Camp Davis, Summer 2023
Let’s assume you’ve read about Camp Davis from their website. Maybe you heard about it from friends, got an email about it, or saw one of their posters on campus.
If not, just look it up. Apply even if you think you might be a little interested. It’s frickin cool. You get to live in a cabin in Wyoming for three weeks.
This experience has been one of the best decisions so far in my college career. Beyond just an excuse to visit the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park, Camp Davis has pushed me to think more about a career in sustainability and became a way for me to learn more about parts of campus I otherwise wouldn’t have known about. I think this is one of the best ways to spend your summer as a rising freshman or sophomore, where the expected value of an internship is lower. An added benefit for me was that my class counted for 6 Natural Science credits as a student in LSA.
If you do decide to go to Camp Davis, I hope that this article can help you better prepare for your time there.
Climb Cream Puff Peak. The trail up Cream Puff is a mountain across the highway from Camp that ascends 3 thousand feet in 1.5 miles. Think stair-masters. Supposedly the name was given by the original hikers because if you didn’t make it you were a “cream puff.” I recommend you do this later rather than earlier, as you’ll likely be more physically capable after a few days of hiking and being at high elevation.
Go overnight camping. There’s a number of options in the area, like Curtis Canyon or Granite Springs. You’ll probably end up doing this as a class on a multi-day trip, but doing it with just your classmates is a great experience.
Cowboy camp. Sleep with just a sleeping bag (and sleeping pad). The stars are unbelievable here, even more on a new moon. One thing I didn’t realize was that condensation will form on your bag as the night cools, so bring a towel just in case.
Check out the swimming hole. A ten minute walk down the driveway brings you to a nice spot to cool off from a sweaty day.
Catch sunset (at least once) at Curtis Canyon Overlook. Great views of the Grand Tetons. The road to and from the spot will be incredibly sketchy for the 2-wheel drive Dodge Caravans you’ll get to borrow. It’s part of the fun. Extra points if you blast music on the way up and down. It’s all about the journey.
Grand Tetons National Park, String Lake
Catch sunset at String Lake. By evening time on a weekday, the park will have mostly emptied. If you’re lucky, you’ll get the mirror-like lake to yourself, with the water reflecting the peaks of the Tetons getting hit with the evening sun.
Hike Rendezvous Mountain and try Corbet’s Cabin Top of the World Waffles. We took a Gondola halfway up before finishing the rest of the route on foot and took the Gondola on the way down. Scenic views throughout. The waffles at the top were immaculate.
Cliff Jump at Phelps lake. My class wasn’t able to do this one, but it would be the first thing I’d do if I ever got a chance to go back.
Grand Tetons National Park, on the way to Lake Solitude