Alive.

I feel alive in the backcountry.

There is nothing like breathing in the stars of the Zion National Park draped across the black sky like an endless string of Christmas lights. There is nothing more beautiful than a quiet, glowing sunrise looming over the soft hills. There is nothing quite so sincere as the presence of a thousand trees gathered together in brotherhood.

The wilderness is mystical and its beauty is unparalleled.

Some of my dearest wilderness memories have come from spring break trips. For the past three years (going on four), I have embarked on a week-long backpacking or hiking adventure with my college friends. These trips have changed my life. I have grown in countless ways as a result of each unique trip.

In honor of spring break being just six weeks away, here are ten reasons why I think you should go on a spring break adventure:

You will form lasting friendships.

Many of my closest friends have come out of spring break adventures. When you spend over a week on the road and on the trails with a group of people, you are bound to get close. Making meals together, walking the trails together, pitching tents together, filtering water together and sitting around the campfire together creates a special community of friends.

Food will never taste so good.

When eating in the backcountry, ordinary food tastes extraordinary. Not only are you always hungry because of the energy you exert, but dirt that gets in your food adds an extra flare of flavor. Plus, many of the meals are eaten by hand which adds another element of fun to your eating experience.

Communication will be tested and strengthened.

As is to be expected, communication is necessary for a successful spring break trip. When you have a group of multiple different personalities living and being with each other 24/7, communication is key. Spring break trips have helped me to speak up for myself and listen well to the concerns of others.

The inside jokes are endless.

If you love inside jokes now, just wait until you go on a spring break trip with your crazy friends. You are guaranteed to come away with a book full of funny quotes and unforgettable inside jokes. And there’s nothing like returning to that hilarious inside joke a few years later with old friends.

You will do things you never thought you would do.

I never thought I could or would do some of the things I have done on my spring break trips. I never knew I could backpack thirteen miles with forty pounds on my back. I never knew I could drive for nine hours through the beauties of Utah and Colorado's snow covered roads. There are many things I did not believe I could do, but my spring break trips have stretched and pushed me to be brave.

You’re outside all the time. Duh.

Being outside for an extended period of time gives you the space to breath and be still. When the wilderness is your backyard, you grow to know it well. You know exactly how a particular stream babbles. You can recognize the distinct call of the birds at your campsite. Your breath becomes constant with the wind. Life is outside is beautiful. I am thankful for every chance I get to live outside for a while.

You learn you cannot rely on yourself.

Perhaps one of the most important lessons I’ve learned from my spring break trips is the necessity of relying on others. When you are backpacking in the dark with four inches of snow at your feet and 40 pounds of weight on your back, there is no room for self-sufficiency. I have learned to accept encouragement and help from my friends—especially in the times I need it the most.

Camp life is the best life.

I love sleeping in a tent. Although it’s not as comfortable as my bed back home, the experience of snuggling up in a sleeping bag in a warm tent is exciting. And, come on, everyone needs to experience roughing it in the wild every once in awhile.

You learn to expect the unexpected.

It is natural for us to hope for our plans to go perfectly. But in reality, nothing turns out exactly the way you would expect it to. The unexpected always happens. You never know if a snowstorm, a dead bear cub or a flooded tent will come your way. These experiences have helped me to embrace the twists and turns of life’s craziness.

You experience life in new ways.

Camping and hiking in the backcountry will make you feel dirty and free and real and peaceful and silly and beautiful and everything in between.

The pictures on this blog post are from spring break trips at Zion National Park, Great Smokey Mountains National Park and Olympic National Park. Some of the pictures are mine and others were taken by my wonderful friend, Jenna Griffin.