A life-altering week in Patagonia
Joyce Liao, WG'08
Issue date: 3/19/07 Section: News
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Although the 2007 trip marked the third anniversary of such ventures at Wharton, this year there were notable logistical changes from the last two ventures, and we made some significant achievements. First, rather than traveling as a team of 30, the 2007 venture was divided into two teams of 15, Team Pumalin and Team Hammertime, led by one Venture Fellow each. Second, we were fortunate to be hosted by Kris Tompkins for a two-hour discussion about conservation and personal/corporate responsibility at her lovely home, rather than at the park headquarters. Third, we hiked a complete new trail, fresh with sharp branches and leech-infested streams, to Volcan Michinmahuida. Most importantly, we were the first venture to successfully reach the glacier peak of Volcan Michinmahuida (~14 students reached the peak within the 9-hour allotted time).
Since no words could adequately describe this wonderful journey and I would like to preserve the originality of the experience for next year's venture, I will touch on only a couple of themes from this trip.
The Leadership
Although we were separated into two teams, the leadership format did not change drastically. As the team was further separated into five tent-teams of three people, each tent-team served as leaders for one day. Because each day's activities differ, different day leaders faced different challenges. However, one challenge that every team faced was the management of time and information. As part of the leadership exercise, people other than day leaders were not privy to complete information about the day's activities; it was up to the day leaders to maintain the movement and flow of the group as well as the information. As someone who prefers knowing and planning things far in advance, I remember being frustrated at being kept in the dark about our schedule. When it was my turn, however, to serve as the day leader, I realized that day leaders face just as much uncertainty as the rest of us in terms of how well the team would follow their instructions. I also learned that nearly all of the uncertainty was due to weather and other factors, not the intentional withholding that I had previously imagined. Another lesson that I had learned is that, even though I was able to watch and learn from day leaders of previous days and hence should have had an "easier" time, being a day leader on the last day was not without its own unique challenges. By our last day, we had not bathed for five days, we had crammed in tiny tents with two other people for four nights, most of our clothes were wet and/or smelled like sweat and charcoal, and many of us suffered from blisters and other injuries sustained from prior days. It was not surprising that my fellow day leaders and I faced some delay and opposition from people as we tried to round them up for the next destination. I wonder if this "light at the end of the tunnel" actually helped or hurt us as a team.
As I compared my team, Team Pumalin, to Team Hammertime (aka Team Dave Golden's Pants), it was interesting to see how each team, despite overlaps in many dimensions such as personalities, cohorts, majors, and careers, quickly developed unique systems for trekking, setting up tents, and cooking. Although this difference created some clashes between the two teams later during the venture as we performed some activities together, our underlying similarities (and passion for the hot spring) brought us back together for a harmonious and insightful final debrief.
Kris Tompkins
Dressed in a simple white shirt, black pants, and black fleece vest, Kris Tompkins came off as unassuming and relaxed. One could hardly place her as the former CEO of Patagonia. However, as she began talking about conservation and our individual responsibility to preserving the environment, you could see her entrepreneurial spirit shine through.
During our two-hour conversation in front of a warm fire inside her cozy home, Kris talked mostly about the history of the park, specifically some of the opposition she and Doug had faced from the Chilean government and local residents. She shared with us her concerns about the proposed national highway that would be built through the heart of Pumalin as well as the uncertainty around their working relationship with the new Chile president. She reminded us to constantly consider not just our rights to enjoy the natural habitat but also our individual responsibility to preserve and protect it. Furthermore, using her own example, she encouraged us to seek out jobs and employers that we are passionate about. As she answered some of our toughest questions, she never failed to impart some advice on life, leadership, and corporate responsibility to us.
Vertical S.A.
It would not be an overstatement to say that each and every person on the venture could not have made it home safely and (largely) intact had it not been for the Vertical team. We were lucky to have ten Vertical members accompanying us to every trek and every camp. While we behaved quite cordial to one another on the first day, we quickly built up great rapport after the first day of hiking, especially after they tirelessly helped each of us with our Tyrolean Traverse (read: zip-line) across the river at Caleta Gonzalo.
I was thoroughly impressed by how well they know the park and its many creatures; without them, we would have easily missed out on the tree frogs, giant moths, chucaos, and the alerce as our minds were often preoccupied with the simple motion of hiking ahead as opposed to appreciating the beauty surrounding us. I was equally amazed with the Vertical team's strength and stamina. Not only did they lead each trek, finding the best footing for ascent and descent as well as tending to our blisters and wounds on the treks, they often did so without a trekking pole and/or carrying much larger backpacks than ours. Judging by their effortless climb up the infamous mud wall on the long hike, I have wondered if they really did mean it when they said the glacier was only 20 minutes away. Maybe it would have been for them if they hadn't been waiting to make sure we all made it safely.
Most importantly, many of us were most moved and inspired by their seamless teamwork and complete trust in one another. Not only was this evident from the discussion of their Mt. Lhotse expedition, but also from the way they sang, danced, and played together during the venture. I think each of us felt quite privileged to have worked with, even for such a short time, such a dynamic team. In hindsight, the biggest lesson in teamwork and leadership was to observe them, and the most difficult challenge was saying good-bye to them.
The Spoof
If the leadership venture was like a Jackie Chan movie, then this is where we roll all the NGs; this venture could not have been complete without these entertaining moments.
We are still debating which was the best moment: when Azim "Hot Ass" Barodawala almost lit his Goretex pants on fire because he stood so close to the fire pit OR when Liz "Where is Pollo?" Salter complained about her breasts being wet as Jesse "LEECHES! LEECHES!" Levey pondered over the importance of a wicking sports bra…for himself. Without a doubt, Doug "Canadian Complex" Cole certainly helped warm us up for leadership and teamwork as we dug through trashcans and searched under chairs for his passport at the Miami airport. Last but certainly not the least, Aydin "Ernesto" Kadaster wins the Best Gear Award for his maxi-pad and boots. As for any "scandalous" or "juicy" moments from the trip? Let's just say that what happens in Patagonia stays in Patagonia.
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