I'm writing this from my dorm room at NMU on the last day of the 2016 fall semester. Oh how the time has flown. I was just reading my last blog post and realized that I should have posted on this blog a lot more last summer, but hey, better late than never right?
Let me recap you on the eventful (and uneventful) times that have made up the past six months.
- I came home. And I have never been more stoked in my life. I will never forget walking into the baggage claim area in the SLC airport and seeing my parents, grandma, and best friend all there waiting for me. When I went outside I had to take a moment to just gaze up at the gorgeous snow-capped Wasatch mountains. Everything was so familiar, and so beautiful. I felt an overwhelming sense that I was in the place I was supposed to be.
This feeling lasted for the entirety of the summer, I didn't take one day for granted.
- I trained, a lot. I roller skied and ran more than I have in my life over the summer. It was hard, but also really motivating to see myself improving. I really enjoyed it. I also ran a ton and did some fun runs that I had never done before.
- I saw The Neighborhood, The Lumineers, and 21 Pilots in concert.
- I reunited with old friends. I was lucky to get to see almost all of my high school friends over the summer and it was super cool to hear about what they are doing at their respective colleges and how they are doing in general. I've got some awesome people for friends.
- I accidentally went to an LGBT dance/rave with my best friend Kaila, and it was great.
- Kaila and I wanted to try clubbing but quickly abandoned that idea when we saw the sketchy AF looking club.
- Kaila and I wanted to try clubbing but quickly abandoned that idea when we saw the sketchy AF looking club.
- I went on a camping/climbing trip at Maple Canyon where I experienced a mental breakdown while leading an 11b. My parents were shocked to hear some of those words coming out of my mouth.
- I went on another camping trip with my wonderful mother to Dark Canyon where it was so windy one night that our tent almost flew off a cliff when we were setting it up ( I chased it and almost died). My mom and I also almost ran out of gas while driving on a deserted road absentmindedly jamming to The Beatles.
- I walked the neighborhood trails with my boyfriend P-Diggy.
- I made an embarrassing video of myself showcasing me and Sitka's relationship, although it more just shows my utter lack of friends -- I will post below, don't judge me.
- Kaila and I camped in my metal van on the top of Gaurdsman's Pass in the middle of a sketchy lighting storm.
- I dorked out with my mom on the daily.
- I did many Park City loops with Kyle roller skiing and catching up on our lives.
- I drug Kaila to the MARC with me twice a week to do strength and we suffered through a variety of TRX exercises, bench press, and many other wonderful moments of pain.
- I went to Steamboat for the Fourth of July and had a mostly good time that I can't quite recall. I spent it with Brenna and her boyfriend Ben, two people who I genuinely enjoy.
- I volunteered at Nuzzles and Co. and walked some mangy, but cute dogs around the Rescue Ranch.
- I helped my mom teach art at a retirement home in Heber where we met some super nice older people and one guy who was an awesome artist, really fun time.
- I developed a major crush.
- I climbed a lot at Momentum and accomplished my goal of climbing a 12a by the end of the summer (on top rope).
- My mom and I went to a 3 day sound/healing retreat at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado. We learned some songs and chants and played rhythms on the drums and on the last night we had a ceremony that people came and watched. There is certainly something magical about the giant Buddha that sits peacefully at the Shambhala. I was kind of stressed out going into the whole trip, but I left feeling more peaceful and with my priorities in line.
- Kaila and I accidentally climbed Twin Peaks, the peak that has the highest elevation gain from bottom to top in the Wasatch (we thought we were climbing a different peak) and had an epic getting back down as it got dark and we decided the best way to get down was to scale sketchy AF cliffs and come face to face with a group of mountain goats. There was a moment when Kaila somewhat jokingly asked if we were going to end up on one of those "I shouldn't be alive" shows as we bushwhacked through head-high shrubs and I began stepping down a slippery waterfall, just holding onto vines. I laughed but in my head I was thinking we were screwed. It is safe to say that we were relieved to finally reach the main trail and even happier to get to the car at midnight.
