Quessie Hunt was part of the GALS trip in summer 2018. In this blog post, she describes the beauty she saw on her trip and what she learned while backpacking.
I am honored to have been able to participate in the 2018 GALS program. The experience I gained was like no other and was hardly what I anticipated. I was completely enamored by the beautiful terrain of Pisgah National Forest. It was absolutely gratifying to marvel at its various components.
Beforehand, I had never been hiking. I had camped but only in a designated area. It was a completely different thing to camp in the backcountry. There were no set spots to put your tents; neither were there showers or bathrooms. I was even expected to carry a backpack that was over half my weight! But I quickly adjusted to all the things I thought would be a challenge and began an exciting journey.