Wilderness trip 2.0
I just returned from my second backpacking trip in the Rockies with Antioch Wilderness Ministry. With only a day to process, here’s my simple, initial record of what it was and what it meant.
A side note of good news and bad news: Good — enough women wanted to experience this, we overflowed capacity and had to add a second trip. Bad — we didn’t all get to go together. I’m hoping to hear Trip 2’s stories soon.
In the meantime, here are my reflections.
What it was:
4 days
10 incredibly brave, adventure-seeking, fun-loving, upbeat, powerful women
Mount Zirkle Wilderness at 9500+ feet
1 snow-blocked trail passage (meaning we camped in the same place all 3 nights)
2 large bottles of bug spray plus many small bottles, completely depleted by trip’s end
1 beaver dam. Many crossings of said dam, including one unfortunate one (involving falling through into the icy water) for one intrepid adventurer who survived to tell the tale
2 bottles of iodine
2 giant moose
1, 2, okay, a whole string of crystal-clear lakes
2 BIFFs (Bathroom In Forest Floor) with views, soft leaves for TP, plenty of privacy and eventually many flies and mosquitos
3 tents
400+ pounds of gear, clothes and food
473+ mosquito bites, mostly on 3 people. No, I didn’t count, but this is definitely a conservative estimate
1 van
9 pairs of Chacos
10 giant rocks (aka: burdens) thrown over a cliff
3 sleepless nights
10 profound, powerful and moving life stories
1 smokey campfire
6 dish-washing-with-dirt sessions
1 very lost seagull
2 hammocks
10 sweat, deet and sunscreen-covered bodies
1 large open-air changing room (aka: the campsite)
0 cell service
1 sprained ankle
Countless blessings and things to be thankful for
Here are just a few of the blessings that come instantly to mind:
No whiners, no rainstorms, no cell service. Strong winds that drove the mosquitos away. Vulnerability. Being cooked for. Hiking poles to use over beaver dams and stream crossings. Smart, capable, compassionate guides. Mountain reflections in crystal clear lakes. Coffee each morning from a gritty cup. Sporks! Time with God. Hammock swinging. Ribbons, colored paper and string lights to decorate camp. Deep connections. MUCH laughter, encouragement and prayer. Stillness. Benadryl, duct tape and newfound squatting skills. Nalgene bottles holding plenty of purified water. Surprise pockets, straps and backpack compartments. The extreme selfless generosity of a friend in sharing her toothbrush twice each day. Last day T-Rex hugs (arms down) in consideration of olfactory sensitivity to intense odors. A new name: “Double A” (Adventure Amy).
I am overwhelmed with gratitude for having the chance to experience this break from regular life with so many exceptional women. I keep wondering: how on earth did I get so lucky?!
In this moment, it feels like the weekend was both the culmination of a year-long dream and a launching into an extension of that dream all at the same time. More to come as I hear what it meant to my cohorts and as the bigger picture fills out and settles deeper into my soul.
