Mountain Camping Bliss

            Some of the best days of my life were spent in Maryland, times before I moved here to Naperville. A good number of those days were on camping trips my friends and I used to take in the mountains around the area. We would drive up and hike three to four miles, then go off trail to find a great camping spot. We tried to find places nobody had ever camped before, but we usually ended up somewhere disappointing, like a roadside trailer, or a place on a designated camping spot. One time though, we found a magical place to camp, and it will stay in my memory for the rest of my life.

            I walked with my friend Creed, his brother Will, and Creed’s adventurous dad, Travis, who was leading our expedition. We had been going on the trail for about two hours now, and we were getting a little tired of it. Travis asked us if we wanted to try something else, to which we nodded yes, and he broke out in a wild grin. “Well, just follow me,” he shouted as he bounded off into the woods. We glanced at each other nervously, being only ten years old, we never really had adventures like this. While we dashed through the forest, we questioned Travis about the various dangers that could befall us. He laughed off our worried remarks and assured us it would be safe and fun. Taking his word for it, I started to enjoy myself, leaping over rocks and ducking under branches. The woods were getting thicker and thicker, and I was wondering if we would have to turn around and go back on the trail. Suddenly we broke out into a clearing, and I saw the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.

            Tall trees loomed over us, and the sunshine was dispersed into amazing patterns on the water, with rays of light cascading downward. A stream entered the area and immediately crashed down into a small waterfall, forming a pool and splitting into other streams, as if to spread the beauty in all directions. We were awestruck by this sight, and immediately set up our tents and cookware to camp there. Over the next three days, we would discover the unmatched beauty of nature, and have a great time as well. We explored the rocky areas upstream, and fished along the bottom of the river. We jumped in the pool at the base of the waterfall, whose icy temperature woke us up every morning. We ate meals around a campfire, roasting the traditional marshmallows and making s’mores. We told ghost stories at night, and even saw a bear lumbering around the area, further encouraging our spooky speculations. The animals in the area were so peaceful, foxes and rabbits and birds, undisturbed by the destruction of humanity, reminding us that happiness did not only come in a hamburger bun, but also out in the wild, where life was abundant.

            Spending those days with my friends only made me realize more the amazing impact of nature. A camping trip is an incredible way to experience this, and going in the middle of the woods was a completely different experience then the roadside camp sites we were used to. For the rest of my life, I will remember those days as a peaceful and fun getaway from my routine at home, and an exciting adventure that I will never forget.