It was only my first week back in Europe after returning from Boston in the summer of 2023 when my friend called and asked if I wanted to join her on a spontaneous hike in the Alps and spend the night there. My immediate response was “Uhm, hell yes,” and so I began packing for the next day. We drove to Austria and set off on our hike with our heavy backpacks.

It was hot and fairly crowded, but by evening, almost everyone had left. We found a nice patch of grass to claim as our sleeping spot and set up camp. By camp, I mean a tarp, sleeping mats, and sleeping bags—we didn’t bring a tent, choosing instead to sleep directly under the stars. That night, the Milky Way was the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, and the sunrise over the mountains was breathtaking. Early in the morning, we hiked back down to the car and drove home.

Definitely 24 hours well spent!