Day 3
10.8 miles, 648ft gain/ 995ft loss. Fitbit Steps: 29,354 Another nice day on tap, and after packing up our gear, we’re surprised to see that there is no dew or condensation on the tents, a rare occurrence in the rain forest. Not surprising though, given the type of summer that it’s been so far. Sitting on my bulging seat cushion to put on my boots, there’s one final gasp, and the dang thing gives up the ghost, going flat as a pancake…Failure again, at least it waited until I was done…
We settle into the long trudge home, again each lost in their own thoughts with the trip only broken up once in a while with conversation. It’s hard to carry on a conversation on the trail, especially when you’ve just got your head down and are on a death march to get out…
“ Raahhrr! I’m a Bear!!!” HAHAHAAAAAAAAA….Haaaa…Ha….A real comedian, that one…”
We continue to pass people, and about 2 miles past the 5 mile camp, behind me I hear Greg say in a somewhat startled voice, “Oh, excuse me!!!” Which of course instantly gets my attention, and I swing around to see a trailrunner right behind Greg. She passes by, and said something unintelligible, and then moved on running again. I think Greg said something like, “sorry, but you startled me”, and to which she replied, lifting her arms into the air as if they had mighty claws ready to tear and shred, and said, “ Raahhrr! I’m a Bear!!!” HAHAHAAAAAAAAA….Haaaa…Ha….A real comedian, that one…Greg said, “man, I never heard her; she just ran right up behind me and put her hand on my pack!” Now, it all made sense…I couldn’t help but laugh now, knowing the full story. “That about gave me a heart attack!” Then, there was talk of wearing a rear view mirror so that kind of thing would never happen again… I’m sure she had a good laugh at Greg’s expense…I know we did…
We begin to pass clean smelling people who have yet to sweat and still smell all purty, their scent lingering in the air long after they’ve passed, so we know we’re getting close…
Finally, at 11:30am, we reach the end, and stroll through a parking lot now full of cars and people to the truck.
Another great adventure, even though it might not soon be repeated, as my body still remembers the depravations of the trail after this one. Still, one we’re glad to have been on, for all the incredible sights of being at the base of Mt. Olympus. If you have the stamina and will power this one will require, as well as the time, its well worth the effort expended. Few people will get to see this mountain up close like this, because of the energy it will take to get here.