The other day I turned 22! I threw a huge party for my 21st, so this year I wanted to do something a little more intimate. So I planned a backpacking trip to Horseshoe Lake in the Pecos Wilderness in Northern New Mexico. Accompanying me was my boyfriend Ben, my best friend Rachel, her boyfriend Cole, and our adventurous pups Yuki and Elsie. It was a first backpacking trip for both dogs!
Yuki looked especially official in her backpack.
We set on out on what would be a 5 hour hike to Horseshoe lake. We decided to take the long way there to climb a big ridge, just for the views. And they were so worth it. While here in the city it still feels like summer, up in the mountains the colors are changing to fall. It was breathtaking.
(not Horseshoe lake)
That last pic is from the very top. When we finally started to descend the sun was setting, and it was full on nighttime before we reached the lake. Once we finally made it, we made camp and lit a little fire. Nothing felt so good as to sit down, pack off, and enjoy the bright warm flames. When we finally put it out we snuggled up in the tent and looked up at the stars. Before sliding into sleep we saw the brightest, most amazing shooting star! It was a good birthday omen, I just know it.
The next morning we awoke to Horseshoe Lake! Rachel, Cole, and Elsie trekked off after breakfast while Ben, Yuki, and I stayed behind to explore the lake.
Eventually we started our hike back. I thought this would be fairly easy, given that we weren’t going to take the detour up the ridge a second time. I was so wrong. What should have been a short, mostly downhill hike back to the car turned into a 5 hour trek across fallen trees, streams, rocky outcropping, and marshland. Thank God for the GPS, and thank God for Yuki! She was the one who found the on and off again trails. The occasional dead-end trail was such a treat in the midst of all that bushwhacking! Needless to say, we took quite a few well deserved breaks.
Honestly, I couldn’t believe it when we made it to the car. We made it! After pretending not to think we were lost most of the way, it felt great! Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday. Out in the beautiful world with the ones I love, that’s what I live for.
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