Sri Lanka's Knuckles Mountain is a worthy trek...with or without the leeches

Article and photos by Tony Mangia

Sri Lanka just might be one of the most colorful and interesting places in the world for travelers searching for a 180-degree change of pace — all in one country and all in a single day. From the ancient temples at Polonnawura through the tea plantations of the Hill Country and the aqua blue water surfing in Arugam Bay, the country offers visitors a wide array of activities and sights — all at a spectacularly cheap price. And even if you find those places just a little too congested with civilization, a mountain hike or hill walk might be the perfect cure. 

Transversing the water drop-shaped Sri Lanka is a little trickier than most places and even the most experienced adventurers might tire traveling the narrow, bumpy and traffic-clogged roadways via bus or rail. But if you like to hike, the rugged paths of the Lakegala Mountain trek — more commonly known as Knuckles Mountain — are well worth at least one visit and less crowded and touristy than the over-rated Adam’s Peak stair climb that is nearby.

Situated about 25 kilometers (15 miles) northeast of the dusty, tuk-tuk congested streets of Kandy, Knuckles Mountain is as breathtaking a sight for eyes that one could find in the green and biodiverse Central Highlands of this scenic country. The Ceylon British came up with the name which is derived from the rounded, knuckled ridge resembling a giant clenched fist punching its way out of the earth.

Popular Knuckles Mountain hiking trails include the mini world’s end from Deanston, a trail to Dothalugala from Deanston, a trail to Nitro Caves from Corbett’s Gap, a trail to Augallena cave via Thangappuwa from Corbett’s Gap and the trail to Kalupahana from “Meemure” village.

I was in Sri Lanka to do some volunteer work and a little scuba diving but, after hiking the Inca Trail last spring, it has become part of my travel routine to hike at least one or two trails where and whenever I can.  And while the one-day Knuckles Mountain trek I chose is not as daunting as the seemingly endless trails in Peru, there are some multi day and night treks you can do at Knuckles as well. And the one-day hike has a challenge — namely one word that put more fear into my heart than any five day trek anywhere — leeches. Yup. Leeches. And not the kind who hog all the water and trail mix on a hike.

It seems the first thing anyone says when you mention Knuckles Mountain are the blood-sucking, worm-like parasites who attach themselves to your ankles and make their way up your leg before securing themselves to your body for a snack. And in the damp, leafy trails of Knuckles, they are reportedly as abundant as the foliage itself. I hoped the Buddhist blessing I received the day before would protect me from the unpleasant little creatures if the application of a soap and salt liquid on my legs didn’t keep them sliding off.

After some relief hearing that I might get about only half a dozen of the wormy hitchhikers and that some sort of medicinal benefits would surely outweigh the gross factor, I came to grips that I would be latched onto and it was part of the Knuckles Mountain initiation. So off my hiking buddy Jamie and I went.

Most locals recommend entering the trail on he Thangappuwa side of the range about five miles from the mountain peak and to get a guide. The Knuckles Mountain trek could be described as an intermediate hike filled with plenty of clearly-marked, flat rock trails but also has detours going through and up huge boulders, rugged stone stairs and up and down slippery bamboo and jungle-lined tunnels. The steep mountain terrain at the summit of the main Knuckles peak (the sixth highest in Sri Lanka) including a rare dwarf cloud forest. Guides are essential and it would be quite easy to get thrown off course and miss specific wildlife, plants and breathtaking points of interest if you tried it alone. You can hire one by contacting the Forestry Department in advance. We arranged our hike through the volunteer group we were working with but travelers can get more information and book a guide through srilankatrekking.com.

Adelphi lacrosse team uses President Trump speech as entrance song

Adelphi University athletes found one way to get fans in the stands to get up and scream before a game — if not only the liberal ones.

The school's men’s lacrosse team used a speech by President Donald Trump as its entrance music as they ran onto the field carrying an American flag. 

The 39-second video, which includes a musical soundtrack accompanying the speech, shows the Adelphi players lined up before entering the field. The player at the front of the line is carrying an American flag. It is not clear from the video at which game the clip was shot.

