Today was a day of firsts. We took this day to practice the logistics of the ever so complicated drop off/pick up. We took this day to learn our pace. We took this day to become accustomed to the conditions of non-stop hiking. Walking from Escondido to Rancho Santa Fe was a challenge. Most of us were not prepared for the fast pace. The biggest challenge of today was the pacing. We got limited breaks and I found myself wishing that I had trained more. We were told that today was the easiest day which concerns me because it was not a piece of cake. Though there were challenges, I must say that I enjoyed the scenery. It felt amazing to be learning outside of a classroom. To my right was a mountain side, filled with lively vegetation and small rodents. To my left was a still, majestic lake. I watched and listened while a red-tailed hawk floated above. Overall, today was an unforgettable experience and I cannot wait for the surprises to come within the next week.