2010 in Review

January 2010- Ringing in the new year with my best friends by my side. Looking forward to 2010 and all the adventures it brings.

February 2010- French Exchange students from Marseille, France arrive in the United States. Marianne quickly became another member of our family and we miss her dearly!
March 2010- Just 5 weeks after the French Exchange students came to Chicago, we were packed up and ready to fly off to France. Because of heavy snow (in March?!?!) our flight was delayed for 3 hours and we all were itching to leave. We said au revoir to our parents and flew off on a whirlwind adventure.

April 2010- A picture with a baguette...when in France...do as the French do! The baguettes were cheap and were plentiful. My first international trip included being pick pocketed, climbing the Eiffel Tower, shopping in the markets, eating crepes and much more.

May 2010- Working on a film for LTTV (Lyons Township Television), the television station at my high school. The film was a murder mystery with a twist. LTTV is my home away from home and I probably spend more time at school than I do at home.
June 2010- My younger brother, Josh, graduated from 8th grade and is now in the same high school as me (scary). We have 2 campuses at my school so I never see him. My little brothers are growing up too fast!
July 2010- This picture was taken at base camp of our backpacking trip to the Stanley Hot Springs in western Idaho. To read more about my trip with the Student Conservation Association please visit the post.
August 2010- After returning from my trip to Idaho and working as a nanny the rest of the summer a 4 day mini vacation to a friend's lake house was a must. 4 days filled with tubing, water skiing, swimming, kayaking, boating and soaking up some rays.
September 2010- Some of my best friends and I went to a Rascal Flatts concert the weekend after school started and had a blast. They are my favorite band and everyone enjoyed themselves.
October 2010- After being accepted to SCAD and having my heart set on attending my dad and I took a trip down to Savannah, Georgia to check it out. I fell in love with SCAD and the city that surrounds it. The opportunities available to the students are unprecedented and all the professors have worked professionally in the fields they are teaching. I can not wait to begin classes in fall 2011
November 2010- Yet another film in production in cooperation with LTTV. This was the first film that I produced, directed, and edited all by myself. The finished product ended up being over 8 minutes but because of the competition I was entering I had to cut it in half. To see Date with Cthulhu please visit my vimeo.

December 2010- With the year coming to a close I realize that this was a year of firsts. First time out of the United States, first time backpacking, first college visit, first college acceptance, and some of the first times I've truly felt alive.

"As a big 2010 came to its conclusion I felt purposeful and satisfied, but also on the verge of overwhelm. 2011 and 2012 will be even bigger - how can I maintain momentum without forgetting to live in the moment? This is the challenge and the opportunity of the year: to create sustainable growth in all areas while retaining a core sense of identity." -Chris Guillebeau

What am I looking forward to in 2011?

A possible volunteer trip to Haiti, graduating high school, spending the summer in Ghana, making documentaries, moving out, starting college, traveling to the ends of the world, pursuing my passions, and living every moment to it's fullest.

Meilleurs Vœux

Nejlepší přání

最良好的祝愿

Onnentoivotukset

Auguri

Parimate soovidega

ด้วยค

Best Wishes,

Rebecca Kuntz

Moments of Zen

12.23.10

[Zen]- To seek enlightenment by meditation in which there is no consciousness of self.

Hmm...meditation....yeah I can barely sit still for 5 minutes without having to get up and run a lap around the room. Even though I have never meditated, I have tried. Whenever I would sit and try to meditate I could never quiet my mind enough to sit and just feel my chest rise and fall. My mind races at a thousand times a minute and constantly jumps from one idea to the next, sometimes not even having time to complete one thought before moving to the next. Even though I never have meditated I can say I have felt zen. To me zen should be defined as follows:

[Zen]- A moment when one is at peace, when nothing else matters but being in that moment and feeling as though they are truly living.

It might be a bit wordy but I believe it gets my true thought across. Zen doesn't have to be sitting still, trying every possible way to make your mind shut up and just be. Zen can be found in a moment when your mind can't stay on one single idea for more than a second. The point is that zen depends on the person. Zen to one might be sitting in a yoga studio listening to a soothing voice try to talk all of the thoughts from your mind, but zen to another person might be found riding an almost broken down bus across the Sahara. I know I am in a moment of zen when I want to be nowhere else but in that moment, if someone were to offer me a million dollars in that moment I would refuse because nothing else matters.

