Hintersee: Snowshoeing

    After realizing I am down for pretty much any outdoor adventure, Kendra invited me to go on a 12-mile snowshoeing trip. I promptly said yes. Touring the cities in Europe has been a thrilling experience, but the more I do so, the more I feel like I'm missing something pivotal. The longer I have thought about it, the more I've realized it's the outdoors. I have the keen sensation that I'm not really seeing the countries I visit, not in their entirety. So, I've been trying to think of more ways to get outside and see the countries from other perspectives. After talking it over, I might be going on a hut-to-hut trip through the Dolomites with Kendra and we also want to make plans to backpack in Norway this summer. We'll see what happens, but at least I had this little adventure to look forward to.

   Kendra invited me and one other friend; Jose. Jose is a volunteer from Panama and a good friend to both of us. The plan was to meet up with another friend who lives in Salzburg (whom I did not know) the night before, spend all of Saturday hiking, and return on Sunday. 


   We were convinced to spend our evening at the local youth group and I meant this adorable puppy. She was so sweet. When you are at school, it is often nice to have things that remind you of home, like pets. Colleges are not always the most comfortable, cozy environments, and it makes you appreciate the little things; like a sleepy dog, soft carpets, and a place that feels warm and lived in. 

   
   Our sleeping arrangements were a little less inviting. I've never slept so poorly in my life. The first half of the night I dreamt (in a semi-conscious state) in Portuguese and German (Kendra, Ellen, the other friend we were staying with, and Jose all speak Portuguese.) I was cold, and my sleeping mat wasn't doing zilch. Waking up after such a terrible night's sleep was not a great way to begin a 12-mile journey, but I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and convinced myself I wasn't tired. 

   What a blessing this little adventure was. Being outside refreshed my soul. The first thing we saw as we drove into the mountains was a dog sledding race. How exciting! I was almost convinced to forego the hike entirely to watch. I didn't however, and when we finally got to our destination and stepped off the bus I just stopped. The wind gently tossed the pine needles, rushing as it passed through them, and the brook babbled happily, sending splinters of sunshine dancing in the filmy, light air. A little slice of heaven, and a wonderful change from my stuffy classroom. 

  The first part of the hike was not the best. There was not enough snow for snowshoes, and it was very warm outside, so we just had to hike up the mountain in our stuffy snow pants with our snowshoes strapped awkwardly to our backpacks. Then, for some reason, my hamstring began aching terribly. I started to get a bit nervous at this point, but we finally made it to the top, and what a view! Meadows stretched out in the valley below us and beyond it, jagged peaks scraped at the lurid sky. 

 




   We weren't even halfway yet, so we ate quickly and kept trecking. Once we reached the top, it was completely downhill the rest of the way, and we had snow for much of it. It was extremely fun and very beautiful. The fresh air was so invigorating and the sound of the brook laughing and my friends joining in healed my soul. I wish I could post videos on here because I faceplanted in the snow at one point and it was hilarious. 




my favorite spot along the trail


Getting a bit creative with the icicles. Being from Panama, the deep snow 
and big icicles were new for Jose, and it was cool to experience it with him.


Love this photo of Kendra
   

   By the time we reached the bottom of the valley, it was getting darker and we hit an icy road where we couldn't use our snowshoes. This was probably the least pleasant part because we had to constantly look for the least slick path and we were not always successful.




   I was wearing snow boots, not hiking boots. So at this point, my feet were aching. Just as it started to feel like we would never make it the 12 miles and the sky had turned to a lilac purple and little stars were twinkling over the peaks, I saw a yellow light flickering in the cabin of a window, spraying light onto the purple snow; a little bit of warmth, pouring out into the sleepy winter world. We made it!


Four weary travelers waiting for the bus.

Ended the day with a classic Sabbath dinner; popcorn and smoothies.

   I slept a lot better that night, but I was still exhausted the next day. I was also worried because I had a test on Monday morning and I could barely keep my eyes open long enough to eat lunch. I was able to take a fat nap in the afternoon, and cram in a little studying before dinner. But at dinner time, my friend Keith reminded me that the Super Bowl was that night. In a spur of homesickness and spontaneity, I seemed to forget my exhaustion and the looming test and asked my friends if they would stay up with me and watch. To my simultaneous delight and horror, they said yes. Keith and Keegan went on a late-night expedition to Burger King to get chicken wings while I crammed in a bit more studying. At ten o'clock we gathered for the festivities, by 12:40 the game actually started, and at 1:30 I got bored and went to bed. Thankfully, I still managed to have enough energy to make it through Monday and my test went fine, it was a lot of fun and definitely worth it. 

   I had a wonderful weekend enjoying God's creation, both nature, and the people He has put in my life. 


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