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Added March 31, 2008
apichai
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Next: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =Z3t2LO68uuI
http://www.mybushwhacker.com
I gazed around me as I waited for my ride and marvelled at the cityscape that seemed so artificial and so phoney. Skyscrapers and office building towered over me like mountain peaks that dared us all to climb to the summit. Of course nobo more
Next: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =Z3t2LO68uuI
http://www.mybushwhacker.com
I gazed around me as I waited for my ride and marvelled at the cityscape that seemed so artificial and so phoney. Skyscrapers and office building towered over me like mountain peaks that dared us all to climb to the summit. Of course nobody did. Not an insect was present, although the people around me buzzed like them, seemingly unaware that I stood there with my pack. Was I invisible? No, since they did veer around me, avoiding all forms of contact; especially eye contact. The awnings over the concrete sidewalk were like the thick canopy of a forest, but plastic and brightly coloured. What a world we live in, I pondered. So many people, but we all did not know each other; and didn't really care either, I mused.
I heard a honk and heard a shout. They spotted me even though I had never met them. It was my gear that made me stand out among the many of the city. As I entered the vehicle I was greeted with enthusiastic hellos. I reciprocated and sized up my companions.
One of them, Jill, was from an online hiking club and the other 3 were friends of hers. I thought I detected a 'look' from Jill (as I shall call her), but at the time I put it down to my imagination and perhaps a hope and a whim as well. I saw a lot of big watches on wrists in the vehicle as well as a couple of backpacks that seem to proportionally match the size of the watches. Did these people know where we were going? They were briefed in detail and ultimately it was up to them as to what, and how much, they carried.
The mood in the vehicle was joyous, as it usually is when everyone is keyed up and ready to go; bursting with energy. We did the usual and met the rest of the bushwhacking party at the last restaurant before the trailhead where I was introduced to the rest of the gang. I must admit I found the organizer of the bushwhack a little on the arrogant side, as well as his sidekick, Sally. I hoped that the arrogance would translate into confidence and ability when the going got tough; which is was sure to happen, in my opinion. Our glorious leader, who I shall call John, seemed to think that our journey was to be an eight-day cake-walk, but glancing around to the clean, fresh faces and to the corresponding clean, fresh clothing, I thought otherwise. There would be no cake where we were going.
We parked our two vehicles at the trail head, which was really just the end of a logging road and not really a trailhead at all. There were no signs, no trails, and no frills where we were going. After the nine of us geared up we headed out, still joyous, still full of enthusiasm. The first part of our journey was easy; down to the bottom of the valley and up the dry creek bed. The going was easy and that gave us a chance chat and to form our natural alliances and cliques.
The weather was perfect and not a bug was to be seen. Frank, as I will call him, brought his dog who ran back and forth excitedly between the various small groups that formed as we moved forever upstream. I seemed to be developing a good vibe with Jill as we strolled along. Although, judging from the visual daggers I was getting from her friend Peter, I decided to keep my distance somewhat. Obviously Peter had some sort of interest in Jill, although Jill did not reciprocate.
As we trudged along, I learned a few interesting, and perhaps valuable things; John's loyal sidekick, Sally, was carrying a satellite phone and a few of us had cellular phones as well. You never know when one of these could come in handy. Combine the size of our group with the route we were taking, and something was bound to happen. I sincerely hoped not, but the odds were not in our favour.
About four kilometres and three hours in was where and when the first minor incident happened.
Next: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =Z3t2LO68uuI
Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =gIqB7p-HpjU
Read Complete Story: http://www.clubtread.com/sforu m/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=23122
Tags skyscraper, mountain, peak, climb, summit, forest, hiking, club, backpack, journey, logging, road, trail, satellite, phone
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