As you know this spring I took my first trip abroad through the French Exchange at my school. I can't even begin to describe all the moments of complete zen I had while visiting the beautiful towns along the Mediterranean coast as well as the chic capital of Paris. My favorite moment of zen had to be when I was flying back home to Chicago from Paris. We had just reached the point when it was safe to remove our seat belts so of course there was a massive rush to the two bathrooms available to economy flyers. People were walking up and down isles, languages I could not understand were being spoken like buzzing bees, and flight attendants were pushing carts around with 30 different drinks, all of which I wanted to try. And with all this chaos circling around me, I was at peace. I knew that I was flying home to family that loves me, but I also knew I was speeding miles away from a second family. I was being torn in two separate directions. I was looking forward to going home and sharing millions of stories with friends and family, but every minute that passed a piece of my heart was being ripped from the country that captured it during the past two weeks. In a child's game of tug-of-war if one side pulls harder, the other side gets yanked away from the side where they started. If the sides were evenly matched it causes a freeze, no one winning and no one losing. France verses the United States, each wanting to win over the love of my heart. Going back and forth, one was winning, and in the next minute the other was on top. Something changed within me in an instant. The country war was snapped to a standstill. Both pulling equally, the two countries were evenly matched. They both hold family and friends near and dear to my heart, both have beautiful city and countryside, both I now consider home.

I have never felt more connected to myself or the world around me than when I was in Idaho this past summer for three weeks. Three weeks of no television, no internet, or even bathrooms and showers. During this time I realized how boxed in I felt in the "real" world. Every day I am constantly surrounded by walls whether they be the four walls of my bedroom, the endless white walls at school, and the invisible walls in my mind, blocking out all fear, danger, and the terrors of the world. Through my experiences in Idaho I worked, lived, and breathed nature, every part of it. I witnessed a moose crossing a stream near hot springs in the mountains, wolves howling me to sleep each night and even swimming in a waterfall The specific moment when I felt this unbreaking bond with nature was on our recreation backpack trip. We slept overnight at a campsite at the bottom of the mountain, falling asleep to the rushing rapids below. The next morning we packed only the necessities into our bags and started the six mile trek through the forest covering the mountain. After crossing two flowing streams we were about a half a mile from our destination of the hot spring and very hungry. We decided to stop for lunch before hiking the last leg to our site. We found this huge natural rock formation that we all could climb up onto and eat lunch and talk. I took off my pack at the bottom and climbed up to the top and ate lunch and laughed with my new family. I finished eating and decided to walk around the huge steps and enjoy the breathtaking views. I sat on the edge of a rock with a thirty foot drop below. With my feet dangling over the edge, I just sat. I sat and let the thoughts run in and out of my head as they may, and for the first time in a very long time I was at peace, at peace with myself and at peace with my surroundings. The walls both physical and mental were breaking down. I had finally knocked down the walls that stood between myself and nature, and also between myself and my thoughts. I felt as though all the fear within me was rushing away with the river below. Fear jumped off the cliff I was sitting on and waved goodbye as it went for a chilly ride down the river. The block that I felt between nature and I decided to walk itself back down the mountain, never to return. I stood up, feeling a lot lighter, because trust me those walls weighed me down, and ran back to my crew and suited back up to continue the final stretch to the hot springs. Standing at the airport in Lewiston, Idaho three days later, was the first time that physical walls stood around me in 21 days. After not having anything to block me in for three weeks, one would think that the feeling of claustrophobia would quickly set in, but no I had never felt so free. Free to live life to the fullest, because I knew that fear and danger were left on the mountain, never to return again.

Breathtaking Views

What is your definition of zen and where have you found it?

My Favorite Travel Videos 2010

12.22.2010

Seeing as this year is coming to an end I thought I would look through my Vimeo likes and YouTube favorites, and compile a list of 20 of my favorite travel videos. There are videos ranging from professional quality to ones shot on a cell phone camera. All though capture the beauty and grace of life on the move.

In no particular order:

1. A well edited short that takes an old idea and puts a new spin on it.

"Trashy Novel"

2. The lives of real-life Americans who have dared to live their dreams.

"Breaking Free [FULL]"

3. An insiders look into the life of Stuart Oates, a member of the Response Team for the international aid organization, Shelter Box.

