hike....yeah

[Cheesypuff]

SO today, I took a MUCH needed hike! the thing I didn't need much of...was getting lost! I went up to the peak on one of the mountains here in clear water bay hong kong. I went on a little off trail peak hike, and the trail ends at the peak. And friggin arse, I didn't want to come back down from where I just climbed, I want new scenery!!! So off in the distance, I see the main trail (about 100 years away), so I say to myself, I can make it there! So I go off...perpendicular to the main trail so obviously I would hit it. But after going into some THICK...and I mean THICK foliage, I lose my orientation marker, and somehow made a u-turn. But before I made the u-turn, the whole time I was thinking I'm still perdendicular to the main trail, so I keep on going. After realizing I'm past 100 yards, I realize I'm lost. I get scared, I'm in the middle of what seems like a rain forrest, and I have NO idea where I am, I yelled help many times, but no one heard. This is all a downhill hike, so my legs are getting REALLY tired. I didn't bring my water bottle cuz this was gonna be a 1.5 hour hike, but 3 hours into getting lost, I'm FREAKING thirsty! I finally find a natural stream. so I said hey, why not follow this...I'm sure it'll lead somewhere, and since I'm so thirsty, I'll take a drink also (yeah...sketch...but I was dehydrated). Anywho...i followed the stream for a LONG time, having to get into it waist deep water to pass some thick trees/vines. The crappy thing about following a stream was having it being a breeding ground for mosquitos. So ANY place where my skin was showing, just got infested with these damn bugs. So right now, along with my legs and arms being trashed by the thorny vines, they're also swollen from all the bites. anyways, all the survival books saying to follow streams is good advice, after following it for about 2 more hours, I have never been happier to hear a car engine roar. The stream lead me to a street road. I rode the bus back home, soaking wet, but VERY happy. this was honestly one of the scariest times in my life. I NEVER want to do that again. STAY ON THE TRAILS!!! EVEN IF YOU SEE ANOTHER TRAIL 100 YARDS AWAY! never underestimate the power of nature.


update #2...my mom just counted ~110 mosquito bites on my LEFT ARM!!!! I'm really in pain right now!

update #3...my mom also counted ~60 ish mosquito bites on my right harm. I don't even want to start counting my legs.

[Kim]

Water is your friend ;)

I'm glad you made it out alive, and I hope you don't get West Nile from the 'skeeters.

[RIVERWIDOW]

Never leave home without your breadcrumbs !!

[Markel]

Glad you were able to write a happy ending instead of having to write about having died of exposure.

[Memo]

More adventure than you bargained for ;) Still sounds like fun though.

[Cheesypuff]

I took pictures of myself in the forest just in case I died in there. so they can document what I was doing =) but since I made it out ok, those pictures are just memories =)

[irwin]

I took pictures of myself in the forest just in case I died in there. so they can document what I was doing =) but since I made it out ok, those pictures are just memories =)

post them pics. we wanna see.

[Jeffbx]

Well, that'll give you something to talk about at the office!

A little tip I learned long ago - when you're walking in an unmarked area (no trails or roads), pick a landmark you can see directly ahead of you (maybe 50 or 100 yards) & walk to it. Then pick something else straight ahead & walk to that. Using that technique will keep you going in a straight line. Otherwise you will almost ALWAYS end up just walking in a big circle.

[Maarchk]

Well, that'll give you something to talk about at the office!

A little tip I learned long ago - when you're walking in an unmarked area (no trails or roads), pick a landmark you can see directly ahead of you (maybe 50 or 100 yards) & walk to it. Then pick something else straight ahead & walk to that. Using that technique will keep you going in a straight line. Otherwise you will almost ALWAYS end up just walking in a big circle.

Word and add to that a toy that no one ever buys... A compass for all of 3 dollars is a great investment. So if you dont have land marks cause you are lost in a rain forest, than you can simply whip out your compass and say, i want to go E by SE ... and just keep going that same direction.