Weekend backpacking

One thing I rarely do on this blog anymore is actually talk about my life and things that happen to me. So let me talk about the backpacking trip I went on this weekend. How's that sound?

I'm in the backpacking club at my school, and with them I've been training for a week-long backpacking trip that we're taking over spring break in the Rocky Mountains. This weekend we had our preparatory over-nighter in a state park nearby.

We hiked out into the hilly, snowy, wooded terrain and got a little lost a couple of times, but found our way back quickly. I wasn't used to the hills (since most of the places I'd been hiking before were on flat ground), so I got a bit winded on a lot of the uphills and was fairly nervous on the slippery downhills. I think I slowed the group down a few times. However, there were several absolutely lovely views.

For almost the entire time, we hiked in a single file line, so I spent a lot of time in my head, not talking to anyone, which was really nice. I don't get enough time to retreat to my thoughts anymore.

When we finally got to our campsite, which was beautifully and mercifully furnished with a latrine, I nominated myself to help with fire-building rather than tent-building, since one is obviously a lot more fun (and doable). However, with all the sticks were were able to find being pretty icy and no real logs available, starting and maintaining a fire was pretty challenging. I was a little worried about how we would make dinner until Stephen whipped out this little fold-out gas stove thingy that was apparently what we were supposed to use to cook. The point of the fire, I learned, was just warmth and drying clothing.

Because two of our group members are vegan, we had rice and lentils for dinner. Almost immediately after, right as the sun was going down, we went to bed. It was strange going to bed so early (before 7 p.m.), but it was too dark and too cold to stay up, especially since our fire was so pitiful.

For the next 12 hours I slept on and off, somewhat restlessly. There were two other ladies in the group, so the three of us huddled in what I'm pretty sure was a two-person tent. The three guys did likewise. The next morning we checked the weather and found out it had gotten down to at least 13° F that night. We survived!

We packed up quickly in the morning and left. About halfway through our hike back to the cars, it started snowing, and by the time we finished I literally had icicles in my hair. It was so pretty outside, but I was exhausted. We didn't go as far as planned because of the snow, but I think we still went a total of about 10-12 miles with 20-25 pound packs on our backs.

We drove back into the city and got Chipotle for lunch. We sat there eating our burritos looking and smelling like greasy bums.

It was wonderful showering up, but I worry that the cold temperatures are what contributed to my current viral infection.

I'm also concerned that I'm not physically ready to take on a week's worth of hiking through mountains. But. I'm sure it will all be fine. And I'll look back and be really glad I did it. And I really, really hope that it won't be as cold or wet when we go on the spring break trip.

So, that's that. In case any of you were wondering.


God bless.