Take A Hike

The itinerary on the current men's lacrosse trip to called for "hiking," and it made TigerBlog wonder when a walk ends and a hike begins.

It was about three or four minutes after he and the rest of the group started to head up one of the mountains of the Pyrenees in Andorra for him to figure out the difference.

To say the "hike" was challenging is quite the understatement. To say that it was worth it would be an even bigger one. 

For as tough as this hike was, and it was really tough, the views were worth every moment of pain that went into it. This includes when TB found himself tumbling end over end on his way back down, until he came to rest flat on his back on the mountainside.

Even that was worth it.

And, even more than drinking water, the crisp air that swirled all around was rejuvenating. More than anything, that wind kept TB going, that, and he was just determined not to stop.

The hike started in a parking lot next to a ski lift, which would have been the easy way to get up to the top. Andorra is known for its skiing, and the team's head guide for the day, Pascal, takes skiers out in the winter.

Yesterday, though, it was still sunny and around 65 or 70 degrees, though TB, and everyone else, kept going back and forth between being hot (while hiking) and cold (anytime they stopped, the higher they want and the more the wind blew). Often TB knew he was one or the other, though he wasn't sure which at that moment.

The hike started at 1,900 meters and ended at 2,430 meters. For those who don't want to bother with the math, 2,430 meters is 7,972 feet. When TB looked at his phone after, it said that they had climbed the equivalent of 147 floors.

The first 10 minutes were the toughest. It was straight up, and TB didn't think he was going to make it for a while. One step at a time, he kept telling himself.

Eventually, at a plateau, there were a few ponies. They seemed friendly enough. Then it was back uphill. All the way the views just kept getting better. It's hard to describe. It was just mountain, with blue skies, and water. Crystal clear water. Crystal clear scenery everywhere.

The team came to a lake, called the "First Lake." The water was freezing, but that didn't stop about 10 or so players from making the jump in.

In all there would be three lakes. The next one was called "Middle Lake." The one after was called "Highest Lake." When the team reached Middle Lake, Pascal said that anyone who didn't want to keep making the tough climb up could go with one of the other guides on an easier loop. Nobody did (though TB couldn't help but wonder how many would have had only someone else gone first, but nobody wanted to be the first).

At Highest Lake, it seemed like that was the, well, highest point. Nope. Cesc, another guide, asked who wanted to go just a little further, to get a better look at the lake from above it. A little less than half the team did. TB went too. He figured what's a few more steps.

As it turned out, it was about another 30 minutes to get there. Cesc was right though; the view was spectacular.

Then it was time to head down. It wasn't as challenging from an endurance standpoint as heading up had been, but it was tougher on the balance. Eventually TB's gave way, and down he tumbled. At first he thought he'd be able to catch himself, but then he realized that wasn't happening. 

He's fine, though. Thanks for asking.

As he's been saying, the scenic beauty was impossible to describe. TB didn't want to miss any of it while he was concentrating on making sure he was still able to take another step. On the walk up from Highest Lake, assistant coach Chris Aslanian plopped down on the bed of a stream and just sat there taking it all in. 

He'd make it to the top, but he probably could have sat there for another few hours and not minded. 

Anyway, TB has done his best to describe it. He has to go pack for the early morning ride back to Barcelona, so he'll leave you with a few pictures.