"The Life of an Aid Worker"

4. Breathtaking visuals of a team trekking through Iceland's fields, glaciers, and pristine wilderness.

"Iceland"

5. What is the difference between hopelessness and hope?

"The Difference"

6. A man walks 4646 miles through China. Watch his hair grow as he encounters the most interesting situations.

"The Longest Way 1.0"

7. A very interesting look into the people and situations living in the Coral Triange, which has one of the highest rates of biodiversity in the world.

"People of the Coral Triangle"

8. Is our world becoming more connected? Or is it just drifting apart?

"DTJ 2010"

9. If you don't want to shed a little tear, then don't watch this short film. Winner of Vimeo's annual Best of Documentary Award this film captures the deep connections between master and dog.

"Last Minuted with Oden"

10. A girl returns home after several years to visit her ailing mother. Capturing the simplicty and beauty of a family relationship this 15 minute movie is a must watch.

"A Summer Home"

11. One of the best time lapse clips I have ever seen. It really drives home the meaning of America the beautiful.

"Timescapes: Death is the road to awe"

12. The terrible situation taking place in South Africa with young girls.

"South Africa's Pandemic"

13. How could I not include a video from the organization I'm interning with? This video from What Took You So Long is a short promo about their 1+1=11 documentary. In 2009 their traveled from Morocco to South Africa by means of only public transportation, filming non governmental organizations along the way.

"1+1=11"

14. Stories of children who live on the borders in Africa

"Flowers of the Frontier"

15. What would you do if you witnessed children being sold into slavery by their parents?

"The Touch A Life Foundation"

16. The end of the trip from Los Angeles to the Panama Canal by only public transit. See how the entire trip wraps up and Peter's final thought on the trip.

"In Transit Episode 26"

17. Follow the lives of 5 athletes in the Pacific Northwest during their individual seasons. Filled with heartbreak and joy, you will not be able to stop watching the episodes.

"The Season Trailer"

18. A portrait of Howard Weamer, a man, who for the past 35 years has spent his winters in Yosemite's back country. One of the best shot short stories I've seen.

"Winters of My Life"

19. Who can resit the cutest faces from Uganda?

"Kiarbo in 60 seconds"

20. What happens every 8 minutes? What can be done to stop the over taking of resources in Congo?

"Eight Minutes"

Does my generation have a role in America's future?

12.09.10

That was the question I recently had to ponder upon for the local Veterans of Foreign Wars annual Voice of Democracy Scholarship. After thinking long and hard, the audio link below contains my response. Do you agree or disagree? Comments are always welcome.

30 Gift Ideas for Travelers

It's that time of year again...when the weather turns brutally cold (in Chicago at least), lights are hung and lit, and we start writing a list of our most wanted items that we have been compiling in our brains throughout the year. So I decided to endlessly search travel companies for their highest rated and most liked travel gear to give you some ideas for that special traveler in your life.

Apparel

1. Patagonia Women's R3® Hi-Loft Hoody

Extemely warm fleece which can be layered under a shell jacket for water and wind resistance.

2. KEEN Venice Versatile Shoe

From beach running to mountain hiking this shoe adapts to it's surroundings.

3. Tavo Gloves

One of the first pairs of gloves that let you use all of your touch screen devices without removing your gloves.

4. Patagonia Men's Insulated Powder Bowl Jacket

I am a sucker for Patagonia, but who can resist this waterproof/breathable shell made from 100% recycled polyester that has enough pockets to fit millions of gadgets?

5. Columbia Silver Ridge Stretch™ Convertible Pant

Stretch, zip off style pants great for hiking and camping.

6. PACT Underwear

Cute underwear and helping the world? With every underwear purchase, money goes to organic cotton farmers and responsible businesses that are involved with making a positive impact in the world.

Books and Movies (this sections could be a list of 100 or more, anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with documentary books and especially movies)

7. Blingsight

Documentary film where Six blind Tibetan teenagers climb the Lhakpa-Ri peak of Mount Everest, led by seven-summit blind mountain-climber Erik Weihenmayer.

8.The Lost Girls: Three Friends. Four Continents. One Unconventional Detour Around the World

Book when three friends at a crossroads in their twenties make a pact to quit their high pressure New York media jobs; leave their friends, boyfriends and everything familiar behind; and embark on a year-long backpacking adventure around the world.

9. No Impact Man

Documentary film which follows the Manhattan-based Beavan family as they abandon their high consumption 5th Avenue lifestyle and try to live a year while making no net environmental impact.

