Stein Traverse

A little over a week ago, I got home from the 9-day grad hike. First big epic thing of my summer - check! What was it like? Well... the most physically challenging thing I have ever done. And I do not regret going at all. I don't think I'll do it again anytime soon, though. My knees are shot. On the last evening of the hike, we took a whiskey bottle, put notes written to our future selves in it, and buried it under a rock. So one day, I will have to come back - we all agreed on having a Stein Traverse Reunion 10 years from now.

Really, though, it was an amazing hike with a wonderful group of people.  All of the difficulties we faced just made it more memorable. They were also all strangely symbolic of the whole "entering into adulthood" thing, which was kind of the theme of the hike for us grads. In a recent email, our hike leader wrote: "In many ways I'm so glad the trip was so tough and sometimes so scary.  Whatever challenges and obstacles may come your way in future my dear young people you will often be able to say to yourself 'Ha! Not as tough as that day on the Stein Traverse!'"

Here are a couple photos from the trek. The views were gorgeous up there... and the wildflowers...