I traveled to the rental place to return the car. My journey across the alps had come to a pause as I awaited more snow to fall. Though I was unable to ski all the mountains as planned during the two week time period, I still had the adventure of a lifetime. I fit hikes in on days that I didn't ski in order to maintain the physical challenge I had trained for.

The experiences I had during this journey unparalleled anything I had ever had before, and the things I learned streched far beyond anything that can be taught in a classroom. I met and engaged with both local Kiwis as well as people from all over the world; every conversation I had enriched my understanding of other cultures. The relentless acts of Mother Nature caused me to be more flexible than I'd ever been before. I would wake up most mornings not knowing where I would be spending the next night because my plans followed Mother Nature. From this I learned a lot about decision making. I have spent much of my life in the outdoors. From hiking National Parks with my family to camping with friends, I've grown to become very experienced in the wilderness. However, this was the first time that I had ever hiked alone, skied alone, and embarked deep into the wilderness alone in general. While it was weird and somewhat lonely at first, I quickly came to find it very peaceful and relaxing. There is nothing like being alone in a forest or on top of a mountain, thousands of miles away from home, and taking a moment to absorb the sights and sounds of Mother Nature around you.

Above all things, as I travelled across a country on the other side of the world by myself, I learned how to be truly independent. Every challenge I faced had to be solved on my own, just as every decision was made on my own. I cannot think of a previous experience in my life that taught me as much about living independently as this journey did.

In just two weeks, I felt myself undergo a tremendous personal growth. I traveled 1,832 km's (1,138) on road, skied four mountains, and did four hikes, one of which was a two day hike. The fact that I was undergoing this journey for a great cause made the experience even better. At times I would look back on the months of hard work I had put in to start this fundraiser. I remembered the many times where it almost seemed that the fundraiser would fail, only to have my strength renewed through the support my friends and family gave me. I recalled how it was this persistence and strong desire the turned the fundraiser into a success. I would think of the days I spent training, the hours I spent making phone calls seeking sponsorships, and the drive to keep pursuing my goals that allowed me to embark on this journey. 

I also felt appreciation at every moment, for both the small things, and larger things. I knew I was priveleged to be able to experience something many people are unable to, and was driven by the thought of handing over my check to Gap Filler upon completion of the ten mountains. I was asked by many people every day about my plans and travels, and found myself speaking humbly about my goals and fundraising efforts. 

The dedication leading up to my journey, the connections I formed, the flexibility I needed to endure challanges, the decision making I developed, the independent character I took on, and the humbleness I displayed all strengthened my character, and taught me more about myself and the world I live in than anything ever has. This is the lesson that no classroom could ever teach me.