Rainforest Friday: Hiking in Costa Rica

Tomorrow I’m going on a hike!

And not just any hike — a ten-day, carry-everything-with-you-on-your-back, cook-your-meals-outdoors, technology-free hike.

I’m Going Hiking in Costa Rica!

As part of my job as Social Media and Marketing Manager for Outward Bound Costa Rica, I have the privilege of joining some of our students on the Rainforest Hike and Homestay portion of their semester long course in Costa Rica.

For the next ten days I’ll be going off the grid, trekking through the varied landscapes of the Costa Rica Central Valley, rappelling a waterfall and staying with locals in rural pueblos.

I have to admit, I’m a tad nervous. I’ve never even spent one full day hiking let alone ten. And ever since I joined Facebook in 2006 I can’t recall a time I’ve gone more than 48 hours without internet (everywhere I’ve been in the world has at least had a cafe with Wifi). Oh yea and then there’s the fact that I’m terrified of spiders and I hear our trail is home to many.

I guess I’ll be tasting a small dose of what Cheryl Strayed did in Wild, one of my favorite books, a memoir about a woman’s solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail in California. She had never hiked before starting her hike either (and she was able to hike thousands of miles), so I will channel her warrior spirit.

But at the same time I’m also extremely excited for this opportunity to challenge myself in a way I have never done before and to explore the micro-climates and natural beauty of Central America.

So here it goes. Ten days on the road. No Twitter. No Facebook. No email. Just me, my fellow adventurers and a whirlwind of thoughts.