The story leading up to this shot is interesting, but the adventure in the way back down is where it gets intense.

@eyesofian decided to invite me in a hike the day before my birthday at 10pm, and I was all for it as long as I could fly my drone and get some sick shots. So we charged our batteries, got little to no sleep and headed out the next day.

With a 10lbs bag, a full hydro flask of water, and a decent breakfast, we began our hike at 9am. Climbing up and down all this terrain was cool, we got some good shots from different lookouts. We calculated it would be a 3 hour hike up and 3 hour hike down.

Given the fact that I had all this equipment with me AND I had regular running shoes; the muddy walls and narrow footpath made this hike so much harder than it initially seemed. But we made it.

On the DECENT, I had realized I drank all my water, it was now 1:30pm (hot summer weather), and I was falling behind while Ian went on ahead.

I called him saying that I’m exhausted but I’m slowly making it down, but extremely dehydrated. Ian decided to get back to the car ASAP and get us some water for when I arrived. Then, a few minutes later… I tripped, rolled my ankle, heard my right ankle ligaments pop as I fell to the ground. Just what I needed.

I called Ian again, but this time debating if I should get helicoptered out or just muscle through it. Knowing how much that ride would cost, you know what I did… I hiked the last mile and a half of this ridge in a freshly torn ligament ankle.

Ian actually came back to the hike to give me water and a musubi. I immediately fell to the floor and bawled my eyes out. After inhaling the water, we miraculously made it back to the car. It was now around 5pm. I got back home, and I rewarded us with $40 burgers and soda, because we fricken deserved it.

This was the hardest hike I’ve done to date. But it was the prettiest, smoothest and most magical flight I’ve ever experienced. Worth ever second. 🤙🏽