Altitude
All there is
is
dizzying
nauseating need
for it to all be over
no thought
no word
no dream
brings peace
but empty
and over
still and
still
and still
need heaves
and heaves
and heaves
and knowing
there is
an end
brings no
end
ALWAYS respect the mountain. Always. No matter how small, or low, or delicate. Mountains present a plethora of opportunities to kick your ass.
I don't know what I suffered from on Kinabalu. The mountain guides think it may have been a stomach bug, coupled with exhaustion and a touch of altitude. But that kicked my ass. After eight hours of climbing, an exhausting night at altitude and six hours of throwing up every 15 minutes, my trip leader decided it was time to walk me down. I made it the first 2km under my own power (and oh! the willpower it took!) but eventually I collapsed and passed out with 4km and 2000m to go.
I have faint and blurry memories of frenzied activity, of my Intrepid group dressing me up like a rag tag doll with warm clothing - someone rubbing my hands - Paul rubbing my back - Dee stuffing power bar bits down my throat *shudder* and isotonic drink. I remember Soppinngi worried when I decided to bed down on a pile of abandoned water pipes, and the smell of black jelly beans (uh - on the way back up)
I remember Japanese tourists (curse you Japanese tourists!) posing for photos as the Malay kids put me in the stretcher, and KIDS, teenage boys! carrying me the 4km down the mountain.
While I wouldn't say it should be your first choice for a way down Kinabalu - if you have no choice, a stretcher is a damn fine way to travel. Its comfy, and aside from the odd vertical descent and far too often yells of "OOP!" from the rescuers - its a fantastical way to view the jungle canopy. About an hour into the rollercoaster ride, the mist descended on the forest - and what was a brilliant green and red and blue jungle turned to black and white. I felt like I had fallen down (or up!) a very special rabbit hole. For any Terry Brooks fans out there - I was in the fairy mists.
Enough said. Down safe. Much indebted to the local Malay men (particularily those of the Kiau village - THANK YOU Soppinngi and Binkar)
If you decide to climb Kinabalu folks - respect it. And brink black jelly beans (just incase).
