Often overlooked by the usual Utah adventurist is the rugged Bear River Range located in the northeast corner of the state. Hidden within these less-traveled mountains is a system of yurts that offer access to a variety of spectacular snowfields, bowls, chutes and avalanche gulleys.

This expedition took place within the USFS Logan Ranger District adjacent to the Naomi Peak Wilderness Area. The curriculum included navigation, route finding, snow shelter construction, snow and avalanche terrain analysis, SAR with avalanche equipment, group management in avalanche terrain, leadership skills, downhill skiing or snowboarding practice, judgment & decision making, and natural & cultural history of the area.

The pre-trip class meetings offered knowledge and skills that are transferable to future expeditions including risk management protocol, route planning, clothing & equipment, food & menu planning, and instructional methodology.

The exhilaration of bringing youth from developed and developing countries together, to stand on Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft, 5896m) is very meaningful. A theme of the collaboration of these American and African partners is freedom and unity: freedom from poverty, hunger, disease, childhood mortality, and freedom to be educated, healthy and environmentally sustainable. Kili participants come from countries where the term freedom has different realities, responsibilities and opportunities. On Christmas Eve, this group representing mixed spiritual beliefs, joined Adam Kuleit Mwarabu, Maasai junior (tribal designation for young elders), and Trevor Johnston of Educo South Africa to ask permission of Oldoinyo Oibor-the white/shining mountain, to bless their climb. We look forward to meeting them tomorrow (Friday)on the Mweka Route and saying welcome, karibu…. Our work is just beginning.

CD from Kili base, Dec 29 9am East Africa Time (EAT)

Mountain minority people worldwide, who include those in poverty and conflict-ridden zones, are extremely rich in environmental understanding. Their opinions and experiences need to be combined with scientific knowledge before a better understanding of mountain processes can be obtained.  (UNU report on sustainable forest and mountain development to the Agenda 21, Chapter 13)