The Most Miserable Experience of My Life

Maybe that sounds like an overstatement, but it is in no way an overstatement. No. This past weekend truly was the most miserable experience of my life. I went backpacking in Wales. Let me just say that I went on my maiden voyage this summer to the Lake District in England, and had a splendid time on my backpacking trip there for a few days. I wasn't so sure about the whole backpacking experience, but it was so great! That had a lot to do with the fact that it was sunny the whole time, no rain, daylight until like 9:30, and we were next to a beautiful little stream. Okay, this weekend in Wales...not quite the same. Started off Saturday...got to Wales and we were pumped...loaded up the packs and headed out. Well, apparently we started off going the wrong way-had a map, but somehow the guys leading read it wrong or something, I do not know...but we got sort of lost. To make a long day short, by the time it was dark we were still searching for a camp spot and ended up having to hike up this steep hill covered in ferns and gorse, in the dark, with huge holes everywhere that were little streams, etc. etc. I wish I could describe to you how unfortunate this was, but words can't help you imagine or feel the yuckiness of it. Not to mention the fact that we crossed a little river and my foot slipped and went in up to my knee-my boots and socks were completely soaked through and I was pretty cold by the time we got to camp and set up in the dark. Our leader gave me some hot things for my hands and feet which totally helped, and I was warm all night. The next morning we had to tear down everything and load it all back up to hide it in the gorse because we had camped on the top of this small mountain/large hill next to a path. We left on our hike and the weather was pretty good for the most part. Emily and I returned early from the hike because we got to a point where we would be hiking on a ridge for a prolonged period of time, and the ridge was just above the very steep hill, so I felt very very uncomfortable with the heights and the steepness. We decided that since we were early, we would go down for water. We had to find the running water, which meant we had to climb down the hill to the stream...no path, just a whole lot of gorse scratching our legs...to the bottom where there was water. Then, we filled up the 50 gallon jug and proceeded to carry it back up the steep hill. This little adventure must have taken at least an hour. 50 gallons is kinda heavy, so it was slow goin. Great workout for the arms....and legs as well. Got back up and set up our tent and hung out waiting for the others to return. That night was great, had a nice hot meal and socialized. Good times. Went to bed around 8 p.m. since it was pitch black and there was nothing to do, plus we were pretty stinkin tired from the hike. Storm set in a little later and there were galeforce winds and rain ALL NIGHT AND INTO THE MORNING AND AFTERNOON. Didn't get a lot of sleep that night since the tent was being blown so hard by the wind that it was almost touching me laying down and the water was leaking in. The loudness of the rain pelting the tent and the excessive levels of wind noise didn't help either. Miserable. So I wasn't in the happiest of moods when I woke up Monday morning, and I really just wanted to leave and go home where it's warm and happy. But our leader wanted to try and wait out the storm because it would be nearly impossible to tear down and pack up in 70 MPH winds. However, it only got worse through the morning. A few of us were sitting in "the cook tent" drinking hot chocolate and the tent was being blown so hard that the side was caving in. Well, this tent has many, many poles because it is built to withstand HIMALAYAN MOUNTAIN STORMS. It could not, however, handle the Wales mountain storm, and one or two poles actually broke. Some bent as well. This wind was beyond anything I have ever experienced. It was just such a bizarre feeling to be standing there on top of this hill in the wind and rain, and know that you could do absolutely nothing about anything. You could do nothing about the wind and rain, you had to pack up, you had to potty outside in this weather, you had to be cold, you had to put your backpack on and scale down the side of the mountain with no trail to get back, you had to be soaked completely through. So strange. So miserable. After we packed up, we really did just go straight down the side of this steep hill/mountain thing, which was crazy. I fell 5 times with a pack on, no good. It was just so slippery!! Unbelievable. Then we had to climb over a couple of fences, so I'm thinkin we were not on completely legal property the whole time. But I made it through!!! And I have to say there were some enjoyable moments too...I mean there are some things that you can only experience in a setting such as this. Do I regret going? Yes, definitely. But such is life.