The Grand Canyon, Disneyland, and The Golden Gate Bridge. Sites people around the world dream their entire lives of visiting. For senior Kate Topham, this lifelong dream became a summer reality– in only 23 days.
In just over three weeks, Kate Topham traveled through twenty-one states, visited numerous national landmarks, camped without a tent, and– held a snake?
Over the summer, Topham traveled with the Teens Camping Tour of the West, or TCTW, a tour that guides high school students through the ‘wonders of the west.’ The tour begins in Statesville, North Carolina and takes participants across the country, all the way to the California coast. TCTW has been touring for over 47 years, allowing Topham and many other high school students to participate in new adventures and opportunities.
Topham and 26 other student campers ventured cross-country the true American way: by van. Two vans held 12 people each, with a separate car to carry the staff and remaining students. The group visited a new state nearly every day. During the often lengthy van rides, Topham and her new friends had to find various ways to pass the time, including taking naps, listening to music, journaling, and occasionally playing card games, like Uno.
Most nights, after long days of traveling and new adventures, the vans would park at nearby campsites. Though, this was no traditional camping experience– the campers slept without tents.
“Everyone had their own sleeping mat and sleeping bag, and we slept in the open air, no tents, no nothing,” said Topham. While she had an immersive camping experience– on one occasion, the weather brought an unexpected challenge. One night in the Grand Teton mountains of Wyoming, it started to downpour.
“I was sleeping in my sleeping bag, and I felt raindrops on my forehead. I was so tired, so I just put my sleeping bag over my head. Five minutes later, it was pouring. Everyone got up, grabbed their stuff, and ran into the vans.” Topham said. Despite its sudden occurrence, the bad weather did not dampen the campers’ moods. They carried on their journey, staying warm and dry through the rest of the trip.
While getting rained on during her sleep at a Wyoming campsite may have been unforgettable, Topham’s most memorable experience was completing her treacherous hike through the Grand Canyon.
“One of my biggest moments was finishing our hike in the Grand Canyon. It was really hard,” said Topham. “We made it out of the canyon, and it was like– wow… I just did that. I’m so proud of myself.” But Topham had more than her hike to be proud of.
At a stop in Sedona, Arizona, Topham overcame one of her greatest fears.
“In Sedona, I ended up holding a snake… It was really stressful. I hate snakes,” said Topham. The high school senior faced other challenges, too. Students were not allowed cell phones or any other electronics on the 23-day trip.
“Once a week, we had a flip phone we could call home from… If you wanted to make a call on another day, you had to ask someone on the side of the street, or go to a pay phone,” said Topham. But to her surprise, these restrictions proved to be rewarding.
“I definitely think it was better off without my phone,” said Topham. “Without my phone, I felt more in the moment… I wasn’t worried about social media or anything. It definitely helped me be more present.”
Some people, like a unique man Topham met in Wyoming, are always living in the moment.
“One afternoon, we went white water rafting in Cody, Wyoming. That night, we went to a rodeo– and our rafting guide was the same guy who won the rodeo!” said Topham. “It’s such a small town, but there’s a double life.”
While meeting a rodeo sensation who doubles as a rafting guide may have been a one-off, Topham noticed many common regional differences out West. For example, the weather out West is vastly different from North Carolina’s muggy, unpredictable climate.
“When we were out west, in Colorado and California, the weather was dry and hot, but not humid like it is in North Carolina… it was really nice.” said Topham. Although she traveled within the country, Topham’s journey displayed the countless differences people experience, even just from state-to-state.
From the depths of picturesque campsites, to the heights of the Grand Canyon, Kate Topham’s summer voyage through the Western United States was filled with gratifying challenges and eye-opening adventures.
“I had so many new experiences, and met so many great people,” said Topham. By stepping outside of her comfort zone, she was able to meet amazing new people, visit dozens of national landmarks and learn how to be more present in the moment. Topham recommends this trip to everyone and encourages people to try new things.
“It was a life changing experience. I got to see so much of America and its beauty.”
