One Last Climb

I woke up feeling prepared and energized to conquer our final day in Maine. Our 9 a.m. hike up Mount Desert was intense—this was no warm-up walk. I carried 20 pounds of soil to the summit with nothing but a Pop-Tart in my stomach. Thankfully, I knew my Slim Jim would come in clutch during our first break. It gave me just enough fuel to power through the rest of the climb. 

The hike was no joke, but it was worth it. When I turned around to catch my first glimpse of the view, I was completely taken away. It was incredible—nothing beats that “top of the world” feeling. On the way down, I watched every step like my life depended on it. After wrapping up Save Our Summits, I grabbed some much-needed rest and changed for our last night out in Bar Harbor. First stop ice cream. After some shopping, it hit me—the hunger was back, and stronger than ever. I stopped for a kale Caesar salad with shrimp and devoured it like I hadn’t eaten in days. Honestly? Deserved. 

Recharged, I met up with the group at Village Green. Kate asked me to be in a few shots for her video project. It was creative, and I was into it. After the mini session, Kira gave me a piggyback ride. We ran, we tripped, and we hit the ground. Hard. But we couldn’t stop laughing—it was one of the highlights of my day. 

We eventually made it to the pizza place, where I was finally reunited with Diet Coke. Pure bliss. After dinner, we jumped out of the van and chased the sunset like we were in a coming-of-age movie. Perched on a rock, Kira, Candice and I split a blueberry cheese Danish and laughed until we collapsed again. This was the “It’s the simple things in life” moment. Just laughter, good company, and a sweet treat.  

I’ve made the best of friends on this trip. I couldn’t have asked for a better set of roommates or a more inspiring group of girls. I’m leaving Maine full of gratitude—and pictures—and completely in awe of the people I got to share this experience with.  

Farewell, Maine. I’ll miss your cool weather and scenic views... but not those freezing cold nights.