backpacking- check

i did it. i survived a backpacking trip. i walked almost 20 miles with a heavy pack, with quite a bit of up hill at 13,800 feet. i slept outside. i went without a shower or any indoor plumbing. i was dirty, tired, sore, and sunburned. but i survived and now can check that off the life list! and with the exception of slightly sore legs and a horrendous sunburn (my nose is horribly blistered!), i feel pretty good. i actually enjoyed myself, most of the time.

the first day we drove to copacabana, a chill, little city on the shore of Lake Titicaca. after lunch in the plaza, we headed out. we walked about 10 miles to the end of the peninsula. it was a nice walk, although the constant stopping and complaining of the high school boys made it a bit long. however, i eventually walked ahead of them, and enjoyed some nice chats with some of the other female teachers. as we approached camp, the sun was setting over the lake and it was like the reward for persevering and making it thus far. as hot as the day had been, the night was freezing and after adding many layers back on, we enjoyed a time around the camp fire, eating a delicious dinner ( i discovered that camp food, when prepared by an expert, is really incredible!) and just chatting, before heading to bed early.

the next morning we woke up early, packed up camp, and took a boat out to the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun). we hiked from the south side of the island to the north side, most of the time on an incan trail. we had been anticipating a good 6-7 hour hike, however, we were pleasantly surprised to find ourselves at our next campsite after only about 4 hours or so. we camped on the beach and were able to enjoy a lazy afternoon, laying on the beach, napping, and playing cards. we spent some quiet time alone, watching the sunset and reflecting on what the Lord had been teaching us throughout the trip. it never ceases to amaze me the more i do outdoorsy stuff, how many analogies for the christian life you can make. if you are a regular reader of this blog, or have talked to me at all in the past couple of months, you know i have been learning a lot about joy and finding and focusing on joy, rather than troubles. the Lord used this hike as another opportunity to remind me about looking for joy. many times i would be so focused on the path and just putting one foot in front of the other that i would forget to look around at the breathtaking views that surrounded me. the bluest water that sparkled like diamonds, the snow covered mountains in the distance, the green islands across the lake. (look for some amazing pictures soon on facebook!) how many times in our life, are we so focused on just getting through the day, that we forget to stop and look for the joy the Lord has put in our lives? we should be joy-seekers, remembering to take our eyes off the path and look around at the amazing views the Lord has given us.

the final day involved only about an hour of hiking and then another hour on a boat back to the mainland, before we caught the bus back to la paz. all in all, it was a good trip. at times it was hard, especially climbing the hills in the altitude with a cold (catching your breath at 13000 feet is hard enough, then add in walking uphill with a stuffy nose and it's practically impossible). i could tell my body was not completely recovered from the illness of a week ago, and i wasn't quite as strong as i normally am, but i was proud of my pace (especially in comparison to the high school boys!).

will i ever go backpacking again? i honestly don't know. it was hard, and although i enjoyed it, i am not sure i have been completely converted yet. i really don't know if i could handle a harder trail, but i do think i should perhaps like to try a similar trail when i am completely healthy and see if it is better. i would also like to sometime try a trip without the altitude and see what a difference that would make. and so while i am still a "ballerina girl", i now know i can at least pose as an outdoorsy girl for a few days, if necessary!