10. Best of Lonely Planet Travel Writing

From the first tentative steps of the young backpacker finding her feet in a London hostel, to the beyond-travel commitment of setting up house in Delhi, the 26 stories in this collection cover the globe and reveal a world of travel experiences.

11. 180° South

Documentary film which follows adventurer Jeff Johnson as he retraces the epic 1968 journey of his heroes Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins to Patagonia.

12. The Art of Non Conformity

"You don't have to live your life the way other people expect you to." is the main theme of this book. The ideas presented here are interesting, the advice grounded in logic and common sense, and, ironically, the outlook based in the same outside-the-box thinking that corporations are coming to adopt.

Outdoors/Camping/Hiking

13. GoLite Pinnacle Backpack

Very lightweight pack with a large volume that can be jam packed with gear and clothing.

14. MSR SweetWater Purifier System

Fantastic system, I used these when I was in Idaho and it removed all bacteria and parasites like a champ.

15. TraveLite Convertible Carry On

Both a backpack and a carry on item, great for avoiding the oh so annoying airline baggage fees.

16. Mountain Hardwear Kiva Lite Shelter

It is infinitely adjustable, can adapt to any terrain, and has no floor, which means you can cook in it, set up chairs in it, set it up over snow, then dig down to create an entire living room, sleeping area, etc. It can be set up high enough to fully stand up in, or half-buried in the ground for shedding snow or sandstorms.

17. Marmot Pinnacle +15 Sleeping Bag - Regular

One of the best 3 season sleeping bags around. Water-repellent, windproof, downproof nylon microfiber shell is ultra-lightweight, yet strong; Sarcophagus™ Shape increases comfort

Gadgets and Gismos

18. Wordlock LL-206-RD 4-Dial Luggage Lock

Approved by the TSA, so they will not use bolt cutters to inspect your bag. Uses words for the combinations instead of numbers for easy memorization.

19. SteriPEN Adventurer Handheld Water Purifier

Lightweight water purifier that destroys viruses, bacteria and protozoa in less than 2 minutes.

20. QuietComfort® 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling® headphones

Amazing sound quality and drones out even airplane engines.

21. Sony ICDP620 Digital Voice Recorder PC Compatible via USB

Great for recording audio diaries, podcasts, or interesting sounds on the road.

22. iPhone/iPod Apps

You can even book last minute flights and find the best deals on the airlines travel apps.

Photography/Video

23. GoPro HD Helmet HERO Camera

Has been used climbing Everest and SCUBA diving in the Great Barrier Reefs

24. Flip UltraHD Video Camera

I own one of these and take it where ever I go. Can be used for quick video blogs or extended documentary shooting.

25. Canon 7D

The best and newest in digital SLR photography, and produces fantastic HD video. (Mom/Dad, got a couple thousand to drop for your daughters dream camera?!?!)

26. Joby GP3 Gorillapod SLR-Zoom Flexible Tripod for Digital SLR Cameras

This tripod can be shaped to fit any situation; hanging from a tree or attached to a skateboard to get the best shots.

27. Ballistix AURA PRO-TOUR

The Ultimate 2 Day Traveling Backpack for Laptop, Gamers, DJs or Photographers

Miscellaneous

28. Airline Miles

Can make great gifts for your favorite globe trekker. I'm sure they would appreciate racking up the miles to get free flights.

29. Round the World Tickets

Create your ultimate travel adventure with segments of your trip compiled onto one large itinerary.

30. Support

The last thing a traveler wants are family and friends that don't support their adventures. Even if you think they are the craziest person ever be a good friend or family member and help them with their journey, they probably have the same concerns as you do.

What do you want to do before you die?

This is the question engrained into every episode of MTV's reality show, The Buried Life. Each episode they set out to accomplish one of the items on their bucket list, but then in return help a stranger complete something on their list. The team, composed of 4 guys, has done some pretty crazy things which include crashing a parade in Iowa, being dumped overboard in the South Pacific and only having 7 days to make it to safety, get married in Vegas, streaking across a Kansas City stadium and getting away with it, and much more. They made the list of their wildest dreams and now are doing whatever it takes to reach them.

