Hiking the Shenandoah - Kendal Chang

This class talked about different people’s journeys while on a long hike. Talking about the Appalachian Trail reminded me of one of my favorite memories from freshman year of college. During the fall semester, I went on a hike with my friends where we hiked the Shenandoah. We woke up right at sunrise and went on a hike that took over six hours. It was definitely a fun experience where I learned a lot about myself and the people I went with. While on the hike, we ended up going the “wrong way” and took the alternate route. This route had us going straight uphill for over an hour. It was very physically taxing, and we were all getting really tired. We did not get to see the view that the trail was supposed to take us to. Instead, we saw another view that not many would have been able to see. We ended up stopping at a peak in the trees where we had a “wow” moment. This experience relates to how being “lost” can end up being an unexpected, extraordinary thing. As other readings stated, you bond with those around you on the trail because of similar interests or a shared goal. That was what happened with my group of friends. I wasn’t the closest with them before we went on this hike, but after this experience, we were able to form closer relationships with each other. We got to bond over the funny moments and connect on a deeper level. It was a memorable experience and something I will remember from my time at CNU. 


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