Day 1: Base Camp. Today I learned that usually things don’t turn out the way you expect them to, so I can’t get too set on my hopes.

Day 2: Crater Lake. We did our first hike today. It wasn’t so bad except that one member of our crew was really slow so we had to keep waiting and slowing down. Going slowly makes it more painful for me, so that was really hard, but I tried to encourage her every chance I got because I know she will get better.

Day 3: Beaubien. Today was an all around great day. The hike was really nice, especially because I think I am getting used to the pack and hiking and everything. I really enjoyed the whole hike today, especially when we all sang together as we were going up a mountain. We sang mostly Disney songs, but a few others and it was a great bonding time for all of us, and even the slowest girl in the crew was able to make it to the top. She is still slow, but getting better.

Day 4: Agua Fria. Talk about cold water, we hiked through the coldest and scariest rain/thunder storm I have ever experienced. I ended up getting soaked through, despite all my rain gear. The lightning was so close, I was afraid one of us was going to get struck. We arrived at our campsite in pouring rain and with thunder about five or less seconds behind the lightning. We all huddled under the dining fly until the downpour turned into a drizzle. I was impressed with our crew, even the slowest member was strong during the storm. I am so impressed that she is working so hard to do well on this trek, especially since this is her first ever backpacking trip and she is really having a hard time. I am proud of my whole crew for being so supportive of her.

Day 5: Carson Meadows. We woke up to blue skies and sunlight streaming through the trees. The whole morning was nice and clear and sunny... until 11:30 when the rain came suddenly. The hike today was long and pretty hard. It was especially hard because every time we decided to take a break, it would start raining again. At one point, we got to a peak, a beautiful view and a great place for a twenty minute break and letting our feet air out. We had only been resting for a few minutes, when suddenly, lightning struck only 4 seconds away! We were in such a rush get off the peak, I put my socks on inside out.

Day 6: Urraca. We woke up at 4:30 this morning so that we could see the sunrise at Inspiration Point. I think I have fallen in love, not with a person, but with the experience. I have fallen in love with everything about Philmont, the countryside, the people, the rain and sun, the hikes, the music, and the fun. I have never felt so completely and perfectly and incandescently happy. I think I feel ready for school this year- I want to enjoy every moment I can. I want to spend lots of time playing music, I want to read and hike and run and write poems and learn and hang out with friends and meet new people.
Total distance: 32 miles.  Lessons learned: infinite.

I have realized that the beauty in life comes not when schedules are crammed full, when each minute of the day is planned, when marching band practice, choir practice, church meetings, and play rehearsals take up every waking hour. I have learned that satisfaction does not come from only getting good grades in multiple AP classes or good scores on the tests alone, but from all the amazing things I have learned. A’s are great, but the knowledge gained is priceless. I saw the beauty in life as I had time to reflect and think during the hours we spent hiking each day.
I realized that I did not want to live my life just looking good, looking busy, looking smart, looking accomplished. I wanted to live my life so that I feel truly accomplished. So, I de-scheduled my life, I simplified it. I cut down on the stressful classes, on the extracurricular activities that brought stress rather than joy. I made a list of books that I had never had time to read, a list of skills that I thought were important but that I had never had time to learn, a list of things I wanted to do with my life to give me true joy and satisfaction. I want the sense of accomplishment that I got after my 6 day backpacking trip.

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