Pico Duarte Peace

There's a new kind of Peace I explored last week.

Caribbean tourism commercials present this island of Hispanola as a place of white sand beaches, sexy women, and you and your friends and family relaxed sipping of mango smoothies. Well, maybe that´s true for the foreigner´s 4 day stay at an expensive resort, but inland a new form of tourism is taking shape.

They call it summiting the Caribbean's tallest peak, (Pico Duarte, 10,000ft). I call it loosing yourself in a forest of serenity and spirituality.

Here´s Day 1´s journal entry:
I woke up to bathe in the steam. It felt refreshing again after last night´s skinny dip with Justin and and college buddy Dan. Mangos and hot chcolate were for breakfast at 7am. Life is tought when it's sweet. Last night's stay in the visitor center was enjoyable with the 6 of us wraped up in our sleeping bags on the white tiled floor. I was impressed with the facilities at this recently build visitor center and hope that more eco-tourists will be able to take advantage of them. The hike today was up and down ending at a nice caseta in las Garacuas. Plenty of climb and plenty of decending, however, perhaps most exciting was the furious rain storm after lunch that got the best us as even this very journal is soaked with water. The trail turned into a tomato juice stream and our shoes became sponges absorbing the rich, red colored water with each step. It's pretty clear to see how important plants and roots are to maintaining to soil intact and avoiding erosion.

I will never forget the lightening that struck overhead causing me to duck in fear of being struck. Fortunately we summited our final ridge of the day and the storm moved on echoing through the different river basins of Jose Armando Bermudez National Park. Mata Grande, our starting point for this 5 day terk, is still not far off. The rivers here are absolutely beautiful and clear. They are where the life of this country begins. I am thankful to the Golub family for inviting me on this trip. Tonight we are eating dominican style rice and beans courtesy of Tono and Jeraldo, our guides. I am sure I shall not be let down. I will dry out ferom the down pour and sleep well. 18 kilometers today, wet, well fed... we're just breaking in the hike!

Below is a photo unrelated to the hike, but nonetheless with college friend Dan Golub. We're enjoying some post race smiles with a really friendly Dominican runner named, Nelson Mandela (who knows the connection?)