The night was far from over when we set out from the trailhead, our courageous group of four guided by the glow of headlamps and torches. The first hour of our three-hour ascent was shrouded in darkness, the path illuminated only by our bobbling battery-powered lights. The trail was narrow, winding through dense jungle vegetation, clinging to the ridges of the steep mountains. Even in the dim light, we could sense the island’s beauty surrounding us.
Several sections of the hike demanded our full concentration—one misstep could mean a dangerous fall. Of course, we knew this. About a mile into the hike, we passed a sign that practically begged us to turn around and go no further. The mountain peak, our destination, was known for being unpredictable, often vanishing into a thick shroud of clouds at a moment’s notice. Fortunately, the sun proved strong enough to keep the summit clear, rewarding us with a breathtaking view upon arrival. As we reached the peak, a panorama of the island unfolded before us.
We unpacked our lunches and settled in, savoring the meal and the scenery. The eastern cliffs plunged dramatically to sea level before leveling into a broad plateau that stretched toward the beach. Beyond the shoreline, the ocean floor dropped into the abyssal depths of the Pacific Ocean. This side of the island, a mere three million years old, was still young in geological terms. Its youth is readily apparent in its smooth, relatively limited flora and fauna.
Not long after, another group of five hikers joined us at the summit. We exchanged stories of past treks, each of us reveling in the camaraderie that only fellow adventurers could understand. Cameras and phones emerged, capturing the moment in countless photos and selfies.
Eventually, it was time to begin our descent. The hike down was just as thrilling as the climb up, with new perspectives of the island’s beauty revealing themselves at every turn. The descent demanded careful footing, the steep drops and twisting paths keeping our adrenaline pumping.
The sky darkened as we reached the car park, and a sudden tropical rain shower swept the street and parking lot. We took shelter under a pavilion, watching the storm stop as quickly as it arrived. In its wake, the sun reemerged, painting the sky with brilliant rainbows. It was the perfect end to an unforgettable hike.
Observations from a journey:
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