Student Reflection on Winter Camp
By Alex Wong, Copter Srisuthapan, and Antonio Shih
Winter Camp is our chance to step out of routine and into the snow, skiing, snowshoeing, and learning together in the mountains. Each year, we take on new challenges, from carving fresh turns and exploring backcountry terrain to digging and sleeping in our own snow caves.
What stands out most isn’t just the skiing, but the small moments: pausing on a ridge, noticing the landscape in a new way, or realizing how far we’ve come. With a wide range of activities and a skilled team guiding us, we push our limits, support each other, and find our own “wow” moments, big and small, along the way.
One activity that stands out during Winter Camp is the backcountry experience. Through this experience with Evergreen, we pack our bags and hike into untracked mountain terrain. Along the way, we learn about snow formations, how different layers develop, and how changes in temperature affect snow conditions. We also hear the stories of our guides and learn how the backcountry can be more than just a winter sport, offering a quieter alternative to bustling resorts. At the end of the day, we get to ski new terrain that few people have the chance to experience.
One of the most interesting activities was Make the Mountains Your Park. We were accompanied by David Short, an ex-pro snowboarder and current guide. This activity allowed us to ski at Tsugaike and other mountains while searching for fresh powder and hitting side hits across the mountain. We learned how to use the terrain in creative ways that can really only be learned through experience, and we were able to do so in just one session thanks to Mr. David “The Torch” Short.
Over these fun-filled three days, we learned resilience, new tricks, how to hit side hits, and how to ride through trees. Building on that, Winter Camp gave our school community a chance to learn valuable lessons, improve our riding, and simply enjoy being together through the activities and events. Winter Camp is a special time that students always look forward to, and we always come out of it better than before.
