I thought a hike through the Great Sand Dunes would be a flex—something to brag about later. But halfway up, the sand swallowed my ankles, the wind slapped grit into my teeth, and every step felt like a dare I hadn’t agreed to. There’s no shade, no trail markers, just the sun and the sound of your own breathing. I kept thinking: this is what it feels like to want to quit and have nowhere to hide. The summit was just more sand, and the view didn’t reward me so much as remind me how small I was. I still haven’t posted the photos. They look like triumph, but mostly I remember the ache, the silence, and how much I wanted to turn back. #Travel #TravelWithoutFilters #HikingTruths