I’ll state the obvious: I stayed warm enough during my trip to tell the tale! Here are several insights from the trip.

• Trying to stay warm in the cold is no joke. Even with all my layers, I ended up losing 4-6 pounds in two days as my body used my fat reserves to stay warm at night.

• Starting a fire when my lighter stopped working taught me persistence and focus. It also reminded me that I 1) always need to check my fire equipment before leaving, and 2) need to keep extras handy.

• E-readers are better for camping than bringing around physical print, particularly when it gets dark early.

• Plan ahead and get free firewood for free off Craigslist! Dry it outdoors during off season.

• Protein-heavy meals are key to staying warm in the cold. Think steaks for dinner and hunks of cheese as a snack.

• I don’t always feel hungry when I go out camping; eating feels hard for some reason.

• Pre-cooked meals are always the way to go for camping! A friend gifted me Cook It Wild by Chris Nuttall-Smith for my birthday last year and I am very excited to try out new camping recipes.

In which I may or may not have an existential crisis over the time we have left in life. I suppose you'll have to read to find out.

Two weeks into sabbatical and I’ve cried at least five different times. Nobody said it could be this hard.

What they say about burnout is true. You don’t realize you are burnt out until one day it hits you like a truck.