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

Category Howto & DIY

Tags skyscraper, mountain, peak, climb, summit, forest, hiking, club, backpack, journey, logging, road, trail, satellite, phone