[Sophie]

At the crack of dawn we were faced with the decision to either abandon or proceed with our hiking trip that we had planned for weeks. Even though the ominous clouds formed in the darkening sky foreshadowed downpours of great magnitude, we were determined to take on the challenge. Our anticipation of a wonderful time spent together while being surrounded by incredibly beautiful landscapes was far too great for us to walk away from this unique opportunity. When we arrived at the trailhead it already began to drizzle and I felt a little bit uneasy not knowing what to expect since none of us had ever hiked in the heavy rain before.

We were not prepared for what happened next. Having to tackle a muddy trail with raindrops bombarding my face made me feel like I was at the mercy of Mother Nature forcing me to explore my own limits. With each passing mile walking became such a challenge, especially when we were soaked to the skin and our shoes were caked in clinging mud. Whenever I looked over and caught a glimpse of him, I could sense his hardship and misery despite him trying to put on a brave face. The sight of him being rain-soaked from head to toe, his messy hair and his dismal mood evoked in me a sense of compassion, but at the same time it also showcased a somewhat comical and unbelievably amusing scene. I couldn't recall ever seeing him look this bad before and in spite of me putting great effort into refraining myself from laughing, I eventually lost control and burst into laughter. To which he responded: "I look fantastic, don't I? By the way, I have never seen you this beautiful either". His self-mocking and sarcastic comments caused us to wholeheartedly laugh so hard at each other's appearance and at the predicament we had put ourselves in. Our egos, preconceptions and worries evaporated in this very joyful moment and we were able to simply enjoy beauty in its raw form. We started to sing and dance without a care in the world and acted silly like two little children enjoying each other's company.

There is something genuinely enchanting about hiking on a rainy day and experiencing nature on its own terms. I get to develop a deeper appreciation for raw beauty, witness new sights, scents and sounds while learning to endure physical challenges with great mental fortitude. But above all, I truly treasure the precious time spent with my best friend and cherish our shared experience of an unpretentious moment filled with pure joy and laughter…