Well, I did it again folks, and I don't regret it any more than I did the last time…which was basically not at all. I woke up early this time not to see the sunrise but to see a meteor shower, which we then stayed to watch the sunrise.
I once again woke up to my alarm, got ready to go in record time, and headed out to the Whitten Woods Trailhead. This time it was Peter leading the guided adventure, so Maria and I just got to sit back and relax, literally. We started our hike in, and for those who have never been to this area the trails are wide and easy to navigate via headlamps which made the hike quick and easy. We got to a more open area in the trail, this looked like an open gravel field and had a great view of the sky above. This was our destination so we laid down on our site pads and watched for the meteors. Laying back there were a few things that went through my head which I will recap for you here.
The first thing that I was thinking about (and fighting) was sleep. I had already seen a meteor while looking up at the trailhead, and while seeing more would be amazing, so would sleeping. But every time I got close to just keeping my eyes shut I would think, now is when one will shoot across the sky and so I would quickly open them again. You may be wondering, ‘Meg, how could you ever think of sleeping when you are laying on the gravel ground when it is so cold outside?’ And I would answer you, “because of the many nights of practice I have had doing so while camping.”
This brings me to my second thought, camping. I spent the second half of last year serving on a trail crew in the Adirondacks, and we spent almost 80 of those nights camping in the backcountry. I now have a comfort with camping that I never thought I would have, so laying down on the ground brings me right back to so many fond memories that I can't help but reminisce about. Also, it is much more comfortable than you think–I recommend giving it a try sometime.
My third thought was the cold that I was feeling slowly creep into my legs and body and that I could not seem to escape. Laying on the cold ground with only a small sit pad below me, I was given a real life example of conduction, which is the act of heat leaving your body through the environment. So, while I was remembering my teachings for my wilderness first responder instructor, I was also experiencing the importance of insulation first hand. But thinking about all of this was bringing me right back to why I was there in the first place, METEORS! So I snuggled next to Maria and we watched and waited. I didn't see anything shoot across the sky while laying down, but it was fun to experience nonetheless.
We all got up and headed up to the lookout after to watch the sunrise. Unlike our last sunrise hike, we had a clear sky this time, so we got to see the reds and oranges in the sky and that vibrant glowing blue that contrasts so beautifully and that no picture can do justice.
So, I once again encourage you to get up early and try to see or do something new. It might not turn out how you initially intended, but the connections you can make to your other life experiences are just as important and fun to experience and reflect on.
Meg is serving with the Squam Lakes Association as an Education and Outreach Assistant. Her favorite sweet treat is the classic shortbread cookie. Learn more about Meg here!