The Seattle Times covers Tim Billo’s 9 day wilderness trip in the PNW

What it’s like to spend 9 days in PNW backcountry: ‘A reset for the human spirit’

The Seattle Times environmental reporter, Lynda Mapes, joined Environmental Studies instructor Tim Billo and 10 students during an intensive 9-day backpacking excursion into the Olympic National Park this summer, part of Tim’s class: Landscape Change in the Pacific Northwest.

This challenging class immerses students in nature, where they reflect on the importance of wilderness, discover their own strengths living in the wild, and learn about the unique species in the Olympics.

Environmental-studies students from the University of Washington and instructor Tim Billo make their way down into Grand Valley toward the end of their trek in the Olympic National Park backcountry. — Environmental Studies students from the University of Washington and instructor Tim Billo make their way down into Grand Valley toward the end of their trek in the Olympic National Park backcountry.

Being so close to nature reminded student Emi Schwartz how small humans are in this vast world and how therapeutic it is to reside in the wild and escape technology and daily stresses, even if for a few days:

“A 400-year-old Douglas Fir is a reset for the human spirit.” – Emi Schwartz, senior in Environmental Studies

See the video “Why is wilderness important?” as part of the Seattle Times story.

Program on the Environment

What it’s like to spend 9 days in PNW backcountry: ‘A reset for the human spirit’