By Benjamin Payne (1L)
Waking up at 5 AM sucks. It sucks a lot more when you’re 7,000 feet above sea level and it’s about six degrees outside. This is what two 1L’s realized when we embarked on a week-long hiking trip in Colorado. Over the course of five days, we would summit five mountains, hike approximately 30 miles, and make connections that would last a lifetime.
Frank Morris and I traveled to Colorado Springs, CO, to meet up with renowned wilderness survival instructor Greg Wiggins and conquer some of Colorado’s most difficult mountains. We would ascend Mt. Hermon, the Manitou Springs Incline, North Star Mountain, Cheyenne Mountain, and St. Mary’s Glacier while battling Colorado’s most intense winter conditions.
Here are a few take-aways from our trip: Downhill is better than uphill. Your mind is stronger than your body. Sweat freezes. The easiest day was yesterday, and you’re never as tired as you think you are. And the most important tool to have in a new and challenging environment is an open mind — a willingness to be humble, take direction, and embrace the unknown.
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