This was the first time I went on a trip to the mountains and in the snow. Because I have not much experience with this environment, I was a bit nervous and afraid how it was going to be. But this is what I came for, challenging myself in these cold circumstances! 

My preparation for the trip was very bad. I didn’t have a lot of sleep and a few parties that week, what made me tired at school and I couldn’t focus on good preparation. Even though I was nervous to go, I didn’t had energy to perpetrate the rout, food and materials. This made me not more relaxed, even the other way around. I was more irritated and needed more time to prepare after the first night in the Airbnb. The irritation was focused on myself only the rest of the group could see it. When we started to prepare at the car, I took a moment to share why I was acting that way and that gave me space in my head. The group was positive and wanted to help me through the week, what gave me energy as well.  

In the week I used a lot of my route skills and tried to share them with the rest. My energy level was good, and the weather was perfect. Only there was a lot of wind, but in our back, so that made it easier. I was really positive about all the things we did and experienced, and said it a few times in the group. With speaking about it, I make clear for myself how it goes and it let me appreciate what I am experiencing in my life.  

The second day was harder, after the waffle house, we started to look for a spot for the snowhole. At this point I was a bit low on energy and we spent too long on searching for a spot. When we had one, I started to dig, what gave me some energy. After two hours of digging, we were done and had a lot of fun in doing it. I borrowed Manuel his mittens, because mine were soaking wet. Next time: I need Gore-Tex gloves! I found this out the next morning, when we had to go to the waffle house, through the snow and wind. My hands were so cold, it just hurts all the time. I experienced this in the Pyrenees one time, and promised myself to not do it again, but of course I did prepare bad once more. 

After we warmed up at the waffle house, I enjoyed the walk through the snowstorm to the DNT-hut. I borrowed Manuel’s gloves, who were pretty warm. This was the first time I enjoyed to walk through a snowstorm like that with skies on. It was a feeling of power against nature. I was capable to go on skiing without any consequences. That is a feeling that was new for me, and as with a lot of new things brings it me excitement.  

In this week I realised (again) that preparation is the key of having a good week!