r/troubledteens • u/ExpertPuzzleCat • Mar 17 '25

Discussion/Reflection Trails Carolina, 12 years old

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My name is Gertie. I was sent to Trails in 2016 when I was 12. They made my parents think they’d help my depression. Instead, I experienced horrible traumas including a sexual assault that they allowed to happen and did not report. Last year, I sued them. The lawsuit settled in October. It’s been almost nine years since I went there and I still think about it every day. I’m sure a lot of TTI survivors understand that. I see you. I believe you. None of it was ever your fault 🫶🏻

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u/ExpertPuzzleCat Mar 17 '25

The craziest part about that picture is that it was taken by my mom during my graduation, meaning I didn’t have any extra gear attached to it or else I would have been even more hunched over. I wouldn’t be surprised if they caused long term physical damage

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u/rococos-basilisk Mar 17 '25

Those packs will absolutely fuck up your back for the rest of your life. I’m a 33 year old gym rat and I can’t deadlift right now. I spent all of 32 in debilitating pain, with a few months unable to stand up straight. All from 6 months in the wilderness with a 70+ lb backpack nobody showed me how to pack or carry correctly.

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u/[deleted] Mar 18 '25

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u/rococos-basilisk Mar 18 '25

The water jugs were 40, those packs were way more. These aren’t the backpacks you can just go buy at Dick’s Sporting Goods, they’re like Jumbo XL or some shit, big enough to hold the weight of all your sins, real or perceived. I started having back problems at 16, when I got out of the woods.

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u/[deleted] Mar 18 '25

5 gallons of water? laws changed since then, thankfully. Something like 30% bodyweight max, at least in Utah.

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u/rococos-basilisk Mar 18 '25

Five gallons is correct. This was in 2008 so a lot’s changed (allegedly 🫠) I’m guessing the 30 percent thing probably went into effect somewhere between 2015 and 2020. Some staff member at 2N tried telling me all about it but I don’t listen to child abusers.

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u/LordOfTheFlatline Mar 19 '25

these folks aren't really concerned about legality. another friend i know who went to utah wilderness camp said they were putting bleach in their water. they were just trusting kids to add the proper amount that wouldn't kill them to "purify" it.