It has already been viewed more than 900,000 times on Instagram — with the typical left-right ranting.

Lax team comes out of the tunnel to a Trump speech. Somewhere @oldrowofficial is cumming themselves. Follow @barstoolnewsnet if you like to argue with people in comment sections

A post shared by Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) on May 10, 2017 at 7:23am PDT

Although it is highly unusual for teams to use a president's speech in an entrance song, this pregame decision does not violate the private school's policy, a university spokesperson said.

“The men’s lacrosse team’s regular-season pregame warm-up music is selected as a team and approved for use so long as they do not contain vulgarity or inappropriate subject matter,” Adelphi athletic director Danny McCabe said in a statement. “The songs they proposed and used this season meet those guidelines. As such, we are obliged to follow the policy.”

Men’s lacrosse coach Gordon Purdie added in a statement that the team “traditionally has chosen patriotic music” to accompany their entrance to the field.

“It was not intended to provoke or be taken as a political statement,” he said. “We’re sorry if anyone was offended.”

The team has reportedly used the same speech as an intro before.

Adelphi, a private university on Long Island, plays in Division II, is 14-3 this season and is the top seed in the NCAA Tournament, which begins Saturday at home against fourth-seed Pace.

Yankees beat Cubs on Brett Gardner's come-from-behind ninth inning home run

The Cubs were cruising along in the ninth inning towards a 2-0 win in the Friday afternoon opener of their big inter-league series with the Yankees when Brett Gardner silenced the optimistic Wrigley Field crowd with one mighty swing.

Looking like it was a sure win, Chicago closer Hector Rondon then got Didi Gregorius to ground out to start the top of the inning. Chase Headley then singled, and a wild pitch would send him to second. After a strikeout, Jacoby Ellsbury walked to put the tying run on. That’s when Gardy came up and jacked a 2-out, 2-strike pitch out of the park to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.

This is exactly why Joe Girardi loves the man. He's a GAMER, a COMPETITOR. Brett Gardner, 3-2 #Yankees at Wrigley. pic.twitter.com/V1Zq1KYJOY

— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) May 5, 2017

Gardner left no doubt he put the Yankees ahead as the game hero hollered and fist pumped his way around the bases. It was Gardner's fifth home run of the season — all in his last six games! 

Funny, because before today, we last saw Gardner Wednesday night, as he was taking batting practice in the Yankees dugout up in Toronto.

Yankees fans are taking a liking to Gardy's new found power... no matter where he does it.

Travis Rudolph is a NY Giants signee everyone can root for

Travis Rudolph was not picked in the NFL draft this year but is one of 17 undrafted players to be signed by the New York Giants. And if the wide receiver never ends up being a Giant on the field during a game, it's nice to know that the 21-year-old is way bigger off of it.

Rudolph, you may remember, is the Florida State player whose photo of him sharing lunch with a lonely autistic boy in a school cafeteria went viral and warmed the hearts of many.

And it appears that Rudolph and the young boy, Bo Paske, are still pals.

Rudolph posted an Instagram picture of the pair hanging out during the NFL draft this past week.

The relationship started last August, when the football player visited Tallahassee's Montford Middle School along with four other players to speak with students.

He saw Paske, a sixth-grader who is autistic, by himself at a table in the lunch room, and asked if he could sit with him.

He said the two had a great conversation, calling Bo a "cool" person who he would hang out with any day.

The pair even met up a week later at FSU so Rudolph could give Bo a jersey emblazoned with the name PASKE on the back.

Leah Paske, Bo's mother, was moved to tears upon seeing a photo of the gesture and said she is grateful for the kindness Rudolph showed her son who often eats lunch alone.

In a Facebook post in which she shared a of the lunchroom encounter, Paske said her talked about some of the challenges Bo faces with his disorder including the solo midday meals.

Rudolph led Florida State in receiving the past two seasons and forfeited his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. And now, on a team loaded with receiving talent, the former Seminoles player might be a long shot to make the team.

But if there is anyone worth rooting for it's Travis ... and his buddy Bo.