JOHN MUIR AWARD 2007

By Jake Tulloch 4K8



I started My John Muir Award on 28 April until 29 April this year. In order to complete the Introductory Level, I had to spend at least 4 days in a wild place. I spent my last 2 days at Loch Garry on 20 and 21 October. Our aim was to grow trees in a plot that was given to Perth High School. The hills are scarred and damaged at Loch Garry, and hopefully one day, there will be lots of trees there, like it used to be long ago.



Although the main road was not far away, it felt like we were a million miles away from civilization. The views of the loch and the mountains are fantastic.



In April, it was really sunny, and we swam in the freezing loch (well some of us did). We stayed in a bothy, a few hours walk from our tree plot. We cut some wood for the fire and left a big pile at the bothy, for people coming after us that might need it.

When we went back in October, it was the rutting season and the stags made a very loud and eerie moaning noise all day. This time, instead of walking, we canoed up the loch to our campsite. It was quite windy, and it was hard to paddle into the wind.



After we made camp, and had some of Tony’s delicious pasta and beans, we sat around a blazing fire, as it got very cold at night. Before we went to bed, some of us went out for a night time paddle in the loch. That was the highlight of the expedition for me. It was pitch black on the water, but we had torches and also the light of the huge fire. The sense of freedom, out there on the loch in the dark was amazing.



Next day, we packed up the camp, then canoed over to the other side of the loch, and picked up loads of rubbish that had been blown there. We filled a whole canoe with litter.

We also inspected the other tree plots, and mended any holes in the fences, to protect the trees from small animals.


Some of the photos Jake took on his travels are included below.





Well done, Jake !