My Ideal Place for Hiking! | Weekend-Engagement 294

The day of the apocalypse has arrived for me! Talking about hiking on Weekend Experience at the exact moment I've used up almost all the photos I had saved for Hive 😅 But believe it or not, this makes me really happy. What started as a fun activity with my friends, taking amazing pictures of the landscape, has now transformed into a sport. Every day I focus more on not stopping, on breathing better, on breaking my own time records, and on reaching the highest point possible. So now I only take pictures when something truly surprises me. I hope I don't lose that magic that captivated me at the beginning, but I'm very happy with my progress and what I've achieved in just one year of hiking.

Perhaps I'm cheating a little in answering Galenkp's question about our favorite hiking spots, because I've only really been to one, Cerro del Ávila. But this mountain is part of Venezuela's Coastal Range, and even though it's a single mountain range, I haven't even explored half of its trails. Just north of Caracas, there's Pico Occidental, Pico Oriental, La Silla de Caracas, and Pico Naiguatá, the highest and most imposing, which I haven't been able to summit yet because it requires not only hiking but also camping. I've tried to visit other mountains in other parts of Venezuela, and even Ávila itself, but from the coastal area, but I haven't been able to make those plans happen so far. The fact is, it remains my favorite place for hiking, and the fact that it has so many hidden corners waiting to be discovered makes me think it will always hold the top spot in my heart.

Why do I love El Ávila so much? Well, I can say that depending on how I'm feeling, there's a special place up there that keeps me from giving up hiking. Some days the sun doesn't bother me at all, and I prefer routes with few trees; but there are also very wooded and quiet areas that help me connect with deeper feelings, and I choose those when I'm alone or when I want to think. There are flat areas for jogging, steep concrete paths to work my legs and breathing, and rocky routes, which are the biggest challenge for me and perfect for sharing with my friends and seeing who's the best hiker (spoiler alert: it's never me) 🤣

Of course, there are areas within Ávila National Park that have become favorites of mine. One of them is Sabas Nieves, a completely rocky trail where you have to be very careful not to trip, and I've seen several people get injured there. For me, it's quite challenging, but the truth is, it's a short route that can be climbed in 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the person. It takes me about half an hour right now, but when you reach the top, there's a small natural terrace full of flowers, perfect for spending time with friends or meditating if you're alone. I've only visited a popular rock, Piedra del Indio (Indian Rock), once. It's ideal for resting and taking impressive photos, although the trail is very long, and it's taken me up to six hours round trip. And of course, my favorite, the route that starts in San Bernardino, which has a little bit of everything: concrete, roots, sun, vegetation, flowers, and more. It's a trail that takes you directly to the summit where the Hotel Humboldt is located, the most imposing building in Caracas. The best thing about reaching the top of Ávila on this route is that you can easily return by cable car, which is something your knees will thank you for 😅

Reaching the summit is always a challenge for me. I haven't done it many times; many factors come into play. But last Sunday, it only took me 2 hours and 45 minutes, including a break to hydrate and have breakfast. The first time, it took me four and a half hours, and I think I felt bad for up to three days afterward 🤣. But now I have more stamina, and I'm actually going to try to repeat the feat tomorrow. The cable car only costs one dollar for hikers, and every time I think I won't be able to make it, I just imagine myself sitting peacefully in one of the cabins looking out over the city. So, when I manage to go more than halfway up, that's my motivation to keep going.

If you're lucky, when you've already climbed more than halfway to the summit, you'll find yourself in delightful weather. The Caracas heat disappears, and you're enveloped in a dense fog, which makes us more active and focused, but also helps us endure the hike and becomes a truly pleasant experience. Yes, I've only been hiking for a year, but it's an activity that captivated me from the start and has made me wonder why I didn't do it sooner. I hope to visit other places besides El Ávila; I have some plans in Los Teques and in Aragua, my home state, but I'm unlikely to find all the wonders that El Ávila has to offer. As an example, you can see the last photo in this post where you can see the Caribbean Sea in the distance. It's not on every mountain in Venezuela that you can find such a magical blend of rural and natural beauty 🙏 Happy weekend to all!.