Cadets hike trail to leadership

Certain parts of the Braden River Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps’ hike through the wilderness of Tennessee were harder to bear than others.

Nathan Stowers, 16, found a close encounter with a black bear to be quite entertaining, but it wasn’t the bear who provided the entertainment.

Stowers said his fellow hikers in his group – about 10 fellow Braden River JROTC students – were “whimpering like babies.”

“It was above us,” Stowers said of the bear. “(Other members of the group) were holding on me like a train. I could feel them trembling.”

Braden River student Amy Barrett verified it was a scary situation. “When we saw the bear, it made eye contact with us and we started tripping because we weren’t supposed to run,” Barrett said. “We were afraid.”

The bear and the hikers went their own ways and the JROTC members had another story.

The cadets traveled sections of the Appalachian Trail June 19 through June 25. This year’s trip marked the group’s 10th anniversary of participating in the summer expedition.

“It’s a leadership lab, getting them out of their comfort zone and overcoming challenges,” said Braden River’s Command Sgt. Major Alex Figueroa. “These hikes are not easy.”

Braden River’s cadets joined about 20 cadets from Manatee High School’s JROTC program on the hike. Each day, cadets filled their water bottles and backpacks and hiked up to 12 miles, enjoying fellowship, scenic views and lessons in leadership. They weren’t allowed to bring their cell phones.

“I don’t think my life is in my phone, but a lot of people do,” Barrett said. “Not having them helped us appreciate nature.”