Image Cycling 2007 Trip to Costa Rica
From the Mountain Highs to the Pacific Coast
By Kay Miller and Claudia Cernera

     The itinerary of the Image Cycling 2007 trip to Costa Rica was ambitious to say the least -- eight adventure-packed days and nights, starting with an arduous hike up Mount Uran in the Talamanka Mountain Range and ending with a sunset snorkel and sail boat trip at Manual Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. If I had had the luxury of the fast forward preview of this adventure trip I might not have signed up. After this experience, if I had the opportunity to repeat it, I would do it in a heartbeat. In fact, I am strongly considering going back with the Image Cycling team to Costa Rica next year, or if not Costa Rica, on one of the other team building hikes Image Cycling has planned for the summer of 2007.
     While I could write about the guided hikes through the jungle to view the diverse animal and plant life, and certainly could write about my experience flying by zip line through the rain forest canopy on our canopy/repelling trip, one particular adventure was so notable that I have chosen to focus this article on that experience and how I am forever changed.
     The destination was Rudolfos Hut, a primitive, one-room wood structure tucked away on the side of Mount Uran in the Talamanka Mountain Range. When we started our hike on day two of the trip, we had no idea what Rudolphos Hut was or what our journey would be like to reach Rudolphos Hut. We were an unlikely group an attorney, a retired accountant, an entrepreneur, a speech therapist, a real estate agent, a teacher, a child-care giver, a paralegal, a deli owner and a retired Navy officer. Our group spanned 4 generations, our youngest member in her 30s, our oldest in his 70s. One group member was commemorating a 75th birthday, another a 60th birthday and another a 50th birthday. We were single, married and divorced. All had varied levels of mountain hiking experience from none to moderate. In joking, we laughed that our group was like the crew from Gilligans Island headed out for our three hour tour. We had all the ingredients for a first class adventure or a big-time disaster. And so our hike began. We were guided by our Image Cycling team leader, John Hinrichsen, from Centerport, New York and by our local guides R. Senio, a mountain man close to fifty years of age, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Juan Valdez with his thick black mustache and red bandana scarf, and Fabio, son-in-law of R. Senio who luckily spoke English and was our connection to R. Senio and the other Costa Rican locals that we relied upon during our three days on the mountain.
     The hike was as challenging as it was stunning. Our Image Cycling team, led by John, our local guides and the pack horses, guided us deep into the Costa Rican mountains. We traversed coffee plantations, high farmland, low mountain forests and ultimately, made our way up into the cloud forest that shrouds the mountain peaks. We hiked up rocky open trails, grassy fields, narrow mountain passes and trekked through densely vegetated rainforest trails. We also crossed rivers and primitive bridges. The views were breathtaking all along the way. We also had fun trying to pass a herd of cattle that had determined to block our way up the trail.
     For about 3 hours the group trekked along through the brilliant blue skied day, faster hikers in front with R. Senio and the slower paced hikers bringing up the rear with John and Fabio. We would rest every half hour or so and re-group. When we reached the half-way point, the guides directed the faster hikers to go out ahead with R. Senio and push on to our destination. The rest of the group was to continue on with John and Fabio. None of us knew how long we had yet to go, but when Fabio asked us How many hours do you have on your headlights, a rush of nervous adrenalin flowed though us at the prospect of completing our journey in the dark of night. The first group of hikers pushed on for about 3 more hours, and with R. Senio, arrived at Rudolphos Hut about one-half hour into the nightfall. The second group continued on, but needed to don headlamps about an hour past the half-way point. We, the second group, marched on closely, like cars of a train, the forest illuminated around us by our headlights. We had each other, the stars, the sounds of the rain forest and our collective determination to guide us on. Our team leader, John, sang to us as we slowly made our way. During the last hour the wind kicked up and it started to rain. Fabio taught us to lean into the mountain when the winds became quite strong. We were tired and cold, but knew our goal was just within reach, and we pushed on. Finally, after 2 hours of hiking in the dark we reached a plateau, rounded a bend and saw a flashing light across the mountain ravine. It was the first group of hikers trying to signal us from Rudolphos Hut.
When we arrived at Rudolphos Hut the rain had kicked into high gear and the wind was howling. We climbed the rustic steps to the Hut and entered our destination. At this moment a realization dawned on us -- shelter is grand, no matter whether it is a rustic wood hut with no electricity, no beds, no bathroom, and no privacy. Like an onion, our outer layers had been peeled back. The core of our selves was exposed. When we entered this shelter and embraced our friends, we felt an overwhelming sense of joy, peace and, yes, achievement.
     R. Senio and Fabio did all they could to pamper our weary bones. Out of nowhere, complete hot meals (traditional gallo pinto, chicken, mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables) were served to us on a primitive, wood plank picnic table. Hard to believe that our humble hosts R. Senio and Fabio were the same two guys who had lead and herded us up the mountain. I am not sure when they had time to prepare and cook these huge delicious meals with one pot, one pan and one wood fire.
     After our satisfying meal, we all were ready to retire to a wooden platform shelf that tightly accommodated our sleeping bags. Everyone staked their claim to a slab of the plank by positioning their sleeping bags side-by-side. We laughed at our adult sleepover at Rudolfos Hut.
     Throughout the night, rain beat on the Huts tin roof and at times the sound was deafening, at other times it was soothing. We laughed throughout the night as our friends took turns donning headlights to jump down from the sleeping shelf to find their way outside and to the outhouse.
     The following day we emerged from the Hut to be blown away by the spectacular view (keep in mind we arrived in the dark). The beauty was astounding. Rudolphos Hut is situated on a plateau overlooking distant majestic mountains crowned by white rolling clouds. We were awe-struck.
     That day, several elected to hike a bit further up the mountain into the pristine, primary cloud forest. R. Senio tells us he has seen jaguars in this forest. The hikers were treated to the sighting of the resplendent Quetzal (brilliantly colored bird with long draping tail feathers), quite a rare sighting. The hikers who elected to stay back at Rudolphos Hut took full advantage of the vacated plank shelf and rested up for the next days hike down.
     During our two days and nights, we all started to settle in to this simple life at Rudolphos Hut. Part of the magic of Rudolfos is the peaceful simplicity no cell phone, no radio or TV, no e-mails-- simply nature and the camaraderie of companions. It was quiet -- the kind of quiet that is soothing and healing. Over the next couple of days, we all gained an appreciation of life on this magical mountain, and more importantly, gained a deeper understanding of ourselves.
     Our hike down was equally memorable. Again, the views unfolded before us at every vista and plateau. We made the hike down in a little over 5 hours. From Mount Uran we traveled west to the Costa Rica Pacific coastline and the town of Quepos. The remainder of the week was no less memorable. We filled the days from sunrise till past sunset. We woke from our beachside luxury villas to hear the calls of the howler monkeys. We enjoyed bathing, snorkeling and kayaking in the delicious waters of the Pacific Ocean. We went on nature walks. Some of us went white water rafting and horseback riding at a jungle lodge. We sampled the freshest of local fruits and seafood. We took siestas.
     We traveled to Costa Rica as 10 individuals with our perceived limits and sensibilities. Through our myriad adventures, we tested our limits and discovered new strengths within ourselves. We entered our Image Cycling Costa Rica adventure as individual strands of yarn, but through our adventures, our lives became intertwined by our shared experiences, like an intricately woven blanket.