Well hello hello Biola friends and family! This is JJ and I am most anxious to report to you the adventures of those who hiked the Baja inferno that is Mike’s Mountain.
At a whopping 4,000 feet, this peak was once the home of an eccentric vegetarian hermit named Mike. Although he was notorious for hiking in the oh so fashionable Speedo, or even in the nude, we decided to climb fully clothed and fully loaded with snacks and water to assure maximum comfort.
Some began the hike at the most ungodly hour of 4:30 am and decided to scale the mountain in the dark. General comments, “We didn’t get lost, we just went the wrong direction.” Some, less devoted hikers, left between seven and eight o’clock. And some (we’ll call them the insane) decided it would be fun to run up the mountain in an attempt to beat the current record of making it to the top in 1 hour and 46 minutes. Their final time: an impressive 1 hour, 45 minutes and 30 seconds.
Amidst the brisk air and blistering wind, we stumbled about the rocky trails, crossed the “ridge of death,” and scaled massive boulders. Dodging cacti and rockslides along the way, the path was treacherous. Casualties: a bloody ankle, little tumbles (thankfully not over the cliff), and scratched legs. I myself suffered from ripped pants after a rather painful encounter with an agave cactus. However, the view from the top made it worth the burning pain in the thighs, sweaty backs, and puffy red hands.
It was a treat to view the bay from such a height, to sense the intense coloration of pthalo blues and greens along the shoreline, and to see the vast Mexican mainland disappear into the haze. Another unexpected treat was the most delightful campfire that awaited those who journeyed to Mike’s renowned cave.
Exhausted from the climb, we plopped down on sunbathed rocks to devour a most delicious and well-earned lunch. I never imagined a peanut butter and jelly sandwich could taste so good.
Satisfied and accomplished, we began the descent at 1pm. Aching knees and blistered toes accompanied us on the way down, but good humor and witty comments kept our spirits up and the pain at bay. At the Field Station we were greeted by a round of applause and a bottle of ibuprofen.
Of this I am sure, we will all sleep well tonight!
(You might want to click on the photo above for a fabulous shot of Bahia de los Angeles from Mike's Mountain!)