Now I myself have written countless lists of places to visit, people meet, festivals to experiences, that I probably have used an entire notebook full of paper. Most of the time these lists were created when I was bored at school, reading the latest posts on Matador Network, or from watching the Travel Channel nonstop. But now just months before my 18th birthday I find myself nearing a cross road. In less than a year I will be graduated from high school, leaving my childhood behind, looking adulthood straight in the eyes. Instead of running away in fear, I decided to revisit the multitude of bucket lists I have made over the years. I laugh at seeing things like "graduate from 8th grade", "drive a car", and "leave the midwest" on the list, because I knew these things would be accomplished. My 12 year old self had to know that these simple tasks would be crossed off the list in the near future, so then why did I put them on there? Did I include them because I knew I would accomplish them, thus having the internal joy that I am following my dreams? or Did I include them because at that exact moment in time, those list items were unknowns, they could be accomplished, or they could not?

So here it is, part of my 17 year old bucket list, just some of the things that I want to do before I die. This list will be continually changing to fit my newest aspirations and desires, some of the items will get thrown off the list in time, and others will remain forever, some will be quickly accomplished, while others might never be accomplished. This list will get thrown into the box where all my other lists reside, representing one moment in my life when I was able to forget about the now and dive straight into my dreams.

Only 25 of the 100 or so items on my list:

1. Set foot on each of the seven continents. Antarctica might be tough, but if I can accomplish this, I can truly say I am a world traveler.

2. Learn one of the world's dying languages, over half of the world’s 7,000 languages will probably be “extinct” in 40 years. Why not learn Ethopia's Shabo language or the Emerillon language of French Guyana?

3.SCUBA in the Great Barrier Reef. I've had 2 years of SCUBA experience at my high school, this is definatly doable.

4. Cross a glacier on foot. With global warming beating down on us, this might be the last generation to experience this natural wonder.

5. Follow my food from field to table. In America almost every food we eat has been imported from over 1,000 miles away.

6. Skydive. I can legally do it in 2 months, can you say 18th birthday present from Mom and Dad?

7. Cross a country by only public transportation. Seems like the best way to really "meet the locals".

8. Stand on the North or South Pole. Very, very expensive goal but maybe I can catch a ride on a cargo ship or something.

9. Shake hands with someone who has changed a country. ...and then never wash my hand.

10. WWOOF. no not the sound a dog makes, World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. Living, learning, and sharing organic lifestyles.

11. See the Northern Lights in Iceland

12. Visit the world's tiny nations and micro nations. After visiting some of the largest countries in the world try visiting Monaco or Ladonia

13. Travel to outer space. Cause I for sure have $20 million dollars to spare, the view would be nice though.

14. Trek the Inca Trail.

15. Stay in one of the 10 weirdest hotels.

16. Bike across the United States.

17. Travel on the Trans Siberian Highway.

18. Backpack in Kyrgyzstan. 93 % of the country is mountains, and anyone who knows me knows my love affair with mountains.

19. Live in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand for years. These 3 countries have had my heart since I first read blogs about them, still not quite sure what drew me to them but I can't seem to get detached from them.

20. Hike the Appalachian Trail. Yep, all 2174 miles of it.

21. Summit Mount Everest...and then the 6 remaining highest summits in the world. Continuing my love of mountains this is one goal that will never be off my list.

22. Volunteer abroad in 10 different countries. I've got the United States checked off my list and hopefully this summer I will have another.

23. Change someone's life.

24. Visit all the countries in the world. I've got 2 done, only 193 to go.

25. Die having no regrets.

Student Conservation Association

06.24.2010 - 07.14.2010

Oh what a trip, what a trip. Well here's a little quick breakdown to give you an idea:

Total Days: 21
Days of Work: 14
Total Hours of Work: 126
Days Off: 2
Recreation Trip Days: 4
Number of Times Doing Laundry: 0 (2 if you count jumping in the lake with clothes on)
Number of Showers: 0....

Well I wanted a wilderness adventure...and I definitely got that and much more. I don't even know how to start to explain my 3 week trip, but I guess I should start at the beginning. I flew from Chicago to Seattle, spent the night at my Uncle's house in Seattle, then flew from Seattle to Lewiston, Idaho the next morning. The 7 other high schoolers from across the country all had the same connecting flight from Salt Lake City to Lewiston, so they had already been acquainted and stood next to the airport's one and only baggage claim waiting my arrival along with my 2 crew leaders. I met everyone and quickly learned that our group of teenagers was very diverse coming from California, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Florida with ranging experience in backpacking and hiking also. Our first lunch in the airport park was rather awkward, but we couldn't stop talking on our 2 hour ride from Lewiston to our campsite in the Clearwater National Forest. Leaving all civilization behind the 10 of us ventured into a forested inlet and started setting up our home for the next 2 1/2 weeks. A little bit off the gravel road sat our humble abode which included: kitchen area with a propane stove and hanging bags for our dishes, bear bins with food, sump for all left over liquids, tarped area for hanging out, and of course our clearly marked path to the latrine up the hill. Just through the forest and into the meadow is where we decided to set up our tents; one for the boys, one for the girls, and one for each leader.

