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On this 30-day backpacking course, seven students and two instructors set out for an adventure in the Kahurangi mountains of New Zealand, according to a press release. The course was broken into four different food ration periods that were delivered by truck and helicopter.
During the first ration period the 19-year-old DeAngelo and his student group learned the basics of back-country travel and camping, according to a press release. Theses skills were immediately put to work as the group began to traverse steep and exposed alpine ridges and descend into Cobb Valley.
The highlight of the second ration period was a service project that allowed students to perform maintenance on track poles throughout the Tablelands region, according to a press release. After the service project, students ascended back into the alpine country and reached the summit of Mount Arthur, according to a press release.
From Mount Arthur, DeAngelo and his course mates dropped into the river valley where they were resupplied by helicopter and began travelling on their own without instructors. The students crossed multiple rivers, braved torrential downpours, managed steep terrain and navigated to a destination designated by instructors, according to a press release.
Students and instructors traveled a total of 120 miles and gained 11,000 feet of elevation.
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