Some final packing before stepping onto the trailhead.
Thankfully, at about
Some final packing before stepping onto the trailhead.
We head out but, to our distress, in an open field mere steps from the trailhead, what I would describe as a West Coast Monsoon hits. Our rain gear comes on and we take our first steps onto the trail. Its not so bad in the cover of the forest and our attention is quickly captivated by the surreal look of the low-hanging fog licking out in fingers through the branches of the huge, mighty trees.
A few hours in, I take a fall off of a downward sloping boardwalk, made slick from pouring rain. I land hard, right on my sleeping bag! Whew! Its true: this trail can be unforgiving and bring your trip to an end in seconds if you arent careful.
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Left: Mike
and Erica on the first few km's of the trail.
Right: Marlin, soaked but happily trudging through the foggy forest. |
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Hidden somewhere in the fog is Erica |
Later we explore a densely
vegetated side-trail that innocently peels off from the main one.
Travis goes on ahead and soon comes back saying that he can hear
some loud, but unidentifiable, animal sounds coming from the direction of
the ocean. Taking off our
packs and fighting through the bush brings us to a dead end on the top of
a high ocean cliff that plunges straight down into the raging waters.Back on the main trail once again,
we soon begin tP T ^. ) `T B . P at the Pachena Lighthouse, which is still quite far away.
When we get there, ! H H T ." ! P КT . pan style="mso-spacerun:yes"> To give our spirits
from the
friendly light keeper. We set up camp, trying to avoid contact with the monstrous, slimy slugs that look to be about 6 inches long when stretched out on the nearby logs. Then we rush some dinner and head to bed with the steady pounding of rain on the tents |
 Mike
amidst the errie, tangled forest limbs, looking like a hunch-back with his
pack-cover on.
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Join one man's journey into the heart of Asia with nothing but a backpack...
"The hardest thing is explaining to your co-workers that you're grouchy because you were up until 1am reading..." Ada Litvinov Rice Crust from the Bottom of the Pot: A Journey Across South East Asia |
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Although in creating this site I have tried to make the information as accurate as possible, it is not meant to be a guide, and I accept no responsibility for any loss, injury, or inconvenience sustained by anyone using the information.
Backpacking the West Coast Trail 2005 Parry Loeffler |