By the time everything was set up we were starving and tired. A delicious meal of spicy curry was whipped up leaving us full and heading to our respective tents for our first night in the woods. Sleep fell upon us quickly but were woken sporadically throughout the night by the howling wolves, clucking wild turkeys, scampering ground squirrels, and then finally our leader Kyle singing "Bear Necessities" bright and early the next morning. The animal noises during the night became regular and expected but waking up early each work day was definitely a shock.

I really had no idea what to expect of our work site, all I knew is that we would be working on a trail system near a waterfall. We arrived at Elk Creek Falls after a winding drive through the forest and met our Forest Ranger who had all of our project plans. He took us on a 4 mile hike of the entire trail and showed us our project areas.
Projects:

Lower Falls:
Replace all fencing, create new retaining wall, replace 3 benches, create steps (box steps) clear trees and brush

Middle Falls:
Take down dead tree ,replace all fencing, create 2 retaining walls, create steps (timber steps), replace 1 bench, clear trees and brush

Upper Falls:
Replace horizontal boards on fencing, replace 2 benches, clear trees and brush

Additional:
Replace all remaining benches on all trails, stain and bolt all new trail signs and install them

On paper this might not seem like a lot of work but you have to remember one simple thing: these are non motorized trails, so there are no ATV's to help us bring all lumber, tools and equipment up and down the 1 1/2 miles of trail to each fall, it's all manual labor here. After 2 weeks of hauling in and out 6, 8, and 12 foot boards, I feel like a power lifter. Each day we worked from 8:30 am to 5 pm which meant we had to leave our campsite at 8am, and be awake to eat breakfast and make lunch around 7am. Working was actually a lot of fun, it was a great bonding time for the 10 of us. Tensions did run high towards the end of the project because we did have a deadline, but they all eventually got worked out and the project was successfully finished.

On our 2 days off we drove and explored the surrounding towns to learn a little more about the very diverse area we were staying in. One day we visited the largest tree east of the Sierra-Cascade Crest as well as exploring the millions of trees in the Cedar Groves. The second we drove to the Dworshak Dam and reservoir to learn about alternative energy and resources. Later that day we learned all about the Nez Perce Tribe, Lewis and Clark and Sacagawea at the Nez Perce Museum in Lewiston. All of these places were really interesting and I honestly learned a lot.

After 2 1/2 weeks of work, a fun break was much needed. We ended our work projects on a high note and continued the fun when we planned our 4 day recreation trip to the Stanley Hot Springs in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. The first day of our trip we spent the morning cleaning up and saying goodbye to Elk Creek and our campsite then drove 3 hours to the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness trail head. After such a long drive hiking 6 miles up a mountain was a definite no-go. So we spent the night at the camp ground swimming, eating and catching up on some much needed sleep. The hike up the mountain the next morning had a rough, steep start but flattened out. After crossing 2 rushing rivers we finally made it to the hot springs. The springs were....well hot and smelt a little like eggs but were glorious after a 6 mile hike. We spent the night running from the hot springs to the freezing cold river and making crazy new concoctions of food with all that we had left after our 3 week journey. The hike down the mountain the next afternoon was much easier than the way up and our rec trip ended with everyone feeling accomplished.

All in all, this trip was unlike anything that I've ever done before. I've never backpacked, hiked, or camped outside my backyard. Although I felt rather intimidated at first with the thought of no electricity, internet, texting, or running water, I soon realized that these things that consume so much of our daily lives are just amenities.

Baking gourmet dishes are decadent, but it's much more rewarding to eat nothing but oats and hot water for 2 straight days because that's when you learn you can make 30 different meals with just one basic ingredient. Texting your best friends back home is comforting, but it's heart warming to meet 9 other people who you'd never met before and leave feeling like you've known them your whole life, because that's what real friendship is. Taking a hot shower every day is enjoyable, but it's much more fun to jump into a freezing lake on a 40 degree day in the pouring rain because that's where real adventure is found.

To see more photos from my Idaho trip please visit my Flickr.