The Spring 2023 semester was winding down, and it was a few weeks before finals. I decided to join the Outdoors Club on a trip to New Hampshire to camp and climb Mount Monadnock. My participation in this club increased during my sophomore year because I wanted to meet new people and challenge myself. I hadn’t done many challenging hikes before; however, I was involved in Boy Scouts, which gave me some experience, unlike some other people on the trip.
The Bottom
It was 6:00 a.m. when one of the club members started playing the song Waking Up Easy. I was not a morning person, and waking up was not easy at all! It was very cold that morning, but I was much happier with cold weather than it being hot. We eventually drove to the start of the trail, and I had my backpack on my shoulders, ready to trek the trail. I started off leading the group up the trail but soon fell behind as the air became thinner and the rocks became steeper. While I wish we had taken more frequent breaks, I persevered onward and put out a strong attitude. I kept wondering how the hike down would be and if it would be more complex than the hike up. I reminded myself constantly to stay engaged in the hike and embrace my surroundings because of the rareness that I would get this experience again. I believe this focus on “being present” helped me persevere through the hike.
The Top
I climbed one more steep rock and saw the world ahead of me! I couldn’t believe my eyes. The blue skies and little creeks that were in front of me. I could not get this if I stayed at Wesleyan. My peers and I cheered, and I took my Polaroid camera out of my backpack that I trekked all the way up the mountain, and captured the amazing views of my accomplishment.
