When I say casual stroll, I actually mean running away from the front country during our long-awaited 10-day trek, where we gained thousands of feet in elevation and enjoyed breathtaking views. Mission accomplished! It’s hard to summarize this unforgettable experience into words and share it with my friends and family. No pictures I took match what I saw with my eyes, and no sentences could truly explain what I did and how I felt being a mountain man. It was exhilarating, freeing, and thought-provoking. 

Many of our days consisted of a similar schedule. We woke up with the sun in our self-pitched tents and tentmates, got ourselves ready for the day, and met with our cook groups to make some breakfast. I think my personal favorite breakfasts were pancakes (we may have made them three times) or biscuits and gravy. Then, we would pack up our 50+ pound bags with our clothing, sleeping bags, food, tents, and water and begin hiking with our group. Hike lengths varied daily, and we would stop to eat snacks or lunch or just take a breather. After finding a campsite, we would set up camp (and a tarp since it usually would rain in the afternoon), get water, and have some free time. Personally, I usually took this time to nap or find a viewpoint and sit there mysteriously and majestically while listening to music. Then, we would once again meet up with our cooking groups and make dinner. Shoutout to my group, Nischal and Sydney, for being a great team and working together to cook up some delicious meals. My favorite had to be the pizza we made from scratch. Then, we would meet, debrief the day as a group, and head to bed with the sun. I’ll spare the details of pooping in the woods and the lack of a proper shower. 

The first couple of hiking days were the most challenging, as we carried the most food and were still adjusting to the feeling of carrying a backpack that size. Even with the elevation gain, every day definitely got easier, as it was mostly a mental game. We all quickly came to the realization that our bodies were much stronger than expected, and we just had to push ourselves and our team to get through steep trails and unpleasant weather. Along with active hiking days, we also had rest days where we would typically take free time to journal and reflect on ourselves, this experience, and our team as a whole. This helped me get to know myself better, reflect on my past and current thoughts and beliefs, and learn how to move forward with my life after this program. The ability to just sit in thought with the insane views I experienced gave me a new definition of the word beautiful. This reflection practice also prompted a group feedback session where productive conversations helped me define and understand my strengths and weaknesses and connect more deeply with my group members. 

Although this experience was amazing, the group definitely faced some challenges. Going into this program, very obvious cliques or small groups had formed. We all had to put in a lot of effort to actually get to know and understand each other, which is much harder than it sounds. We had a lot of ups and downs, where we would feel unstoppable and closer than ever one day, and then the next day, we would encounter an event or issue that quickly tore us down. We were able to get through this by having open discussions and effective communication that we learned and practiced prior to the trek, and we made a significant breakthrough during days 8 and 9, where we talked out specific issues and exchanged feedback. Overall, I understand everyone much deeper now. While we might not all be the best of friends, we all experienced something unforgettable together that will forever be a bonding event. 

Now, the hard part comes: immersing back into society. It felt so nice not to have to worry about a phone or the world outside for ten days, and my sense of escapism is definitely creeping up as I recap this trip to friends and family, slightly wishing I was still out there lost in the forest. But I am excited for the days to come and to see how this trip affects my future. I still can’t believe I accomplished this once-in-a-lifetime event, and I hope to do something similar in the future!