The Path Less Traveled
May 14, 2016 – Was a day etched into my memory—not just because of the physical challenge, but because of the moments that felt almost otherworldly. My friend Jesse and I decided to tackle one of New Hampshire's grand peaks in the White Mountains, a test of our endurance and will. When we arrived, the trail we initially planned to take was closed, blocked off by warnings of a recent avalanche. Disappointed but undeterred, we knew the mountains always had hidden paths waiting for those bold enough to look. As we wandered further down the road, a sign tucked away in the shadows of the forest caught our eye. It marked the entrance to a trail, though it was clear this path had long been neglected. The undergrowth had claimed it, with bushes and leaves weaving across the narrow way, creating a near-impenetrable curtain of green. Perfect, I thought. Adventure was calling. We plunged into the dense growth, laughing at how the leaves brushed against us constantly, each step an act of ...