2/6/07

Hello Everyone,

Well I am tired.  My friend Dave and I began with the bus journey to San Gerardo de Rivas, the town at the foot of Mt. Chirripo´`, the tallest mountain in Costa Rica.  Unable to obtain permits to climb it the next day, we decided to attune ourselves to the mountain air and played a game of soccer against some local ticos.  Let us say, they don´t call me Pele´ for a reason...  But it was really really fun.  Afterwards we chilled out and rested. 

The next day, we did two amazing sessions of chi gung and karate training, and feeling great, hit the trail for this gringo-run project that has preserved many acres of high altitude forest, and sparked the regeneration of more forest on former pasture land.  This is an important study, since so many forests have been reduced to pasture, and our hopes of biodiversity hinge not only on protecting existing virgin areas, but also rehabilitation of deforested areas and the introduction of species from contiguous preserves.  The place was really interesting, totally gorgeous, with waterfalls, species, tons of information...  We had so much fun and even jumped in the freezing river.  A great day was capped off by some delicious food and good rest, as we made ready for Chirripo. 

CLIMBING CHIRRIPO began at 5am as we had breakfast and got a ride to the foot of the mountain by our hotel proprietor, who himself RUNS up and down the mountain once a week, in between his 96 km super marathons, only at the tender age of 50.  But we hit the trail, and saw a huge cloud forest, had so much fun, and managed the high altitude hike.  What a wonderful day this was.  We really pulled through, finally arriving at the ranger station, a big infrastructure, amidst a recently burned out forest.  Comfy accomodations and we made ourselves some food and kicked it. 

The next morning we hit the road at 3am, hiking through very low oxygen air to reach the summit.  I was beat.  I had to rest and meditate with my blanket-cloak, but the moon was sublime, the stars in full effect, and the personal realizations about "walking the path" and being "okay with where you are" abounding.  But finally, through some real lord of the rings territory, I reached the top.  I rocked some of the best Chi gung and ate peanut butter and jelly.  Very fun.  The way down the mountain to the base camp (at 12000 feet) was chock full of strong meditation and breathing, jumping in the river, napping, watching wildlife.  Upon return, we ate more food, and headed up another trail to some huge crestones, spires of rock.  We tested the rock climbing skills and had fun and watched the sunset from well above the clouds.  Stunning.  Climbed down in the dark and two costa rican ladies gave us some bomb diggidy soup, we made hot chocalate, and hit the hay. 

Next day breakfast of chocalate oatmeal and we hit the road down the mountain.  A long, tiring jounrey but back into good thick air.  Lots of fun talking about life and sustainability.  Then we found the corner store and had a pow wow with a local farmer who decried pesticides and told us mad daoist teachings in his own way.  We took a bus that night to san isidro, then to a friend of dave´s house.  At this house we had a chance to go to a regular country party, complete with live band.  We slept really well.  the next day we were off to another friends house, who will hopefully next year lead us through the most untouched forests of panama.  But that is another story.  Meanwhile, that day we bussed it to the Osa peninsula and got ready for our big journey.  Shop`ping and eating and registration, etc. 

The Osa was a trip.  Incredibly hot and muggy, a true rainforest, completely protected.  Wildlife everywhere.  Crazy.  Hard to describe.  Harder to walk.  But fun, full of chi and life.  A real treat.  My internet place is closing, I´ll hopefully describe it more soon, but suffice it to say we have walked over 110 km in the past 6 days, big adventures, tons of bonding and respect and love, nature opened her heart to us.

Be well everyone. 
I hope you´re all safe and sound, weathering the winter well.  Much love. 

Alex

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