Mendham Man Graduates College With 3-Month Wilderness Adventure

Stephen McDonough’s spring semester of college was unlike any his friends from back home experienced.

The Mendham native, 21, completed a semester-long wilderness expedition traveling in Mexico with the National Outdoor Leadership School, spending three months in the wilderness – on land and by sea – to earn his graduation.

On Jan. 23, along with 13 classmates and a handful of wilderness experts, the students began their months-long trek from Baja, Mexico, and spent the first 22 days in the Baja Peninsula, backpacking on foot. In just over three weeks, the group traveled 72 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Cortez. During the hike, the elevation gained by the students was 7,845 feet.

From here, McDonough and crew explored the Sea of Cortez using 22-foot Drascombe Longboats, sailing for 26 days, experiencing coastal camping in Baja Sur, Mexico. During this section, the group sailed or rowed 131 nautical miles in challenging weather conditions.

Finally, the group spent 30 days sea kayaking, amassing 230 miles from Loreto, Baja California Sur near Playa Ligui to La Paz. The semester ended with five days of independent student travel.

McDonough and his group now join an alumni group of more than 221,000 graduates from National Outdoor Leadership School.