- My family and I went to Canada!! This was probably one of my favorite parts of summer. We went to Squamish and Whistler, BC, and let me just say, that is the place to be. I wasn't sure if there was a place nicer than Park City to live, but Squamish and Whistler take the cake on that one. It was gorgeous there, with towering mountains right by the vast ocean. We hiked, climbed, ran, ate (my personal favorite), explored, and spent time with my parent's friend Nevada. It was a good time with only a few stressful traveling moments.
- I said my goodbyes, which was harder than the first time I left for college.
- I came back to Marquette.
And here I am now, mid ski season. It was a fun summer and I can't wait for the next one, but right now is go-time!!
Thanks for reading, I know this was a very single-minded blog that may not have interested anyone but myself, but I enjoyed writing it and I guess that's what really matters.
<3 sophie
I'll post the video once I get the link working
- I went on another camping trip with my wonderful mother to Dark Canyon where it was so windy one night that our tent almost flew off a cliff when we were setting it up ( I chased it and almost died). My mom and I also almost ran out of gas while driving on a deserted road absentmindedly jamming to The Beatles.
- I walked the neighborhood trails with my boyfriend P-Diggy.
- I made an embarrassing video of myself showcasing me and Sitka's relationship, although it more just shows my utter lack of friends -- I will post below, don't judge me.
- Kaila and I camped in my metal van on the top of Gaurdsman's Pass in the middle of a sketchy lighting storm.
- I dorked out with my mom on the daily.
- I did many Park City loops with Kyle roller skiing and catching up on our lives.
- I drug Kaila to the MARC with me twice a week to do strength and we suffered through a variety of TRX exercises, bench press, and many other wonderful moments of pain.
- I went to Steamboat for the Fourth of July and had a mostly good time that I can't quite recall. I spent it with Brenna and her boyfriend Ben, two people who I genuinely enjoy.
- I volunteered at Nuzzles and Co. and walked some mangy, but cute dogs around the Rescue Ranch.
- I helped my mom teach art at a retirement home in Heber where we met some super nice older people and one guy who was an awesome artist, really fun time.
- I developed a major crush.
- I climbed a lot at Momentum and accomplished my goal of climbing a 12a by the end of the summer (on top rope).
- My mom and I went to a 3 day sound/healing retreat at the Shambhala Mountain Center in Colorado. We learned some songs and chants and played rhythms on the drums and on the last night we had a ceremony that people came and watched. There is certainly something magical about the giant Buddha that sits peacefully at the Shambhala. I was kind of stressed out going into the whole trip, but I left feeling more peaceful and with my priorities in line.
- Kaila and I accidentally climbed Twin Peaks, the peak that has the highest elevation gain from bottom to top in the Wasatch (we thought we were climbing a different peak) and had an epic getting back down as it got dark and we decided the best way to get down was to scale sketchy AF cliffs and come face to face with a group of mountain goats. There was a moment when Kaila somewhat jokingly asked if we were going to end up on one of those "I shouldn't be alive" shows as we bushwhacked through head-high shrubs and I began stepping down a slippery waterfall, just holding onto vines. I laughed but in my head I was thinking we were screwed. It is safe to say that we were relieved to finally reach the main trail and even happier to get to the car at midnight.
- My family and I went to Canada!! This was probably one of my favorite parts of summer. We went to Squamish and Whistler, BC, and let me just say, that is the place to be. I wasn't sure if there was a place nicer than Park City to live, but Squamish and Whistler take the cake on that one. It was gorgeous there, with towering mountains right by the vast ocean. We hiked, climbed, ran, ate (my personal favorite), explored, and spent time with my parent's friend Nevada. It was a good time with only a few stressful traveling moments.
- I said my goodbyes, which was harder than the first time I left for college.
- I came back to Marquette.
And here I am now, mid ski season. It was a fun summer and I can't wait for the next one, but right now is go-time!!
Thanks for reading, I know this was a very single-minded blog that may not have interested anyone but myself, but I enjoyed writing it and I guess that's what really matters.
<3 sophie
I'll post the video once I get the link working
