Costa Rica: Cerro Chirripo

Transportation: Took a bus from San Isidro to San Gerardo (1.5 hours); a beautiful drive down a canyon. I couldn't believe how the trees seem to protrude horizontally out of the cliff...and tons and tons of flowers: magenta, red, salmon, orange. There were lime trees, orange trees and guava trees lining a powerful river which cut through the canyon and ran along the side of town. I think I want to retire here... it's a fairyland!

Hostel: We stayed in a hostel next to the ranger station for $10/night. They were very nice people. They gave us a free ride up the Chirripo at 5 am and had cheap meals. Run by a man and his mom, they both were incredibly friendly. The lady grows all the flowers on the property and showed me her nursery while I struggled my way asking about them in Spanish.

Snack time after Devil Km 8

Cerro Chirripo: Chirripo is 12,533 ft. It is a 14Km climb of 5,000ft to the hostel where people stop for the night and then continue the next morning around 3 a.m. for the last 6km and 2,000 ft to the summit.
The hike was incredibly difficult but equally rewarding. The first day was a constant uphill. The first half was daunting simply because it was very very muddy. But after devil km 8 (we cheerfully gave that km its name) it got easier. Once we got above the forest we were treated to fantastic views and flocks of PARROTS! Very Cool. We were hiking with 4 other groups and continuously met up with them along the way, giving encouragement with each passing.
We all made it. Most people had paid to get meals prepared for them when they got to the top while we sat in the corner eating cold garbanzo beans, corn, and beans wrapped in a tortilla with hot sauce....making jokes how we would be happy to eat anything they left behind.
We met this couple who were extremely bad ass. Both over 65, they had hiked the whole PCT last summer, 1,000 miles in Idaho the year before as well as 1,000 miles in Nepal and were planning a 10 day scuba trip after Chirripo. Don and Judy were their names (haha...Fowler) and Judy said stretching every day is what kept her going with no Ibuprofen.
Next morning at 2:30 we hiked to the top. It took all my motivation, patience, and stamina to make it up that damn mountain but man that sunrise was worth it. And once we made it to the top Tom and I couldn't stop talking about how great it would be to spend 5 more days exploring the 4 other peaks, U-shaped valleys and alpine lakes. We promised to one day make it back.


Dip in a very cold alpine lake after our hike!

The hike down was easy enough. Although it rained like I've never seen it before. It had to be an inch every 5 minutes. IT WAS MUUUUUUDDDDYYYY. (And Tom did it in Chacos) Yet we made it. With sore bodies and minds we got to the nearest restaurant and ordered shots of Whiskey and Pasta and finished off the night with a Snickers.
I pushed myself to new heights on this excursion. It was a trip of discovery. Discovery of new places, new mind sets, new landscapes, and motivations!



Dawn