My blog post is also later then the rest of them, but I'm going to share one of my entries from in my journal. So, here we go...
April 13, 2014
Today is the day that we get to start climbing the tallest mountain in the Caribbean, called Pico Duarte! We had to wake up really early in the morning, so that we could get started as soon as possible. We headed out to the starting point of the hiking trail, which was about an hour drive in a awesome truck with no roof on it, so we were all exposed to the chilly morning air. Because it was to early still, we were able to watch the sunrise from over the huge mountains in the background. It was absolutely beautiful, and I couldn't wait for the next morning to come where we'd be able to see the sunrise from Pico Duarte. Once we got to the base point, we had to decide whether we wanted to walk up on foot or ride a mule up. I had already made up my mind before this that I was going to walk up as much as I could, until I felt like I couldn't anymore, and then I'd continue on a mule. BUT. As soon as I saw the mules standing around, some carrying supplies, others waiting for riders, I decided that I wanted to go on a mule instead! You can walk uphill at anytime back home, but how many times do you get to go uphill on a mule?! Like never, duh. So that was an obvious decision for me, plus I'm in love with animals so why wouldn't I? Sam and Monica had also chosen to go on mules, along with Rachael and Olivia. I was so excited that I couldn't contain it, so it was a good thing that Sam and Monica were there too so we could burst out our happiness to each other:) We got on our mules and headed off. The path was narrow at first, so it had to be a single file line, but then it got wider and we had mule races!! It was awesome!!:)....until mine started to buck whenever another mule got close, so then I had to switch mules. The next one I got, I named Latifa, even though it was a boy. Latifa was my favourite! Sam's mule started bucking too, but Monica was too close behind and actually got kick by the mule, which sounded quite painful, listening to her little moans for the next little while.
I realized near the beginning of our trip up the mountain, that the walkers were getting a good work out, and we were too, on our abs, because we were all laughing so hard. The guides that we had with us were pretty funny too, always talking and singing in Spanish to one another. Throughout our hike up the mountain, we got little breaks at stop points. The last stretch before getting to the cabins for an overnight rest spot was hard. Even though it doesn't seem like it takes any effort to ride a mule, it actually does. You have to clench your legs around the mule, and lean your whole body backwards to make sure you don't fall forward off the thing. My leg muscles had huge cramps in them once getting off the mule. We had supper and a camp fire at night, and then all of us slept in one big cabin together with a thin mat and sleeping bag. Man was it ever cold at night!
The next morning we woke up really early again so that we could make it to the top of the mountain for the sunrise. The walkers started before the mulers, and I still don't understand how none of them hurt themselves by tripping and falling on the ground because you couldn't even see your hand right in front of your face, let alone see what obstacles where ahead of you! I am very grateful that I had Latifa to ride on, because he seemed to know what he was doing, other then leading my face into a branch every once and a while. Another bonus of riding a mule was that you were able to look up and watch the bright stars in the sky, even though I guess you could do that too with walking, because your eyes did you no good anyway! After a while of weirdly wandering through darkness, I started being able to make out things around me because slowly the sun was beginning to show.
The sun was almost peeking over the tall mountains that surrounded us, when we made it to the platform of the path where we had to leave the mules and walk the last 1. something km to the top of the mountain. I ran over to a big boulder to watch the sun come up. It was a breath-taking scene. Because we were so high, we were on top of the clouds, so all you could see of the mountains "near" us, were their peeks. Even though all the mountains around us were still huge, we were even taller! It seems crazy that this is what it looks like every single morning of everyday.
April 13, 2014
Today is the day that we get to start climbing the tallest mountain in the Caribbean, called Pico Duarte! We had to wake up really early in the morning, so that we could get started as soon as possible. We headed out to the starting point of the hiking trail, which was about an hour drive in a awesome truck with no roof on it, so we were all exposed to the chilly morning air. Because it was to early still, we were able to watch the sunrise from over the huge mountains in the background. It was absolutely beautiful, and I couldn't wait for the next morning to come where we'd be able to see the sunrise from Pico Duarte. Once we got to the base point, we had to decide whether we wanted to walk up on foot or ride a mule up. I had already made up my mind before this that I was going to walk up as much as I could, until I felt like I couldn't anymore, and then I'd continue on a mule. BUT. As soon as I saw the mules standing around, some carrying supplies, others waiting for riders, I decided that I wanted to go on a mule instead! You can walk uphill at anytime back home, but how many times do you get to go uphill on a mule?! Like never, duh. So that was an obvious decision for me, plus I'm in love with animals so why wouldn't I? Sam and Monica had also chosen to go on mules, along with Rachael and Olivia. I was so excited that I couldn't contain it, so it was a good thing that Sam and Monica were there too so we could burst out our happiness to each other:) We got on our mules and headed off. The path was narrow at first, so it had to be a single file line, but then it got wider and we had mule races!! It was awesome!!:)....until mine started to buck whenever another mule got close, so then I had to switch mules. The next one I got, I named Latifa, even though it was a boy. Latifa was my favourite! Sam's mule started bucking too, but Monica was too close behind and actually got kick by the mule, which sounded quite painful, listening to her little moans for the next little while.
I realized near the beginning of our trip up the mountain, that the walkers were getting a good work out, and we were too, on our abs, because we were all laughing so hard. The guides that we had with us were pretty funny too, always talking and singing in Spanish to one another. Throughout our hike up the mountain, we got little breaks at stop points. The last stretch before getting to the cabins for an overnight rest spot was hard. Even though it doesn't seem like it takes any effort to ride a mule, it actually does. You have to clench your legs around the mule, and lean your whole body backwards to make sure you don't fall forward off the thing. My leg muscles had huge cramps in them once getting off the mule. We had supper and a camp fire at night, and then all of us slept in one big cabin together with a thin mat and sleeping bag. Man was it ever cold at night!
The next morning we woke up really early again so that we could make it to the top of the mountain for the sunrise. The walkers started before the mulers, and I still don't understand how none of them hurt themselves by tripping and falling on the ground because you couldn't even see your hand right in front of your face, let alone see what obstacles where ahead of you! I am very grateful that I had Latifa to ride on, because he seemed to know what he was doing, other then leading my face into a branch every once and a while. Another bonus of riding a mule was that you were able to look up and watch the bright stars in the sky, even though I guess you could do that too with walking, because your eyes did you no good anyway! After a while of weirdly wandering through darkness, I started being able to make out things around me because slowly the sun was beginning to show.
The sun was almost peeking over the tall mountains that surrounded us, when we made it to the platform of the path where we had to leave the mules and walk the last 1. something km to the top of the mountain. I ran over to a big boulder to watch the sun come up. It was a breath-taking scene. Because we were so high, we were on top of the clouds, so all you could see of the mountains "near" us, were their peeks. Even though all the mountains around us were still huge, we were even taller! It seems crazy that this is what it looks like every single morning of everyday.
When we reached the the actual top of the mountain, I felt like I was on top of the world!! After a little while of looking around, taking pictures and hugs, we headed back down to the cabins where everyone got on a mule to get the very bottom again.
This was an amazing part of the trip that I will never forget!! #Latifaisawesome
This was an amazing part of the trip that I will never forget!! #Latifaisawesome
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