By Emily Kremer, Bus 1 Participant
1. push yourself
whether you think you’re too tired to go on another hike, or it’s too gross to do your business behind a mountain, don’t be afraid of doing something a little outside of your comfort zone.
2. watch your step
the desert is home to many different sized rocks, thorn bushes, and human and animal feces, so always look where your foot is going unless you want to end up at the bottom of a hill or a foot full of thorns.
3. don’t complain
everyone else is just as tired and exhausted as you, but complaining won’t make the heat any cooler or the hike any shorter, and the reward of finishing a tough hike or seeing the most beautiful view is worth every step.
4. be flexible
living in the desert, you have to adapt to your living conditions: learning to change in front of everyone on the trip, brush your teeth without a sink, and sleep with only a tarp under the stars.
5. take it all in
living in the desert for 4 days was one of the best experiences of my life, and now that I’m back to wifi and showers i miss climbing over rocks and feeling the calm breeze at the top of each mountain. Even when all i wanted was to wash my face or have cold water, I could still appreciate how unique this journey was and that I could experience it with this amazing group of people.
