When it comes to Y.E.T.I. adventures, you never know what moments will stick with young people long after the trip ends. Sometimes, it’s the beauty of a snowy landscape or the excitement of finishing a tough trail. Other times, it’s a funny connection over something as simple as a mustard sandwich.

A group of middle schoolers from Pacific and Glacier Middle Schools recently went on an open enrollment hike along the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Trail. The forecast called for rain, but that didn’t stop these young adventurers from lacing up their boots and hitting the trail. What started as a wet day in the woods turned into a memory they wouldn’t forget.

Halfway through the hike, as the rain poured down harder, three students—one from Glacier and two from Pacific—bonded in an unexpected way. One student had packed a sandwich with, let’s just say, a very generous amount of mustard. The sight of the soggy bread and overflowing mustard made everyone laugh, and soon, they turned it into a song. As they walked back to the van, they sang their “mustard song” all the way. What could have been a cold, miserable hike turned into one filled with music and laughter.

Since that trip, the student from Glacier still asks about her two Pacific friends, hoping to go on another Y.E.T.I. adventure with them. And the student with the mustard sandwich? He still talks about that moment, proving that even the smallest things can turn into the best memories.

That’s what makes open enrollment trips special—they bring students from different schools and backgrounds together in ways no one expects. Whether it’s singing in the rain, hiking through the snow, or just sharing a meal, these trips create friendships that last long after the adventure is over.

And who knows? Maybe the next Y.E.T.I. hike will bring a brand new song—hopefully about something other than mustard.