post

Matt Ondo

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The plan</h2>



<p>We decided on a short loop trail as it was the first time most of us would be backpacking. The 20-ish mile loop would require us to summit a 12,000 ft peak, hike past two alpine lakes, and at one point gave us the feeling we were standing in the hills where they filmed The Sound of Music. The three of us set out on a Friday intending on staying 2 nights in the backcountry. We made it home safe and sound with many amazing memories.</p>



<p>Come along for the ride in this photo-book journey of our adventure.</p>
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            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/three-amigos-1.jpeg" alt="A selfie including three smiling friends, all wearing sunglasses and wearing large backpacks." width="2050" height="1532">
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Day 1</h2>



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<iframe loading="lazy" title="Backpacking North Loop Trail" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PL_mZPABFXw?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Camp 1</h2>



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            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/913E6C37-7D9A-4A93-8393-0CC112A743EE.jpeg" alt="Photo of the Never Summer Wilderness sign, in Arapaho National Forest." width="2048" height="1536">
            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/4B011DAA-754F-41FE-A922-721260007909.jpeg" alt="Two friends hiking along a trail with tall pine trees all around." width="1536" height="2048">
            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/D13F4318-9746-406A-92C2-59073788287C.jpeg" alt="Matt taking in the views of a mountain top lake" width="1536" height="2048">
            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/97398461-39C4-4FCA-838E-C8C2BC52F0AB.jpeg" alt="Photo of Marie taking in the views of a mountain top lake" width="960" height="1280">
            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/507DB2F3-8369-4320-8D0E-CB553EEE5894.jpeg" alt="Photo of the North Supply trailhead sign" width="720" height="1280">
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Day 2</h2>



<p>On our first morning we had an early breakfast and broke camp down quickly knowing our biggest day was ahead of us. By the end of the day we hiked over 20 miles, over the 12,000 foot peak covered in permafrost and snow. It was windy, cold, and difficult, but we did it! We capped the day off with a big dinner and a few swigs from the trusty whiskey flask.</p>



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            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/3BD2C4BD-B7A4-43CA-B0DB-C91BB971C611.jpeg" alt="Panorama photo of a valley covered in grass, flowers, and a few sparse trees. Surrounded by a mountain range." width="1280" height="340">
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            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/98E65F69-1F90-4346-AEBF-1416E83399FB.jpeg" alt="Photo of a cool mountain stream with sunlight beams peaking through the tall pine trees." width="960" height="1280">
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            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/2DD7F83B-A5A3-44EF-8E95-62409809A022.jpeg" alt="Selfie of Matt wearing a jacket and hat at the top of a partially snow-covered mountain with two friends in the background." width="957" height="1280">
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            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/A00F89E6-51F6-4E5E-AE54-4371231FF78F.jpeg" alt="Marie taking in the views from atop a mountain, standing just next to a pile perma-frost snow." width="1280" height="960">
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            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/8E332381-F908-4EBE-AED0-AD7556A1C96A.jpeg" alt="Two friends hiking along a mountaintop trail with beautiful views of trees, mountains, and blue skies for as far as the eye can see - which is quite far!" width="1280" height="960">
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Camp 2</h2>



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            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/B306E1C8-490C-4313-A7CE-198B1B1E73CD.jpeg" alt="Photo of a mountain top which has a trail winding along the ridge-line with a man in the distance making his way along the trail." width="1280" height="960">
            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/camp2-scaled-1.jpeg" alt="Photo of a small clearing with two small tents set up in the distance, surrounded by pine trees and tall grass." width="2560" height="1252">
            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/C321D1E5-F6FE-4EB1-BEB2-320CED5EA2E9-1.jpeg" alt="A photo of two tents in a small clearing in the woods, one yellow and one maroon." width="1280" height="960">
            <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://mattondo.io/wp-content/uploads/26CABD95-82DF-4ECE-8960-6E0A0AD7C199-1.jpeg" alt="Photo taken before sunset of a grass-covered clearing surrounded by tall pine trees with mountains in the background and blue skies." width="1280" height="960">
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Takeaway</h2>



<p>Backpacking is an absolute blast, and a serious commitment. I will shed some of my gear next time, but was pretty well prepared considering it was my first time backpacking. This trail is great for beginners, and one I wouldn&#8217;t mind doing again.</p>



<p>The mountains is my happy place, far from the world at large and the digital monotony of modern life. Disconnecting from all that out in the wild is most therapeutic, I highly encourage you to find peace in nature.</p>

We decided on a short loop trail as it was the first time most of us would be backpacking. The 20-ish mile loop would require us to summit a 12,000 ft peak, hike past two alpine lakes, and at one point gave us the feeling we were standing in the hills where they filmed The Sound of Music. The three of us set out on a Friday intending on staying 2 nights in the backcountry. We made it home safe and sound with many amazing memories.

Come along for the ride in this photo-book journey of our adventure.

A selfie including three smiling friends, all wearing sunglasses and wearing large backpacks.

Photo of the Never Summer Wilderness sign, in Arapaho National Forest.

Two friends hiking along a trail with tall pine trees all around.

Matt taking in the views of a mountain top lake

Photo of Marie taking in the views of a mountain top lake

On our first morning we had an early breakfast and broke camp down quickly knowing our biggest day was ahead of us. By the end of the day we hiked over 20 miles, over the 12,000 foot peak covered in permafrost and snow. It was windy, cold, and difficult, but we did it! We capped the day off with a big dinner and a few swigs from the trusty whiskey flask.

Panorama photo of a valley covered in grass, flowers, and a few sparse trees. Surrounded by a mountain range.

Photo of a cool mountain stream with sunlight beams peaking through the tall pine trees.

Selfie of Matt wearing a jacket and hat at the top of a partially snow-covered mountain with two friends in the background.

Marie taking in the views from atop a mountain, standing just next to a pile perma-frost snow.

Two friends hiking along a mountaintop trail with beautiful views of trees, mountains, and blue skies for as far as the eye can see - which is quite far!

Photo of a mountain top which has a trail winding along the ridge-line with a man in the distance making his way along the trail.

Photo of a small clearing with two small tents set up in the distance, surrounded by pine trees and tall grass.

A photo of two tents in a small clearing in the woods, one yellow and one maroon.

Photo taken before sunset of a grass-covered clearing surrounded by tall pine trees with mountains in the background and blue skies.

Backpacking is an absolute blast, and a serious commitment. I will shed some of my gear next time, but was pretty well prepared considering it was my first time backpacking. This trail is great for beginners, and one I wouldn't mind doing again.

The mountains is my happy place, far from the world at large and the digital monotony of modern life. Disconnecting from all that out in the wild is most therapeutic, I highly encourage you to find peace in nature.