Training Hike to Cypress Black Mountain Trail

Training Hike to Cypress Black Mountain Trail

Date: July 9, 2016  (Saturday)

Trail: Cypress Black Mountain Trail

Duration: 5 hrs. (started approx. 9:30 am)

Weather: cloudy in the morning, heavy rain mid-morning, sunshine towards noon

Difficulty: medium

Hikers: Salim, Spencer, Bill, Sandy, Nichole

Here is a more detailed description of the trail.

The morning started out with drizzling rain. Which eventually let up for a little after hiking for about an hour. However, it got worse as we continued hiking  and before long, around 11am, the heavens let loose with torrential rain for the next half hour of hiking. The terrain was infested with many roots and rocks and water traps throughout the hike up toward Black mountain. 

With still another ¼ of the way before reaching Black Mountain we decided to turn back. The heavy down pour made hiking difficult and to top it off, I had slipped on some timber that was used for a make shift bridge over water and managed to submerge  the left half of my body into mud and water.  Needless to say my left boot filled with water and the rest of the hike was in a “squishy” boot. The rest of the hikers fared well in spite of the rain and managed to stay relatively dry with their proper rain gear.

The other most challenging part of the day was the hike down a long trail of loose rocks and roots.  All in all , it was a good test of hiking in heavy rain and poor terrain conditions in relation to my V.I.P. status.  It was phenomenal team work that got us through the day’s hike as the experienced Kili alumnists, Sandy and Nicole, guided us wannabe Kili climbers, Spence, Salim and myself, through the rough terrain. Thanks, Sandy and Nicole.