As I got onto the school bus I had no idea that I would soon be amongst sky blue lakes, giant majestic mountains, and crisp fresh air. I went to Alberta with 23 other PLP learners, we went there to learn about geography and how it can impact us. We first stopped at Chraigellachie, where the last spike is. The last spike is the place where the Canadian Pacific railroad was finished, it is a historic place because it is where two sides of Canada were connected by a railroad. Our next stop was at Three Valley Gap, where we went into a ghost town and learned about the history of the surrounding area, we also stayed in a hotel right beside the ghost town. On the second day in we got to go on a few much smaller hikes that really introduced us to the breathtaking views of Alberta. Later in the day we got to learn about rogers pass and how the engineers of the CPR had a difficult time with getting through the mountains. The next day we woke up bright and early to go on the longest hike I have ever been on, I really liked it, just walking through the mountains for hours on end, where everything is so peaceful and quiet (aside from the 24 kids being loud as they made their way up). 
The next day held one of the coolest experiences I have had. We got to go onto a glacier and learn about how it was formed and how much it has decreased because of climate change. I even got to do an interview for my maker project! (See Story finding in the Rockies!) during this trip we got a book to write in about all the places we have been to, as well as answer the driving question. How has the geography of the west shaped who I am?.
Over the next few days we got to go on a few more hikes and learning places. One of the coolest days was when we went to the Cave and Basin, the birthplace of Canadian national parks. 
After we looked at the cave, we went up the mountain beside it, called sulphuric mountain because of the high concentration of sulphur. The hike was beautiful, during it we got to learn about how scientists had a laboratory at the top of the mountain and it served as a cosmic ray station and helped contribute to international geophysical year. 
Overall I think that the geography of the west shaped who we are by teaching us how to learn, adapt and grow to new environments that pose challenges not come across before, this can be proven by the lab at the top of sulphur mountain teaching us that no matter where you are there is always something new to be learned, by the last spike showing that humans can accomplish and conquer an entire country if they put their minds to it. There are more examples I could put but what’s the fun in that? You should go and try to find examples of your own! This trip was amazing and the teachers have been really supportive of us all, thank you!