I completed my first overnight trek! Although I have camped and gone on some similar physically challenging hikes before, I wasn’t sure what to expect while carrying a 40-pound backpack. We split into two groups and experimented with group pace, breaks, leader roles, and stamina. We hiked for about eight hours with breaks for water and food and ended up hiking almost 9 miles. I had to mentally prepare for this, as I wasn’t sure what to expect or what my team dynamics would be. I usually have a pretty good mindset when it comes to anything active, so I just had to make sure that I balanced pushing myself mentally and physically while being patient with my team’s needs.

The trail we hiked had a nice range of environments to appreciate; we walked through heavily shaded and forest areas, more dry areas, and small villages within the mountain range. We were very lucky with the weather as well as it was sunny and warm and I successfully got a bit tan. In hindsight, I thought the hike went well for me. I had to practice patience to maintain the group’s pace, and physically, I felt strong and healthy. I chose to sweep the group (walk in the back) to keep an eye on the well-being of my hiking group, enjoy the view, and have some much-needed alone time. 

Although the hike went well for me, my spirits were a little shot once we got to camp. We were all exhausted and still had to learn how to do things like set up a tent and cook dinner with the materials we had. But I successfully tied a couple of knots and made some pretty good pasta. We cowboy camped and woke up to a smokey red sunrise, cooked breakfast, cleaned up, and headed out to return to the Hanifl Center. 

This trek put a lot of things into perspective about myself and my group. I learned that I am pretty strong mentally and physically and can definitely offer some extra support to my group in whatever way if needed. I was also reminded how much I love the mix of nature and physical activity that hiking offers, and I honestly can’t wait to engage in more of that during the 10-day trek. I will say, though, as shallow as it sounds, I care a lot more about hygiene than I thought; I’m not sure how I’m going to go 10 days without properly washing my hair or wearing deodorant, but I’ll have to push myself in that sense. I’m usually a very independent person, so working with my group after a long day was challenging but ultimately it worked out.

I saw a lot of support from my peers. We all checked in on each other, supported each other in our own ways to complete tasks, and encouraged communication, which I thought was really healthy. We all showed leadership skills in this way, and even though we might have been down in the dumps at some points, we still showed each other mutual respect, which is something I value heavily in a team, and I hope all of these skills continue to flourish. There are some areas we need to work on with expectations about contribution and being on the same page, but that will come with our daily reflections leading up to departing for the trek.

During this shakedown trek, I offered leadership more silently than usual. I knew I needed to be alone after days of socializing, so I tried to value my self-care. I also made sure to stay calm during dinner and campsite time, set an example of being patient and not outwardly cranky towards anyone, and became more of an observer so I could better prepare myself and my peers for what to expect on the actual trek.