On a frosty 28-degree December day in Weaverville, North Carolina, three fifteen-passenger Young Life vans jam-packed with backpacks, sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, and 23 obnoxious teenagers pulled into the trailhead at the bottom of the mountain. Bundled up and ready to hike, we began our three-mile journey up the steep mountainous trail to the rustic and remote cabin at the peak of the mountain..
Although we were excited about the adventure ahead of us, the freezing snow on the side of the trail provided forewarning of how rugged our retreat might be, especially since we were not going to have any electricity, running water, or phone service when we arrived to the top. halfway there. The sun beganto set behind the treacherous mountaintops while freezing wind started to pick up. I thought to myself,Whydid I want to do this? About a mile and a half into the hike, we were This is miserable. It’s freezing. I have no phone
About a mile and a half into the hike, we were I can’t even shower when we get to the cabin. Oh my gosh, I DON’T HAVE MY PHONE! Phone withdrawal was setting in. Filing in a straight line with minimal flashlights to brighten our path, we finally made it to the cabin after an exhausting two-hour climb.
The old wooden cabin was rustic, decorated with a vast wraparound porch. Inside the single wooden-framed door awaited a spaciousliving area with hardwood floors. I was pleased to see a fireplace covering one wall while a furnace sat directly in the middle of the room. At least there will be heat, I thought, relieved. The living room area was where the guys would curl up in their sleeping bags tonight, while a tiny staircase led to the loft where the young women would be cuddled up later. We built a warm, cozy fire with the leftover firewood cut by a previous group then settled into our sleeping bags for a long, uncomfortable night of sleep.
By Katelyn Wienbarg
Katelyn brushing her teeth using little water
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On a frosty 28-degree December day in Weaverville, North Carolina, three fifteen-passenger Young Life vans jam-packed with backpacks, sleeping bags, pillows, blankets, and 23 obnoxious teenagers pulled into the trailhead at the bottom of the mountain. Bundled up and ready to hike, we began our three-mile journey up the steep, moun-tainous trail to the rustic and remote cabin at the peak of the mountain.
Although we were excited about the adventure ahead of us, the freezing snow on the side of the trail provided forewarning of how rugged our retreat might be, especially since we were not going to have any electricity, running water, or phone service when we arrived to the top. About a mile and a half into the hike, we were halfway there. The sun began to set behind the treacherous mountaintops while freezing wind started to pick up. I thought to myself, Why did I want to do this? This is miserable. It’s freezing. I
have no phone! I can’t even shower when weget to the cabin. Oh my gosh, I DON’T HAVE MY PHONE! Phone withdrawal was setting in. Filing in a straight line with minimal flash-lights to brighten our path, we finally made it to the cabin after an exhausting two-hour climb.
The old wooden cabin was rustic, deco-rated with a vast wraparound porch. Inside the single wooden-framed door awaited a spacious living area with hardwood floors. I was pleased to see a fireplace covering one wall while a furnace sat directly in the middle of the room. At least there will be heat, I thought, relieved. The living room area was where the guys would curl up in their sleeping bags tonight, while a tiny staircase led to the loft where the young women would be cuddled up later. We built a warm, cozy fire with the leftover firewood cut by a previous group then settled into our sleeping bags for a long, uncomfortable night of sleep.
By Katelyn Wienbarg
Katelyn brushing her teeth using minimal water.
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