I don't know what it is lately, but I have had this extreme itch for adventure. Everything in me wants to just drop everything and go camp, rockclimb, scramble, backpack, etc etc. But I never get to actually go do it. Or very rarely at least. Life keeps getting in the way dang it. I got to go on a backpacking weekend trip up to San Jacinto a couple weeks ago and that was a stinkin blast. Maybe that's when it all hit me again. I get going on trips, completely surrounded by wilderness, with everything I need in a backpack on my shoulders, and I absolutely love the freedom. I love the fresh air. I love the beauty. And I love not being by civilization. Don't get me wrong, I grew up in the city and I love it. But man do I love to get away. I feel like this semester I have really discovered a passion of mine. The outdoors. Recently I have been trying to research different mountains, state parks, campgrounds, and hikes. I am trying to teach myself how to read a topographic map...hah. That's a work in progress. For my birthday coming up I have asked for camping gear...and thats it. I just really want to learn everything I can about living outside. I have a TON to learn. And I really don't think you ever stop learning about it. I really just need to get out and discover new places and get my hands dirty. But the problem is me being a young girl. I can't exactly go on escapades by myself. That would be dumb. And I never really have someone to join me...because either their life gets in the way, or they just don't like camping. So for now I'm just going to researching I guess. haha. I'm sure the kids sitting behind me in class think I'm insane because I'm constantly looking up different trips, places, and organizations on my computer. Speaking of organizations...I found this organization called Summit For Someone (www.summitforsomeone.org). It's super cool! Basically you pick a trip you want to go on, you raise a certain amount of money, and the money you raise goes a little towards your trip, plus you end up allowing 5 underprivelaged kids who don't normally get the chance to go outdoors, the chance to go on an outdoor adventure. And I think thats pretty stinkin awesome! What a cool organization.
I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do this summer and I'm either thinking of doing a Summit For Someone trip, a NOLS program, or a father/daughter summit of Mt. Kilamanjaro. All of which would be legit. I know I sound insane, but I just need to get outside. It's not even a thing where I want to discover something or prove something, it's just a pure passion that is developing and in full throttle right now. haha. Clearly I chose the wrong major yet again. Should have been a recreation major. Damn. Too late now. haha. I will graduate with a teaching credential in Secondary English, but who the hell knows what I'm gonna end up doing with my life. I've always wanted to work for a camp full time. Maybe start a camp? Take over a camp? Work for some sort of outdoor adventure school or program. Who knows! I guess the good part about being a teacher, even if I do end up doing that, is that I get summers off! And I can always adventure then. :-)
Anyways...hopefully I'll get some more experience on different trips soon. But right now I am just trying to learn everything I can. Hopefully I'll get some help from people of more knowledge of what to do next. I'm hoping to make a camping trip with my brother and dad over my birthday weekend...so pray that it happens! Alright, that's all I got for now. Just needed to vocalize my thoughts at the moment. I'll leave you with this quote...
"...nothing is more damaging to the adventurous spirit within a man than a secure future. The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." - Chris McCandless (aka- Alex Supertramp)
