Alright so a few weeks ago I went to Utah actually for an orientation for the University of Utah (funny because as many of you know I chose Chapman) but more of just an outdoor adventure! I was having a hard time leaving even though it was only for a week because it was my first time being away from my friends and family completely ever since the accident. I debated not going but I knew Austin would love the adventures soon to be in store. So I got on my plane and headed to Salt Lake City. I got in had lunch with a family friend who picked me up and than headed to the University. Boring presentations and things aside, I had chosen the Outdoor orientation. Upon my arrival I was told that my 2 trips were going to be rafting and rock climbing.
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| Getting ready for the climb! |
This was really fun and very tiring! Many times I would be climbing and just be completely exhausted or not be able to find a spot for my hands or feet and I would channel Austin to keep me going or I would think to myself "I gotta do it for the story" and so I would take a deep breath and feel as if i was running up a straight wall sometimes but I would find a crack somewhere and make it just a bit higher until I would reach the top!
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| Half way up the agro-crack! |
After about 5 hours of climbing and a little adventuring we headed up the rode a bit to a campsite where we met up with the other 2 groups and spent the night. The evening was full of cooking, chatting, making smores, playing on a slack line, cards and other fun things. Myself and a few others had talked about boycotting the tents and sleeping under the stars instead. As night came It got colder and there was a chance of rain. I thought maybe we should just sleep in the tents so we dont get rained on but that a few seconds later I realized if it rained(which it did) that would just make it an even better story and Austin was not one going to let a little rain ruin a beautiful night under the stars. And so we did have an awesome night sleeping under the stars.
The next day we got a bit later start but packed up everything and headed for that days adventure. My day was full of rafting! It was a blast. We drove out to the river took out all of the boats and pumped them up than were quickly on our way. The river had several rapid areas that were tons of fun! I only got stuck on one rock(someone pinned me on it) but dont worry I got off of it all by myself and headed back to the rest of the group. about 10 minutes before the end we had caught up to a bunch of tourists on little rafts
floating down. Our guides had us stop so that we didn't hit them coming out of the last rapid since we knew they would fall out haha. We happened to pull over right past a small rapid and we thought it would be an awesome idea to walk up before it and float down it just in our life jackets. It was super fun so me and just a few others kept doing it until it was time to go. We went forward, backwards, spun around and even all made a train down it. We continued down the river with a beautiful view, watched some members of the group fall out, flip there boats, get stuck in the trees and loose paddles, shoes etc. We got back to the ending point had some food and headed back to the school.
After I left the orientation I went to Provo where I spent the weekend with a good friend of mine, Emily. It was really good to see her hang out with all of her friends go to 7-11 on her scooter and go to a indoor trampoline park with foam pits, dodgeball and just lots of trampolines. All in all it was a pretty fun weekend I even got to see my Aunt. It was an adventure Austin would have definitely loved. <3
Love Nicole
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