a mattress. At the crack of dawn we are up and on our way 4 hours south to Boulder. Arriving at BOSS at 11am, our orientation begins with an introduction to the rest of the students, 9 all together, whom I will get to know well over the week, an equipment list check-over and a 1.5 mile run. Our instructors request us to fill up our two litre canteens and hop in the van. For the most part, the ride is quite silent, some of us nervous, some excited to go. After an hour drive, we are dropped off in Escalante, an area surrounded by beautiful deserts and canyons. The 7 day field survival course is divide into 7 phases: Orientation, Impact, Group Expedition, Solo, Student Expedition, Final Challenge and Celebration/Graduation. We are are told, OK, lets go", the first phase of our course begins with Impact, a fast moving, minimal-equipment hike through the desert. No food and water except what you find. No blankets or ponchos. After one very cold sleepless night and more than 30 hours from start, Impact is finally complete, we are tired, beat up and hungry. We spend the night under a cave, which provides a little more warmth. Morning of phase 2, Group Expedition. We receive a few lessons in navigation and fire starting techniques and later on are taught about shelter building. This phase consists of on-the-trail instructions, as we are taught the skills we need to comfortably survive in the wild. At this point the group is becoming more comfortable with each other and friendships develop. You begin to take notice to people weaknesses and strengths. The next phase of the course is Solo, this was personally one of the highlights for me, others not so much. This phase involves being put on your own Solo site, where you get a chance to put your skills to the test and enjoy some solitude. More than three days in, and you begin take notice to how resilient your/our bodies are and how little we really need to get by. With the combination of minimal food and covering anywhere from 15 to 30 miles in one day. The combination of high exertion and moderate rations usually leaves students 10 to 30 pounds leaner at the end. By all means, this is no wait loss program, you must receive your physicians approval for final acceptance for this course. Into phase five, Student Expedition, my course mates and I are divided into smalls bands to travel on our own to a specific destination. Our trek involved a lot a shin scrapping bush whacking and a multitude of river crossings, which were oh so refreshing when you hiking in in this very hot, sunny dry environment. We all arrive at our destination with time to spare and in good spirits for the most part. Our group continues to gel with good chemistry. As we wait in the shade for our instructors, some of us nap, some cool off in the near by water source and other chit chat. We all recall reading the brochure, and about the final phase/challenge, we recall its description; Final Challenge: Just when you think its over, it isn't... We all anticipate our final challenge, we all begin to guess. Our instructors arrive to pick us up from our specific destination and hike about a mile where we will spend the night. I will leave the drama to you, all I can say is, "Just when you think its over". WOW. Phase seven Celebration/Graduation: we all meet at the BOSS base camp after a very tough final challenge, again tired, hungry and beat up. Certificates are given and delicious meals awaits. Many of us plan to meet for a final feast in Provo before we all go are own way. We complete diner, say our good-byes and exchange contact info, few tears were shed. I can honestly say that this course was, by far one of the hardest things I have done, physically and mentally, at the same time it is also a mental and spiritual journey. You will definately come out a different person upon completion, you will have a much greater appreciation for the little things which we take for granted. After conquering the 7 day course, the 14 day course is a thought for next time, and if I'm mad enough then the 28 day to follow, lol. 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