Every Friday, Highlander Publications chooses a freshman to be featured in “Freshman Friday,” giving the student population the opportunity to get to know its freshman class. Read below to learn about this week’s freshman, Drew Braaten.

Out of numerous expeditions all over the world, traveler extraordinaire, Drew Braaten, freshman, said his most memorable travel destination was going to the European Alps with his family in July of 2015. He explained, “I enjoyed visiting the Alps because the scenery is unique to the location, and the views are different than what the U.S. can offer. Along with the views, I am interested in the culture and the people of the region.”

Backpacking for 10 days throughout the tallest mountain in the Alps, Mt. Blanc, provided many unique and interesting stories for the Braaten family to share. One of them being when Braaten and his family were walking high in the mountains with dense fog and a herd of goats surrounding them. This was “a memorable moment,” Braaten said.

Overall, average temperatures ranged between 50-70 degrees and the unpredictability of whether it would be sunny or rainy described Braaten’s journey in the mountains.

Braaten recommended for anyone who wants to travel to the European Alps he suggests that “if you are going to travel there try and see as much as you can while you are there.”

On the topic of extravagant traveling, Braaten added that he is going to be heading to Iceland in a few weeks for spring break. “We are going to drive around the whole country, stopping as we go along,” Braaten said.

On that drive, Braaten looks forward to experiencing the countless waterfalls that Iceland has to offer.

After his trip to Iceland, if Braaten could pick anywhere in the world to travel to, he hopes to someday adventure off to New Zealand and Gary, Ind.