Colorado in a few paragraphs that doesn't do its justice.

My last routine trip to the Rocky Mountain Continental divide trail ended in tears.

I don't know what it is that makes me love those trips so much but anyone who backpacks can tell you the same.

Crammed into a car for 24+ total hours, no showers for a week, carrying a 40-45 pack, back aches, foot aches, altitude obstacles, pine cones as tp...

but those are the things i love the most about it.

The car rides to start, have to be one of my favorite parts. While many people may take a book, craft, games, and ambien to get through a long car ride. I brought an ipod only to be played throughout the whole car, a blanket, and snacks.

On the way there, our car sang along to our favorite tunes, got to know each other and shared stories that kept the time moving. I actually got upset after i woke up from a nap to find out my youth pastor sang his favorite opera song or someone told a great story i missed. The car rides were energetic and filled with excitement on the way there and i love it.

The excitement that filled everyone when we arrived at a church to crash at was also unique. Most people were very tired but still had smiles stretched across their faces for what had yet to come. Everyone sat in suspense as Lief announced the groups, while maybe one friend may not have been in a group of choice everyone was still happy to be able to meet new friends.

The car ride to the ranch was amazing. I enjoyed my stomach ache from the switchbacks up the mountain as Lief tested how fast he could take them. Just kidding. He didn't drive a mile over the speed limit the whole way.

Intensified sun beat down on our pale Wisconsin skin as we met our guides for the week and filled our packs. Our group only had 2 members who had never been on this trip before but everyone was excited for a new adventure.

While playing a get to know you game at the trail head, we heard thunder. Everyone shrugged it off. The sky usually threatens everyone underneath it by mid day in the summer in the Rockies. Before i should share my name and dance moves it began to POUR. Not only did it start to pour but while we were standing in it waiting for it to pass over it began to hail. Now, I've never stood in a hail storm before but the pellets were a little bigger than peas, pelting against my skin. The trees we were standing under no longer offered adequate support. After we all collected our packs and hid under the visitor center's shelter, our guides smiled and yelled "Welcome to Colorado!!". We ended up laughing it off in the end.

The next few days went by too fast. Before i knew it, it was friday and we were saying trail confessions of rules we'd broken throughout the week (mainly consisting of unacceptable places to...excrete human waste). The soreness on my hips from my pack were gone. My hair was fairly fresh from dipping into a river, and my knee was cut up from hitting it on a rock after cliff jumping. I had new friends sitting beside me that i had go to know very quickly and i, once again had a fresh out take on life from being able to clear my head for a week.

When i got home, i routinely logged into facebook and just thought to myself, "I didnt miss any of this". I didnt miss whos dating who, i didnt miss know if lebron was going to pick this team or that, i just wanted to be back with nature and my friends, and no cares or worries. I sulked around for a day or two looking a pictures again and again but eventually tried to cheer myself up. Every scrape i got from the trip brings me a smile when i think about how i got it. Scratch on my shin from tripping while excited to meet the other backpacking team at a crossroad, gash on my knee from cliff jumping and swimming out, cut on my foot from climbing a mountain of rocks, all of these, the pain included, i love.

These backpacking trips have changed me a lot, if we combine all four that i've been on.

I'm going to miss those trips so much and I know that i'll probably go on another back packing trip in the future, but Blackhawk Church started it all. And i'm very thankful for it.

-Sophia.