These are some pictures from the trail
These are some pictures from the trail
These are some pictures of the trail
This was a long day. The plan was to have we our free day to go to the mountains and go for a long hike, approximately 9 hours. Thankfully it wasn’t actually that long. We started at 8:30, which became 9:00 when we weren’t all ready. So we called an Uber and made our way to the mountains. We started around 9:40 on what little ignorant me didn’t know would be one of the hardest, mentally, physically, and spiritually, challenge to ever happen to me.
It started rough. Nice vertical climb up a dry and desolate path. Eventually we reached the top, and I was very glad I could rest my calves a bit, this was only a tiny, minuscule portion of the events to come. We continued on the path and it became easier. Not sure if it was because my legs were beginning to go numb, or stretching really helped. The path started to become more vegetated and shaded, until we reached the first landmark. A smaller creek and mini waterfall. So of course, we took a little break to climbed around the water. Then we continued on, more excited than ever, what a fool I was. We ran into another group of osu students that wanted to keep going as well, so there’s about 12 of us now. The next portion of path, was what I call death mountain #1. Long story short, it sucked and I thought I was going to die. After a good 20+ minutes of climbing, we reached the top. It had a nice view so we took a group picture, good use of a break. Then we continued forth. This part was much more level compared to what we just went through.
It didn’t last long.
Introducing death mountain #2. Just as high and just as long as it’s brother. We reached the top of that, but we were starting to spread out. I lost contact with the people behind me, and couldn’t keep up with the ones in front of me. I was alone. To be continued….
This was the point where we started to fall behind as well. We were running low on water, some were getting dehydrated, spirits were low and we were worried about one of our group member, if he’d survive the endeavor. I began to hang back to make sure if anything happened, I could be there to help., we began rationing water to try to complete the hike. By the time we reached “death mountain #2” we had added another member to our group, one who didn’t want to do the full 9 hour hike, and we also ran into a park ranger who, if it hadn’t been for Kaz’s Spanish abilities, we wouldn’t have known we had to turn back by 2pm. We reached the peak, ate a snack, and began the trek back down, which was much easier and made me less worrisome of the health of my fellow students. We reached the first mini waterfall in record time and we all took a little rest and filled our water bottle with the delicious fresh mountain water until the bigger group met up with us about 45 minutes later. We finished the hike together as one happy, exhausted, and dusty group of OSU students.
Trent I cannot wait for your part two! It’s awesome that you went up to the mountains and did something that I cannot even venture off to do. I did something completely different! I went on a bike tour of a vineyard! I wish you could;be gone with me so you could’ve seen and tried the different wines. Though a bike ride through a vineyard is much less extraneous than biking in the mud, it was intense! We had to bike uphill in mud at some points however, we at least got to try some amazing grapes and see the amazing Andes from a VERY VERY safe distance. We also had to take some secondary vehicle to our destination. But you have to tell me, how was the sun? We are near the same skin tone so I need to know if the sun is as hot up in the mountains as it is down below with the rest of us? I know that the sun beat down intensely on us. Even through the thickets of Merlot grapes, the sun shone through and cooked us as we rummaged. The dusty soil from the Andes hit us all the way down there too and it was was everywhere.
Part #2
Before I begin the the ultimate climax of this story, I would like to thank Nick for adding his perspective of our adventure. It’s always nice to have a little more background information in such intense tales. Now back to the story….
I began to shout into the mountains, “helado!!!….. Helado!!!!” Our role call shout for when we couldn’t see our group, but the only reply I received was my hopeless echo. So, I carried on. I made my way through the path, until I was yet again faced with a familiar foe. The third death mountain. This time the only motivation and company I had was me, myself, and I. I would soon learn that this third foe was to be the hardest track of all. But I was not slowed. As exhausted or demoralized I was, it was one foot in front of the other. Time was at a crawl, but I wasn’t. I reached the top of that mountain, and kept going. Unfortunately, the shade I had was now gone, and I was smack middle of an open, sun blasted trail. So I took off my shirt, and tied it around my head. At least now I was welcomed by the local bovine. After a stretch of a slight up hill climb, I could see the distant waterfall. I was filled with determination. I quickened my pace and kept going. I nearly sprinted down the path and over the creek. I won’t even call the next climb a death mountain because I smashed it. I reached the top and made my way towards the blissful sounds of crashing water. I walked forward until I saw other people relaxing in the shade. I could see the top half of the waterfall behind a large rock. So I climbed up, stood on top of the rock. And saluted my glorious fellow OSU friends. The end