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I remember the day so vividly. Myself and 3 friends had planned a hike up to Loch Lake in Estes Park, Colorado. Leaving the apartment that morning, it was a comfortable 50-something degrees out...but not on the trail. We were so underprepared for what was to come. The temperature on the mountain was closer to 25-30 degrees, with 15+ mph winds howling through the valley. At the trailhead, we started to get a case of cold feet. (Both literally and figuratively) Collectively staring down at our tennis shoes, — (yes, we wore tennis shoes to hike...in knee deep snow. Did I mention we were underprepared?) — we contemplated whether or not to bail out on the hike, but decided to attempt it anyways. Luckily, a large portion of the trail was covered by tree lines, shielding us from the brutality of the winds. Had it not been, I’m not sure we would have been able to finish the hike because once you wandered out of the tree line, you were at the mercy of the mountain. The sections of the trail that left you exposed to the wind were intense, yet serene. Its one thing to be able to sit down, chill out and see nature in its relaxed state. But it’s another thing to feel nature. And I think that’s what I took the most from this experience. For the first time in a long time, I felt how powerful nature can be. Not only does it have the power to manifest its own climate, sculpt terrains, and mold landscapes. It also has the power to bring people together. I am always able to recall certain parts of my hikes and the challenges or views that I experience on them. But the things I always remember and reflect on the most are the people I’m with and the memories shared. The view of Loch Lake itself was amazing, but I couldn’t help but imagine how much more breath-taking it would be in the spring. The lake was completely frozen over, and the wind on the banks was merciless that day. But as the old cliche goes, it’s not always the destination, it’s the journey. I consider myself so incredibly fortunate be able to experience things like these with such great friends.