Mt.Benson

Yesterday I went hiking with Tyrone. Mt.Benson. The internet maps all confusing. The trail head was easy to find and I took off down it with deceitful enthusiasm. Unfortunately the trail was only to a lake about 50 meters off the road. It was nice to do some bushwacking first off as we attempted to find the trail by following the natural curve of the lake. No luck. Back to the vehicle and another short look around yeilded a very obvious "right" trail. More decietful enthusiasm. First fork in the road and the "always go left" rule is applied though ive forgotten if it is actually "always go left" or "always go right". We dont appear to be making much of an incline so we ask the next person we see if we are on the right track. We arent. And she mentions that she saw us at the beginning of the trail where we happily went flailing through the bush but we "looked like you knew were you were going so I didnt say anything". I love it when I look like I know what Im doing. we back track to the point were we should have used the "always go right" rule and smile in aknowledgement of the sign with mountains that say "mt.benson" on them. I've gone ten feet when i start to feel the strain of the mountains in my legs. "Wow" I think "I'm sure glad I went for two ten minute runs this last week to prepare myself for this". Onward and upward. I stop twice to cough and am surprised when a little spider and a couple cobwebs come rolling out. Havent really been using my lungs lately. Credit to Tyrone, he is patient as we hike slowly and stop every few feet as I wait for my resting heart rate to fall below 104 BPM. After 45 minutes my legs have stoped whining about the hike, and Ive tried to stop also. The first look out is at the top of a clearcut. A beautiful and majestic view of Nanaimo. Another rock perch yeilds an even more amazing view of the ocean and all the way to vancouver. An eagle soars at eye level and quickly raises five hundred feet in a matter of seconds. (thats what tyrone said - I wouldnt be able to tell). Thats when we hear a "Meow"? um. this isnt really the area for domestic house cats. We discuss cougars and the various sounds they make and how they can sound like children. and another "meow". Later it is discovered that it IS actually a slightly less than intelligent child yelling for his caregiver to wait up or something. Time to move on now that the sweat on my face has dried to a film thick enough to season a take out chinese dish. The rest of the incline is uneventful and the view from the top is amazing. I can see Croften and possibly Duncan like the webpages said. I am curious to know about the mountains to the southwest and west and wonder why I havent explored them too much and make a note to do that in the future. I pretend I know all the names of the lakes and islands. who will know the difference anyways. There is "4:20" and swastikas spray painted all over a building at the top. I cant help but wonder how the potheads found the enthusiasm to hike to the top. On the way down, I am glad for the trees by the side of the trial and throw my self from one tree to the next hoping they stop gravity from turning me into a non moss gathering rolling projectile. "I managed to make it another ten feet" I say as I simultainously loose my footing. I hear the universe laugh.
I never pass the opportunity to drink from a mountain stream. There is a little waterfall falling off a ledge and I have to press my hand against the wall for a little bit of water to collect. crisp and refreshing I rinse my face. I take a sip and it tastes like moss. I shouldnt be surprised, the rock being covered in moss and all.
I'm still alive when we reach the bottom. I feel good. I love being out in the wilderns. Out of shape and all, its great to get out and get away from the noise of the city and be one with nature. Even having to awaken at 5 am to inject two doses of morphine for the muscle pain in my legs, it was all worth it!.