A Morning Hike on Shihmen Mountain Trail

Last Sunday, I went hiking on the Shihmen Mountain Trail. It was just me and my trustworthy backpack that had been with me for the past 12 years, when my son and my wife were still asleep. Hiking was never to their taste; let alone hiking in the early morning. Just like when I was at his age, walking long distances is simply meaningless for my son. My wife is like a walking feast to mosquitoes. As long as she is alongside me, I never need any mosquito repellent of any sort, not even in that humid trail surrounded by bushes in Bali.

All things considered, somehow solo-hiking has become my thing. One day I wish I could be a solo mountain climber, just like the heroine of Yama to Shokuyoku to Watashi.

It was my first time here, and the full circuit took me roughly 2.5 hours. The mountain was not particularly high; just 551m. Among the multiple potential routes, I felt I chose the worst one this time.

I first went the smoother and longer route, walking ~3.5k to the top, and then turned onto a 1.2k route that was like a direct cut down to the entry point. That direct, steep route was covered with stones of varying sizes. Most of the stones were the sweet homeland of moss, so I had to be extra cautious for every step while the steepness was already a challenge to my knees.

That's what is so good about mountain hiking, anyway. When I stop in the woods, the tranquility refreshes my senses. When I can't catch my breath, that's when I'm forced into being fully present.

Maybe it was a weekend special? There was a couple selling hand-drip coffee at the top. From the looks of it, their cart was made of recycled wood that might once have been a cargo box. They greeted people, not only with their smiles, but also with the coffee aroma that wafted into the air among trees. Unfortunately I didn't have enough time to enjoy a cup of hot coffee.

"See you next time." I secretly told myself. Also, next time I will pick the direct cut to the peak first, and then go the smoother route down.