So, we start off our adventure and I was all happy and reflective like this is awesome, I am hiking through the Ecuadorian jungle- how cool is this? It was however a bit tricky because I did not have a flashlight or a headlamp with me, so it was a bit challenging to see where to step. It was rather reminiscent of training camp when I was also sans flashlight and wandered around in the dark. The first hour or so of the jungle trek was pretty good—a little muddy, but not too bad. But slowly my soreness from the previous night’s soccer game and my exhaustion from the long day of travel started to creep up on me. And somehow I think the trail got muddier and more treacherous. I’m not really sure though because it’s not like I could see or anything. Anyway the trail was basically mud puddles with little mounds of reasonably solid ground on which one could safely step. But here’s the thing, if you miss a mound and step in the puddle, you are instantly knee deep in mud. Then begins the process of wriggling/prying one’s boot from the mud. At first it was sort of humorous, but it rapidly became a bit taxing when I couldn’t take more than 3 steps without my feet sinking into the earth. The pastor who was guiding us kept telling me only step on the solid ground, not in the water. Simple concept; impossible task. Because you see, I would either think I was stepping on solid ground that really was not and sink right in or I would get one foot on solid ground but then not know where to go with my other foot, lose my balance and slip right into a puddle. The more times I fell, the more mud covered my boots got—inside and out. And then there were a few special moments where my boots would get completely stuck, so when I would try to take a step I would fall forward. In those moments I was lucky enough to be both knee and elbow deep in the mud. I now found myself completely covered in mud and almost unable to walk because there was so much mud inside my boots that my socks had come completely off my feet and were wedged in the front of my boots as my feet slipped back and forth within my boots. Eventually we came to a river that crossed the trail, so I could wash out my boots and really all of my clothing. The pastor made sure to tell me to wash off well because there was fungus in the mud, so it was important to get as much off as possible. Super, so now the mud that is covering 90 percent of my body is now going to give me some bizarre tropical illness. Awesome. So, after some vigorous scrubbing we were off again. I think at this point we were about 3 hours in and someone asked how much further we had to go. After the pastor said it would probably take 2 more hours, I was waiting for a ha ha just kidding, but none ever came. And it should be noted that the trail was far from flat ground. There were many a muddy slope to climb up and not so intentionally slide down. After my thorough river rinse off, I was determined to stop falling in the mud. But as much as I understood the concept of what I needed to do, I just could not complete the task and I kept falling in the mud. It got to the point where I had to hold the pastor’s hand and he told me, walk where I walk, step where I step. This was helpful and needed, but also very humbling. I had to hold hands with someone because I was incapable of walking. What made it even more humbling was that no one else was struggling as much as I was. I was the weakest link. And that sucked. I am not at all accustomed to being the weakest one, and it was a bit internally challenging to swallow my pride and hold hands with him, but I knew I wouldn’t make it if I didn’t. So there I was, physically and emotionally drained, covered in mud, and still with a long road ahead. With the pastor guiding me, things were much better, but I still stumbled every now and then. Thankfully he was patient and still continued to help me even when I fell. A few times I tried to hold on the trees on the side of the path for stability, but he quickly informed that that was not a good idea, as there are snakes in the trees. So, I really only had him for stability. There were many times when I wanted to give up, but I knew I had to keep going. I had to make it to Higuerones, even though I was starting to doubt if the town even existed. I pressed on, step by step, and finally 5 hours after the muddy jungle trek began, I made it to Higuerones. I was so exhausted, I could barely form sentences. I was so excited to shower and put on dry clothing. Unfortunately, upon my arrival I learned that the mule that had been carrying my backpack had fallen in the river, so all of my things were soaking wet and muddy. I then sighed, realizing that that was an appropriate ending to the day, bucket showered (dumped water over my head), and put on the least wet clothing from my backpack. But, I had made it. In my state of delirious exhaustion, I rolled out my sleeping mat on the rickety wooden floor and finally went to sleep. The trek to Higuerones was probably one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my life. It was both physically and emotionally draining, but I learned so much from it. I was completely humbled and pushed beyond previously set limits. In the end, I guess journeys may seem impossible, but with the right guidance you will make it through and become stronger and better for it.
