The Wilderness Expedition began in 1970 as an annual ten day survival training, backpacking, and camping trip for sophomore students at Cranbrook Kingswood Upper School. The expedition began as a U.S. entity of the Outward-Bound program (1934) through the support of then Cranbrook School Social Studies teachers John P. Morris and Christopher C. Norris. The key objective of the expedition is to provide a monitored risk-taking small-group wilderness experience for students in a teaching atmosphere which allows and encourages personal growth. In 1993, the Wilderness Expedition trip was abruptly interrupted and ended by an unexpected blizzard which struck The Great Smokey Mountains on March 15. From a base camp in Cherokee, North Carolina, thirteen parties of hikers had been scattered throughout The Great Smokey Mountains National Forest. One hundred and seventeen Cranbrook faculty and students were trapped by the blizzard. While some parties were able to eventually hike out to safety, others had to be air lifted out of camp by the National Guard. By March 19th, all Cranbrook faculty and students were accounted for, although one faculty member and one student sustained serious frostbite injuries. A post trip review was undertaken through sponsorship by the Heartland Region of the Association for Experimental Education. Recommendations for additional preparation, training, and a re-evaluation of expedition locations were developed. Independently, Cranbrook Educational Community took the events as an opportunity to re-evaluate and adjust their procedures and policies concerning medical preparedness and release, as well as legal liability and waiver.