September 19, 2008: The Retezat, Day Four – Early Decommission

Dear Friend,

So, yesterday we hiked in snow flurries. This morning I woke up to a winter wonderland. There was a blanket of newly fallen snow lain over our campsite. It was actually very beautiful. Everything was quiet, snow still lilting down from the sky. I was the first person up in our group, which meant I boiled the water again and got things ready for breakfast. I didn’t mind. I was enjoying the snow.

The powers that be decided, based on the eventual worsening of the weather, that we would strike camp and return to Lupeni early. Apparently more snow was coming from the places we were planning on hiking to for the rest of the week. We all agreed, some of us with not a little disappointment. Dave personally apologized to me, probably because he knew how much I was looking forward to this and how hard I had worked to get supplies. Not much could be done. It would be a foolish decision to stick it out.

There were three mice in our van when we returned, so leaving the mountains was a difficult task from the beginning. It was quite amusing, actually, as the guys worked to get the mice out and the girls stood a good distance from the van. I managed to get out of the mouse hunt, shedding layers and changing footwear. Eventually, after some musical chairs concerning the vehicles, we managed to get the really mouse frightened people in the other vehicle, and those who didn’t give a rip in the first.

We ate at a little restaurant in a little town, the name of which I can’t remember. I was feeling a little miserable by this point, not having showered in a couple days and feeling the impact of the snow flurries the day before. My cheeks were really sore. I managed, however, to order my food in Romanian and even help Andrew do the same. While we waited for our food, I had a conversation with Janelle and Daniel about “theatre people.” They found it interesting how there are sociology majors, music majors, history and math majors, but the theatre majors are referred to as “theatre people.” In retrospect, it was a rather convoluted conversation, one where we didn’t reach any conclusion that was different from where we began. We were all tired, so that’s excusable.

Once we returned to Lupeni, we set up our wet tents in the IMPACT building so they could dry out. After this, Daniel took us all home. I had a wonderful hot shower, and ended up going to bed. Night was falling, so it was time to do go to sleep in my mind. Tomorrow I would have to inform a bunch of people I was back from the mountains early.

Blessings.
Kailen