I'll be honest: I didn't think I'd make friends at college.

So deciding to go on a First Year Journey — an option offered to freshman by my university to go on a five-day trip with a group of around 10-12 other freshman — was a big step in trying to convince myself otherwise.

And not only did I make friends, but I learned a lot about myself as well.

Hiking the 10-mile trip in a desert canyon to Havasu Falls was probably the most physically strenuous thing I've ever done. And even though every muscle ached when I finally reached the canyon top on the hike back, and despite the occasional mild disasters, these are 11 reasons why I would do it all over again.

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1. The beautiful views.

Six hours of alternating chatter and sleep (and cramped legs all the time) gave way to a gorgeous view from the top of the canyon. We watched a pack of mules head in a single file line down the path and tried not to think that we would have to follow in their footsteps the next morning.

At the time, no one was really thinking about having to eventually climb back up it. Which was probably a good thing for our morale as a whole.

2. The first storm.

We'd seen the lightning in the distance, but I think we all just kind of hoped it would simply... go around us.

It did not, and considering we were (highly conductive) humans on top of a canyon, we ended up sprinting out of the tents, sleeping bags in tow, through pouring rain to the relative safety of the vans.

It was four in the morning. We were scheduled to leave at around 5:30.

Guess who couldn't fall back asleep?

3. The actual hike.

Thankfully, the sun was largely blocked out from the remnants of last night's storm, which meant the group could observe our surroundings with the awe they deserved. It was surprisingly green down there, and more than a few times we had to leap off the path to make way for a line of mules being herded back up the trail.

At one point, we passed a sign with a cheery "YOU'RE ALMOST THERE!" barely visible among the graffiti.

We had two miles to go.

Out of ten, two miles is technically "almost there," but to an exhausted party of hikers, it was absolutely not.

We got there eventually, but not without much pain and just as many blisters.

4. There were dogs everywhere.

Was there a sign that said "do not pet the dogs"? Yes, yes there was. Did we listen? No. Absolutely not. Especially when those dogs (who apparently are blissfully unaware of their status as Unpettable) waltz right up to you and flop down practically on top of you in a position conveniently out of the field of vision of your trip leaders.

We named him Cornelius.

5. Dance parties galore.

The left blur is Jacob and the right blur is Alison. These are our trip leaders, who can often be seen cooking an insufficient amount of food for a party of hungry and exhausted teens and/or jamming to the most radical playlist of all time.

6. The Falls themselves.

The water in Havasupai Canyon is stunningly blue-green due to a heavy deposit of lime. The water is also startlingly cold due to the fact that it's, well, running water.

One of our group had the foresight to bring liquid soap. It was the coldest bath I have ever taken, but perhaps the most satisfying.

7. We discovered a rap star.

That right there is the Real Slim Snakey. He slithered up during what's called Evening Program, where the group huddles together in the dark, swatting at the insects swarming our headlamps, and we go around the circle answering a question the trip leaders pose to us.

Just as Jacob was giving his response, a tentative voice from the opposite side of the circle spoke up: "Um, I don't mean to interrupt, but there's a snake behind you."

That night, a new rule was made. If there is a snake behind someone, don't feel guilty about interrupting.

8. The Death Cliff.

The passage down to Moony Falls, or as I like to call it, "the most terrifying thing I've ever done," was a treacherous climb through a short series of caves and a steep descent down rocks and ladders slick with mist from the falls. We had thick metal chains and the occasional metal hook to steady ourselves with, but the most common phrase I heard from the girl going after me was "oh God, I'm going to die here."

9. Squad pics.

Unfortunately, this picture does not include the entire squad. I, for one, am missing (namely because I'm the one behind the camera) and this photo also sorely lacks the presence of our trip leaders. But we did spend a solid half hour posing in front of the falls, often with hilarious results (not pictured is a shot of everyone minus the trip leaders apparently fawning over the one male in our group).

10. The long and arduous journey back up the canyon.

Pictured here is the majestic trip leader Alison, in her DIY clay face mask made from the riverbed. The weather on the journey back was not as kind to us as it was on the way down, so we stopped at Lil Navajo Falls to cool off one last time before we finally forced ourselves away from the camp grounds.

Many snacks, liters of water, blisters, and gallons of sweat later, we clawed our way back to the parking lot of the canyon and slept under the stars.

Hard-packed gravel through an insufficiently thick sleeping mat had never felt so comfortable.

11. The return.

About halfway through the trip, we discovered that Jacob knows all the lyrics to "Lip Gloss" by Lil Mama.

So on the ride back, just as we were leaving the freeway, we opened all the windows, cranked the volume up, and beat the rhythm on the roof of the car while Jacob took it away.

The expressions on everyone as we rolled up to Outdoor Programs were priceless.