On campus, I am hyper-involved with the DOC, from Cabin and Trail (hiking) to Ledyard Canoe Club, I love leading trips and being outdoors as much as possible. Swipe through my posts for updates on studying abroad and traveling through college, student bands/a cappella, as well as the day-to-day updates of a 20yo who just recently started liking coffee (exciting, right?).
We were met with this heathenous body of water on the second day, paddling fifteen miles across waves that made us liars for calling the trip a flatwater one. As the waves crescendoed throughout the day, the late afternoon meant that water slowly filled our canoes—my Chacos fought for their lives, honestly. We arrived at the pick-up point for our last trippee around 5 pm, and there, on that dock, we had our first warm meal. You have no clue how good ramen tastes after suffering through sterning in what feels like an ocean.
The next three days were packed full with miles paddled, bug bites, evening rainbows, and the best views.
Our group grew close and well-oiled, and soon we had gotten used to the act of portaging—switching on and off between paddling and carrying canoes on our shoulders (yeah, that's right, portaging is sick and a one-girl job).
And finally, it was the night before the Grand Portage. The trip's namesake is a 9-mile continuous portage tackled at the end of the Pigeon River. This would be our most intensive day, and the night before was consumed with planning, strategizing our breaks, and choosing portage groups that were fit for each other. We began at four in the morning, with the goal of finishing around three in the afternoon, when we'd be picked up at the town of Grand Portage. Yet, as we admired the scenery around us, the miles began to shed, the music bumped—hard—and we made insanely good time. We arrived at Grand Portage around noon, and I would be lying if I told you I didn't cry as soon as I saw our "finish line."
We were met with rain, and the rain itself reminded me of the damp nights, the difficult paddles, and the many moments where I felt as though I was in over my head. But above it all, I felt overwhelmingly proud of myself, of this group of strangers turned close friends, and the support system we created for one another while pushing each other to new heights.
Yes, this is the coolest thing I've ever done…and may it serve as a reminder to be bold and send that email. Though you never know what doors will open, the only way to find out is to knock.
Last September, a friend and I crafted a ten-item bucket list for our final year as undergraduates. It's the end of our senior spring now. These are some of the boxes I've checked.
