The second highest peak in Central America. This was a hike that I anticipated for months before I finally signed up to do it. During many hikes, I’ve had trouble when it comes acclimatizing to higher altitudes, but I’d been in Costa Rica for several weeks before I started this hike and I thought I’d be fine. I was even told that this was a wonderful relaxing hike. It had several steep segments but at no point was it overly strenuous. This was the first and only hike that I failed to complete.
From my description of the hike, it would seem like any other jungle trek, but this became what I considered my greatest hiking failure. I can persevere through most conditions, but I learned what my limit was while attempting this 19km hike. And it is being wet. After the 5km mark, it started to drizzle, and when it wasn’t drizzling, there was a dense mist covering the trail. I’ve been hiking in downpours before, and while uncomfortable, they are manageable as long as you have a have a poncho and as long as it stays relatively warm. But once you’re above 7,000 feet, staying warm is an impossible luxury. By the 7km mark I was cold and drenched. While I considered turning back, I expelled those thoughts immediately and continued the next 7.5 kilometers to the refugio, or refuge. Where I collapsed.
To rest when I arrived at the refugio was a part of the plan. It was around 7pm and we were going to make for the summit at 2 am, so we could arrive with enough time to watch the sunrise. On any other day, I would have been 100% on board, but this is where the elements came into play. My clothes, backpack, boots and jacket were absolutely soaked and there was no way to dry them at 11,000 feet. I literally had every single article of my clothing hanging to dry in my room and I knew that they would still be just as wet when 2am came. I had to accept that, no matter how much I desired to continue, there was no way I could do it with wet clothes, socks and shoes. All I could do was watch as the other hikers I met along the way took off for the last 5 kilometers of the journey and wait for them to return around 8am. It was a very sad moment for me but there are two things I know. Always bring more backup clothes than you think you need, and that I will definitely be returning to complete this hike!
