Written by Macy Cox // Photo provided by Amelia Slater
The exploration of God’s creation looks different for everyone. For senior Courtney Eby, it involves dedicating her weekends to expanding her boundaries by hiking and mountain biking.
Eby is on what she’s calling a journey to redeem Arkansas through hiking, paddleboarding, mountain biking and trail running. She has already explored 14 different mountains this semester, including Pinnacle Mountain, Petit Jean, Rattlesnake Ridge and her favorite experience, Sugarloaf Mountain.
Junior Lydia Radke has known Eby for two years. They first met on a camping trip with the club HU Explore and have since gone hiking, camping, running and paddleboarding together on different occasions. They camped together last weekend with HU Explore.
“Courtney is a great adventure buddy because she is willing to try anything, doesn’t take herself too seriously, has fun, creative ideas and quickly connects with new people,” Radke said.
Her freshman year, Eby and her friends left early in the morning to go to Sugarloaf and recite the Sermon on the Mount because they all had to memorize the scripture for their foundations of ministry class together. They all hiked up the mountain with the intention of experiencing the feeling of being at the Sermon on the Mount when Jesus was teaching.
“I am making an effort to really see what God has done with just the state,” Eby said. “I had no idea this view existed, but here I am looking off a cliff into the river and just in awe of the way some people just don’t know about. I always fall back on how scripture is so clear about how the trees of the forest and the mountains just sing praises to God, and that’s what I’m experiencing.”
Not only does Eby explore by herself but also with other clubs and organizations like HU Explore and Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL). Eby led the trail runs last year with HEAL and is a participant in HU Explore.
“Courtney is really active in the HU Explore club and comes on all of our hiking trips and camping trips,” sophomore Amelia Slater said. “She is always really excited to do anything outside.”
Eby plans to continue exploring and looking for God’s beauty and the challenges that exploration may bring with it.
