Beginning of Day 2
You would think a person would learn their lesson in regards to water and hydration after running out the day prior, but I didn't. I packed the same 2 liter camelback and chose not to fill the extra 1 liter bottle because I thought it would be too heavy, and that I would ration my supply better. That didn't happen.
Like the previous day, the hike started off rather well. I have found that, although exhausting, I am able to CLIMB a mountain. Aside from one section where I felt as if I was hanging off the side of a sheer cliff, trying to get from rock to rock, with a nice little 400 ft drop, the ascent was ok. The issue for me is the descent. We made great time on the way up, right on track with the guide book which had estimated the day to be about 6.5 hours (not including rest stops). However, the final three hours of the hike were all downhill, where the traveler had to traverse a steep hill made of loose dirt and scree (thousands upon thousands of loose rocks that slip underfoot and are the cause of many a rolled ankle). Our 6.5 hours quickly turned into 11 hours due to the fact that I moved at a glacial pace, trying not to kill myself.
A nice view
The sun was out in full force this particular day, and I acquired a rather nasty sunburn on my neck and shoulders that plagued me for the duration on the hike. By day five it was so bad, that it started to scab over. This unrelenting heat also affected my water consumption, and the 6.5 hours that I planned for was how I rationed my water. By hour nine, I was starting to feel the onset of dehydration.
It comes on you pretty quickly and almost unnoticeable to the affected. My legs started shaking and giving out on me (which I thought was just me being completely out of shape), then I began to feel dizzy. I kept pushing on when I noticed that I was no longer sweating anymore and I was beginning to feel like I was going to throw up.
Tania was getting worried, wanting me to stop and rest; but the sun was blazing and I wanted shade before I stopped to rest. By hour 10, I was singing songs from "The Little Mermaid" and waving to Ariel who was perched on a rock in the distance.
"Can you hear that?" I asked Tania, stopping by a rock to catch my breath. "It sounds like water- a stream of some sort...or perhaps it is the ocean and Ariel is guiding me to my salvation!"
"It is not water, just the rustle of the breeze in the trees." I could tell, even in my delirious state, that Tania was getting worried.
"Just sit here and relax" she told me while patting my head. "I will run ahead to the refuge, it shouldn't be too much farther, and bring you back some water."
I brushed her hand away frustrated. "I am fine! I swear I hear water!!"
I got back up and continued on. It took another 20 minutes, but we eventually stumbled upon a water source, a beautiful little stream hidden in the trees.
"See??" I looked at Tania triumphantly. "I told you Ariel would save us!"
We sat by the stream for about 45 minutes. I washed my face with the cool water, and we filter enough for me to drink about 1 liter. We had tablets of electrolytes that we placed in the water bottle, and I rested and drank. My visions of Ariel disappeared to my disappointment, and we continued on to the Refuge.
During our dinner of chicken and rice, Tania retold the story of my hallucinations while I drained my blisters. Another successful day of hiking...sort of.
Tania enjoying some down time
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