Below the Rim of the Grand Canyon

University of Lynchburg’s Outdoor Leadership Program took eight students on a week-long spring break expedition to the Grand Canyon, spending four of those days in the backcountry backpacking below the rim.  

Hiking the Tonto trail inside the canyon, March 12, 2025. Photo by Lorraine Upton. 

 The Outdoor Leadership Program, OLP, provides University of Lynchburg students with the opportunity to indulge in outdoor recreational activities, all while enhancing their leadership skills.

Tim Slusser, the assistant director of outdoor leadership and education at the university explained, “I like to push students into situations where they can discover more about themselves while sharing the outdoors and showing these wild spaces.”

During these trips students learn about situational leadership, decision making and debriefing at the end of each day. 

“I see myself more as an educator and facilitator on the trip. My job is to push students and guide them. The students create the program and drive the trips,” said Slusser. 

Presented in photo: (from left) Lorraine Upton 26’, Christina McBride 25’, Olivia Upton 25’, Sophie Walsh MA 25’, Meredith Bowers 25’, Julia Byrne 28’, Sammie Rogstad 28’, Riley Mitchell MA 25’, Tim Slusser, Haleigh Casey 25’. Photo by Lorraine Upton (Self Timer Photo). 

Students hiked approximately thirty miles throughout the four days they were backpacking along the infrequently visited areas of the Grand Canyon.

“This is one of the toughest things I have ever done in my life,” said Olivia Upton ‘25. “I had a lot of favorite moments on the trip, but I really enjoyed all the conversations we had.” 

Majority of the trip participants had minimal backpacking experience.

Meredith Bowers 25’ stated, “I really liked the views. Backpacking was something I had never done before, so just doing that amount of mileage with having everything on my back definitely got me out of my comfort zone, along with the elevation gain.” 

Despite their limited experience, students completed the hike and obtained valuable takeaways. 

“I have learned that I am capable of a lot and if I put my mind to something I can do it,” mentions Sammie Rogstad 28’.  

Haleigh Casey 25’ stated, “I got a lot of fun stories to tell coming out of the trip because we were being thrown into situations we have never been before. I get to tell people that life is challenging but sometimes those challenges make it fun.” 

For more information about OLP visit: Outdoor Leadership Program.