The Great Trip Which Wasn't
Nov
24th
Trent, United States
Trip in United States ~ Beginner difficulty
Date: Sometime in July
Summary: The Unraveling of a Year-long Plan
Location: Close to Paradise
Nearly 4 months have passed since blogging about the last adventure. Hiking the Salkantay Trek into Machu Picchu was simply amazing. Since then I have been able to pursue more great adventures across California and into Arizona. Perhaps the most fitting story from the past few months to share after such a protracted absence is of the great trip which wasn’t. Besides, many enjoy a story that can capture the foibles of human nature.
Recently I had the opportunity to hear Greg Mortenson, founder of the Central Asia Institute and author of Three Cups of Tea, speak to an intimate audience of about three dozen people. One of his opening comments was on his insistence to begin Three Cups of Tea with a chapter entitled "Failure". His justification to the publisher - who thought starting a book with such an entitled chapter would seal its fate likewise - was that failure is the way we learn. In college Greg had a 1.82 GPA. He failed his first driver’s license exam. He admitted his first relationships were little different. In fact, the event which precipitated Greg’s working to bring schools for children, specifically girls, in Pakistan and Afghanistan was a failed attempt at K2 followed by a failed attempt at returning down the mountain. Nevertheless, through persistance, challenging traditional convention and questioning basic tenets he learned how to make a difference through cycles of continuous improvement and adaptation to this enigmatic thing called failure.
As Edison said, "I have not failed, I’ve just found 10000 ways that won’t work." Lest I set myself up for failure in relaying this story, I must qualify that the end-state of this anecdote is not quite as profound as Edison or Mortenson’s statements. I just wanted to cite them.
In July Eamonn, a longtime friend and confidant, had returned home from serviing in the army in Afghanistan - performing recon in the mountainous regions. We had planned a trip into Costa Rica for over a year - fly into Phoenix to pick up Eamonn, spend the weekend in Sedona with the girls and then fly down to San Jose, hop a puddle-jumper into Drake Bay and spend the following ten days in the Osa Penninsula. We found what was reviewed to be an outstanding resort for what we were seeking (Corcovado Adventure Tent Camp) and put down our deposits. Lodging would be book-ended for the first and last three days in heavy-duty tents on the shore - straddling sands and coastal rainforest, with spider monkeys dangling from the trees above. The middle three days were to spent trekking through the coastal rainforest of the Corvovado National Forest. We booked our flights both internationally and domestically well in advance.
By the time late June came around, I was getting psyched for the ensuing Costa Rican adventure and had finalized all plans. Little did I know when I would arrive in Phoenix in early July that some news would await me. Upon returning stateside my good friend had treated his sweet fiancee to a romantic cruise. When they returned to their beautiful home she began taking care of odds and ends, including the laundry from their trip, and had omitted to clean out the pockets. Eamonn’s passport went through wash, spin, and dry cycles. The backing of his passport began to separate from the photograph when it dried. Mold formed on the picture of his face.
Needless to say, we went on to enjoy our excursion to Sedona over that weekend. That Monday when we were supposed to depart Sky Harbor for San Jose, Costa Rica, TSA would refuse to let him leave the country with a mutilated passport. The airline representative took pity and reimbursed our international flight. Corcovado Adventure Tent Camp, despite being against standard policy, offerred some concessions which were extremely generous given the circumstances. (I would highly recommend them and look forward to re-booking a stay at their resort in the future.) My employer graciously welcomed me back from PTO a week early. (Given my recent transition in roles much had piled up in just the week I was gone.) All-in-all we were fortunate. Weather forecasts for Costa Rica were pessimistic and we speculated the inability to execute to the year-long plan was in fact a blessing in disguise. Perhaps we may never understand why, but our faith is such it was for the best.
Although exploring the Corcovado National Forest was postponed indefinitely, the summer remained productive for hiking and other adventures. Luckily, from late June through about mid-September, I was blessed to be party to many successful adventures. Most of which I hope to finally share on the Team Sherpa blog. Stay tuned for more stories from this urban outdoorsman sherpa.
