by Zoe Albert

Sure sushi tastes good,

Cake even better

But the best food I’ve ever had

Is after Backpacking, our clothes tattered

With friends all around

Our backpacks on the ground

We celebrate the end

Of our trip with Outward Bound

Real bread, fresh meat, unmelted cheese,

Plus some fruit on the side

Some tahini on top

Our mouths open wide

It’s the first time in two weeks

We get to eat real food

No soggy pepperoni or dirt

Inside can be viewed

The mayo adds some texture

The bread tastes like a cloud

The meat is fresh and new and cold

The fresh fruit leaves me wowed

Although the sandwich meant the end

Of our summer retreat

The taste couldn’t be dampened

We accomplished an amazing feat

Thirty-three miles and five peaks,

Many lakes and, oh, We reek!

While we eat, we share our stories

And into one memory we sandwich our glories. 

Poem by Zoe,  written after her Sierra Nevada backpacking trip 2023, where their crew had snow in July!