brutalful

we did get to do the 8 hour hike of the tongaria crossing (and managed to do it in only 7 hours!) - it was everything it was built up to be, and more. the scenery was spectacular, the first hour was hiking intermittent with rock climbing through the base of the mountain (volcanoes, actually) which followed the most peaceful babbling brooks with the views of the volcanoes we were about to climb looming in the background. the second hour was by far the most brutal, and was the point where i began to think i had overestimated my fitness level for this kind of hike! basically it was an hour of crudely made stairs cut into the mountain side with no views but the person in front of you and behind you (and in my case, the elderly couple that passed me along the way - when youre getting out-hiked by a 70 year old, you know youre in trouble). After that it all got good again! It was another hour of hiking and rock climbing, this time with the emerald lakes (the halfway point) in the distance, which were crazy stunningly beautiful. The last bit before the lakes was sliding down a few hundred meters of volcanic ash - i was glad i had worn black for the occasion! (see note below on this) We had lunch by the emerald lakes and then continued our journey which for the next hour, mean rock climbing along the ledge of the mountain that was caught in a wind tunnel - then i understood why we couldnt do the hike in poor weather!! that part was a little tough as well, but after that the hike got easy (or maybe my body just gave up being in pain?). for the last couple hours we got to go back Down the mountain on a nice, easy downward slope with stunning views of the surrounding farmland and lakes and finished with half an hour of flat walking through a bit of an unexpected rain forest!

All in all, a spectacular day that prompted me to make up a new work for the hike - brutalful (beautiful and brutal all tied together). in another note (of interest to my fashion girls out there) was the makeshift wardrobe of me and my hiking buddies. we fell into 3 camps, about half had gone out and bought decent hiking apparel (hiking boots, wind/waterproof sporty jacket, polar fleece zip ups and wind pants, all in the bright colors that i can only assume are so popular with hiking apparel so if you get lost they can find you most easily?). another half rented hiking gear from the hostel, and then little old me was in a camp by myself and decided to makeshift my normal clothing into hiking gear (it cant be that tough, right?) so ended up in black pumas instead of hiking boots (which were the one regret), some black yoga pants, and a black top with a grey jersey scarf and topped all off with my black faux leather jacket and big perscription sunglasses. i looked like such a city slicker i knew i had to finish the hike early or would be doubly judged by the 'serious' hiking groups! ridiculous looking or not, everything worked just fine (though we lucked out with no rain), with no damage done except a couple bruises on my feet from the thin soles of the pumas.
the day after everyone was struggling even with just the bus steps, our bodies are so sore!

as of today, im in wellington and GOOD NEWS it just so happens that today in wellington (the countries capital) there is a latin dance festival!! i couldnt have lucked out with any better timing, im so excited... wellington seems like such a great city, cant wait for today! will update later

(post note: one of the mountains in the range that we hiked was 'Mt Doom' from the lord of the rings trilogy!)