On August 17, 2005, eighteen young teens and five staff met in front of the Chinese Historical Society at 8:30 a.m. to start our trip to Big Basin. From Chinatown to Big Basin, it was about two hours. When we got near we had to go through a very curvy road before we reached our campsite. Once we got there, I see more trees than people and more mosquitoes than before.

One of the most memorable parts of the camping trip was the night hike. We couldn’t use flashlights so everyone had to help each other out through the trail. For example, the people in the front would warn the people in the back if there was something in the way, like a big rock or big root. I had a really caring partner that would warn me about everything. Unfortunately before she could warn me about some of them, I had already slipped. During the night I couldn’t really see many things but I do remember seeing the bright moon and some stars and at some parts of the trail. I saw some leaves that glowed on the floor. I didn’t really hear much besides people trying to warn the others about the road and parts when I heard some crickets chirping. At one part of the hike, I thought that we crossed a big bridge, but it turned out to be a big tree that fell down and created a bridge. This hike was supposedly a forty minute hike but it ended up being a two-hour hike. Even though it was somewhat tiring, I think it was a nice exercise before I slept.

For the morning hike, the whole group was split into two. One group started by leading the way leaving trail marks on the floor for the second group to follow. Unfortunately, the first group made a wrong turn and we ended up somewhere else. Our destination was supposed to be on top of the mountain, but we still ended up at the bottom of the mountain where there was also a stream. From this, I realized that leading the way can be very hard. When the first group was taking time deciding on which way to go, the second group caught up with us. When we went back, it was the second group’s turn to lead the way, we also caught up to them and so we get a longer rest before continuing.

The meals we had were not bad, even though breakfast and lunch was mostly the same, which was cereal and sandwiches. But dinner was different, on the first night we had chicken skewers and on the second night we had chili. I remember that my group was in charge of preparing dinner for the first night. Tammy and I had to cut the cold and squishy chicken into smaller pieces. Betty and Jason had to cut the bell peppers and onions. While cutting the chicken, mosquitoes were flying around us, trying to start dinner themselves. So I was not only worrying that I would hurt myself with the knife but I also scared that I would get bitten by the mosquitoes.

On the second night, each group of teens was in charge of acting out a ghost story. It was suppose to be scary but it turned out to be very funny. I think that all stories had their funny parts, especially Vinson’s group. He was the female ghost with long hair and one eye. Before we started to act the scary stories out, Vinson came up to me and ask me how I play with my hair and he started to practice with my hair so he would be more like a girl. I think that the outcome of him being a girl was good and funny.

On August 19, 2005, we started to pack up to leave Big Basin. During the trip back to San Francisco, we stopped in a park for lunch and we played a game called “The Blob”. I was in charge of leading the game that I never heard of, but it turned out to be good. The objective was to tag people and they have to hold hands and tag more people; the game ends when everyone is tagged. The last person standing was Seward because before he was tagged, he pushed Donna out and so she was tagged first. This is a fun game; I think I would recommend this for others to play.

In conclusion, I think that this camping trip was really fun, since this was my first experience camping in a national park. I think the people in Nite Lites got a little closer by helping each other out when help was needed. During the hike, there were areas when people needed help crossing; I saw people reaching their hands out to help. So this was a successful trip and it would be fun if I could go again.