Three weeks for three different locations. And 105 total springs. To say I didn’t know what to expect when I accepted my offer from Keck is an understatement—I had never been west of Pennsylvania, and never had I ever seen so much water.
Have you ever wanted to fly? Well, diving made me feel like I was soaring. There is a whole world under the water and for a brief amount of time, I was a part of it. As the summer is coming to a close and school is quickly approaching, I wanted to share the experience of my first college research through the Keck Geology Consortium Coral research project.
I applied to the Glacier National Park REU not knowing what to fully expect and I’m so glad that I did. What I really loved about this trip is how much I learned about myself through things I did and experienced.
Glacier National Park, Montana saw almost three million visitors over the course of its open season in 2023, most headed for attractions like the famous Going-to-the-Sun-Road, the iconic Many Glacier Hotel, and natural spectacles such as the wildlife, alpine scenery, and glacial lakes. As a student researcher staying in the Park for several weeks this summer, I had the opportunity to meet a lot of those visitors and share in their excitement to be in the Park & learn about our work.
Without having any camping experience, being a good swimmer, or having any prior outdoor experience, I am able to say I DID IT!
My first day in the field, I felt a bit like a moth in the daytime. Surrounded by unfamiliar sights, sounds, and creatures (fellow Keck students included), I felt completely out of my element and like I was being pulled in every direction possible.
Have you ever been 20 feet away from a 500 pound grizzly bear? Have you seen the whites of its eyes as it charges at you with the speed of a car? Did you feel the slow trickle of pee go down your leg as you stood there, frozen still? Me neither!!
I have always loved camping and national parks, so getting to do both alongside some stellar and likeminded companions was a phenomenal experience.
ISSN# 1528-7491
ISSN# 1528-7491
