The Hopewell House

Another trip survived.

Another adventure to tell.

I love backpacking-- the chance to get away, to experience life in it's purest form:

to challenge myself, to learn, to grow.

If you had ask me a couple years back if this is what I saw myself doing years from now, I might have laughed-- I may even have told you that you were nuts.

I never believed in myself to be able to accomplish so many miles in so few days.

It's never that I wouldn't have enjoyed it;

{there's somethings about a challenge that I always love...}

I think it was more that in high-school, even part of college, I never really had an "identity."

I guess I was always one to just blend with the crowd, 

to find interest in what others did and were involved in...

I never really knew what I wanted from life or maybe even what I really enjoyed.

Finding myself has been such a beautiful thing.

I love dogs.

I love working at a coffee shop.

I enjoy being a vegetarian.

I enjoy running.

I enjoy being outdoors...

hiking...

rock climbing...

I enjoy a good book.

I enjoy being around people.

I enjoy being me.

Maybe it was I just needed someone to believe in me.

To push me.

To make me step outside my comfort zones.

To be an encourager and motivator-- more than babying me or holding my hand,

To just be there.

It's just been on my mind.

Nonetheless, I and 5 other friends hiked the Pinhoti Trail, starting at Adam's Gap--

We arrived in Alabama Monday morning starting @ 6am [after a ten hour car ride with little sleep] & began our hike.

What an adventure. 

We hiked over rocks, Creek beds, and even a few rivers...

Jake hiked with a sprain ankle...

& the rest of us were right behind him with bumps, aches, and bruises.

We fell asleep to the sounds of coyotes howling {though only Kara heard them}, 

& we once again discovered that EVERYTHING taste better when ate on the trail.

We bonded over  books and bathroom breaks.

We completed 43 miles in 4 days {Jake coming in second with 33 miles under his belt in 3 days}

We simply enjoyed what it means to live life & enjoy the blessings God brings through nature.

I think the thing we take away most from our trips is the challenges we face within ourself...

The challenge to take those last few steps even though our bodies ache--

To cross the cold river that is chest deep even though we are already freezing--

To not let the mental aspect overtake our physical capabilities--

To learn to overcome self, even when we feel we can go no further.

To complete the journey.

I plan on sharing our trip a little more in detail over the next couple of days with more details on a day-by-day basis, but I just wanted to share with you what was currently on my heart & mind-- 

Hope you all had a fabulous week!