August 26th

Many of us awoke on Monday full of excitement: We were finally heading off to HMI. On the plane to Denver, we found ourselves equal parts nervous and excited, wondering what HMI would actually be like and if we would get along with all the other students. Walking down the runway, we had stomachs full of butterflies but at the same time we were so excited. Libbey, MC and Julia were there to greet us with big smiles and an HMI sign.  We quickly discovered other members of HMI Semester 27, some who were even on the same flights together.  We headed down to baggage claim to gather our things, and as we talked and slowly began making new friends, the fun began.         

As we write this, it has only been three days since we arrived at HMI weary from our travels, yet it seems like so much more time has passed already. One may expect us to be acting timidly and trying to create a small group of friends in which to place our trust; a common assumption for most programs and teenagers.  However, there lies the key difference between the High Mountain Institute and most programs.  Despite our recent arrival, we have already started making many great friends and have at least acquainted ourselves with every individual in the HMI community.  

The first day was the last of our free time; we casually greeted new faces, laughed at jokes, and learn to make your beds. Most programs would have a grace period to ease the students into learning to the programs’ respective academic and physical ideas.  HMI surprises once again. The first night was spent restlessly tossing and turning as our bodies tried to become accustomed to the altitude. Nevertheless, we were up bright and early at 7:25 the next morning for AMX (morning exercise). After a grueling mile-long walk (please note the sarcasm the walk was, in fact, quite awesome) we ate breakfast. The food so far is amazing: pasta, pancakes, chili, and sausage made up most of our diet. Then, on day two, we had our first classes of the semester: Practice and Principles with Ben, Rebecca, and Dan, English with Alex and Lindy, Science with Rob and Sara.  And lastly, Math with the lovely Karl and his amazing apprentice, Brian.

The next day a few of us woke up early at 6:17 to go for a run (running at high altitude is hard…). After that, we had a full morning of classes including history and languages. In the afternoon we started preparations for our expeditions, meeting with our groups and packing our bags. After a mere three days of living on campus, we are already preparing to depart on our first expedition and challenge our mental, physical and social fortitude.  

For our fourteen days in the backcountry, our teachers have assigned us literature readings and papers to write that must all be done during the free hours we have-well actually-during our study hall hours in the backcountry! Study Hall will happen while in camp, between gleeful hikes through the gorgeous Colorado mountain ranges; some of our destinations include Buckeye Peak, Homestake Peak, Galina Mountain, Timberline Lake, Hagerman Lake, and Slide Lake. To any backpacking buff, this simple forty-mile trek might seem as easy as opening the front door, but to some of us, who are complete novices, forty miles seems longer than we have ever walked at once in our lives. At first, some students seemed to be conversing about the simplicity and the ease of the trip, while others were nervous. Our fears ended when we realized that we weren’t alone as amateurs, and actually, the HMI faculty specifically teach the basics, so that all of us learn the HMI systems together, regardless of prior experience in the woods.  After we started our expedition classes, almost all fears and anxieties were thrown out the window, and now, our only anxiety is that the expedition is not coming fast enough!! 

We’ll have more updates for you in two weeks when we return!

-Bryan Bohaty, Arianna Carley, Jake Bazilian