In late October, the Thoreau college student body set off on a 5 day expedition, led by Dave and Frankie. I’m a city kid, so travel to me has always meant cars, trains, or buses. If you want to get somewhere, you do it fast. Walking to walk was foreign to me, so I struggled with the idea of an expedition, especially one where we were hoisting around heavy packs. The week was filled with campfires discussions, laughter, and positive challenges that brought us closer as a group. If I had to pick a favorite part, though, it was learning to love the subtle art of the hike. I discovered hiking is meditative and unwinding. It’s a time to watch the snow settle in the shadows of the hill, to look towards the sun and feel a sense of accomplishment for just being.