The Importance of People

One of the most important things I have learned at HMI is the importance of people. On expedition, this is proved time and time again. You need people to talk to when you're hiking, you need people to help set up the tarp, you need people to lend you their headlamp when yours is dead, and you need people to cheer you up and keep you going when the going gets tough. While I have been lucky enough to see incredible views from the tops of mountains, and do incredible things I once thought impossible, all of my happiest memories revolve around the people with me in those moments. And my favorite of part of HMI has been by far the smart and funny and inspirational people I have met and come to love. I will miss everything about the places I have been, but more than I that I will miss the people I have been there with. 

Snapshots of Second

Now it's time to move to second expedition. We started off at a base camp for the first five days,

in hopes of doing trail work. Of course we were met by a snowstorm and didn't end up doing any trail work. Instead we played games in order to keep from freezing, went on short day hikes to get a better view of the incredible mountains surrounding us on all sides. Unfortunately I also discovered on day 2 that my boots had soaked through and frozen solid. So much for Gor-Tex. Despite that significant (and chilly) bummer, I still loved being in the place I was. While I faced struggles on this expedition (definitely my most challenging) I was lucky enough to be in an awesome tarp group with three other people, and be in an amazing expedition group. 

One of the advantages of second expedition: knowing how to cook on a whisper light

Study hall at the edge of tree line

On day 3, we headed up to summit Mt. Harvard, my first fourteener

Almost-to-the-summit snack break

View from the summit!

A few days later...

Somehow we left winter and hiked right into spring at one of our lower elevation sites. The weather (and the fact my toes could thaw) made me feel pretty great, hence the outfit. 

Photos of First

When I think back to first expedition, I remember individual moments. I have chosen to represent these moments through photography to give a small glimpse into life during those two weeks in the back country. I remember seeing the tarp for the first time, and wondering how we would stay warm when there was a foot of open air between the tarp wall and the freezing ground. I remember looking at our food bags and having no idea what we could make, or how to make it for that matter. I remember laughing and singing with my tarp-mates after a long day, I remember (for the most part) the myriad of campsites that became our temporary homes. Some were sunny places I felt calm and happy, others were thorny and windy and all around terrible, but we laughed anyway. I remember once when our tarp was so far away that I got lost trying to find my way back with a dying headlamp. All of these memories, good or bad, make up an unforgettable experience. Here are the small pieces that represent that experience.

Hiking on the Continental divide!

An incredible view at our campsite under Mt. Ouray.

Our Apline start - we woke up at 4:30 am in order to hike Mt. Ouray!

Watching the sun come up around the mountains.

Making our way up to the summit (not including 3 false peaks).

The summit of Mt. Ouray!!! After an exhausting 6 hour hike up, we finally made it, and celebrated with snickers.

Snickers at 13,960 ft: tastes like success.