We were tired after each day’s activities but, remarkably, not sleepy. Many of us would stay up until 11:00 p.m. or midnight to finish the last bottle of wine and then go stargazing on the cliffs, where we contemplated life and shared stories, jokes, and sentimental moments. When I finally hit the sack, I was always amazed at how superbly I slept on a wooden platform in a sleeping bag. I think this was because we were completely out of contact with the outside world and there was no point in worrying about anything. All of my problems would still be there when I got back, but at camp, there was nothing to do but be in the moment. That is what it was all about—to get away from reality for while.
One day, our expedition leader exclaimed, “You guys have so much fun, I can’t believe you have serious day jobs!” Well, perhaps we were acting like kids … at summer camp.
At the airport where we’d begun our journey, we’d met a traveler who’d just done the Fu River expedition the week before. Commenting on his experience he’d said, “It feels like a lifetime in one week.” No truer words could be spoken.
When I got home from camp, Mom and Dad were not there to exclaim, “My, how you’ve grown!” But in fact, we had all grown, not in stature, but inside, having learned we could face unfamiliar challenges and return home a little bigger.
Related Story: Futaleufu Multi-Sport Expedition: Part 1
Photo courtesy of Rayno van Heerden
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