Nov 14, 2006 19:09
DAY 4, darkness was already upon us when Lorie and I passed by the temporary shelter marked by 2 empty shells of shotgun ammo, about 30 to 45 minutes behind were the main sweep - Alvin, Bing, Doc and Ito - accompanying and assisting members of GL Jon’s group - Yvonne, Brody and Mike. We’ve just climbed a third mountain - Mt. Abing - and are now starting to follow a downward path to our target campsite, which the Kalinga guides refer to only as “kaingin”.
Ito and I were reeling from severe diarrhea; earlier in the day, on our way to the summit of Mt. Binulauan for the induction rites, Ito and I stopped frequently to discharge watery feces - a symptom of gastrointestinal upset or infection. It got worst on the descent back to the campsite. I was like a drunk moving from side to side in a clumsy and unsteady gait, my mind was telling me that my electrolytes are way below safe levels due to dehydration, and I must get back as soon as possible to the campsite. I could barely walk by the time I got to the campsite of GL Alman’s group. I asked them for oral hydration tablets, which Kim graciously provided. I proceeded to our campsite, dissolved the tablets, drank it and returned to my tent to rest.
After an hour of sleep I was feeling better, but still sluggish and weak. Slowly the Sweeper group broke camp, and after an hour we were on the trail again, following the path blazed by our Kalinga guides. Bing and Doc trekked ahead while Alvin, Ito, Lorie and I brought up the rear.
The trail was littered with boar traps; one misstep and you could fall into one. Jay 2k6 fell into one during his descent from Mt. Binulauan earlier. Buko, a batchmate of mine, was swallowed by a trap filled with water.
After 2 hours of trekking, we caught up with Bing and Doc tailing Brody and Mike. Ito and I alternately made stops along the trail. Ito’s condition continued to deteriorate. His stomach was bloated, aggravated by stomach pains.
Late in the afternoon, we caught up with Yvonne trekking alone with no backpack. She was lethargic almost somnolent perhaps out of sheer exhaustion. Lorie and I trekked ahead while Bing, Doc and Alvin took over the care of Ito, Yvonne, Brody and Mike.
Night trekking, wet and steep trail, plus severe diarrhea equals further hurt and pain.
While navigating down the slippery and muddy trail, I lost my footing and started to slide down the steep mountain side. Luckily I managed to grabbed hold of a small tree on the trail with my left hand. It stopped my fall, but my entire weight, plus that of my backpack rode on my left arm, hyperextending it. I rested on the trail for a while, assessing if I dislocated my shoulder. I worried further when Lorie said she heard something snap. Slowly I got up and resumed our trek down.
We could see distant lights from headlamps below us. After another hour, we finally came upon a stream where Lorie and I stopped to refresh ourselves. Afterwards we pressed onwards hoping to catch up with our companions in front of us. Five minutes into our trek, we stumbled upon TL Lovell (“Bossing”), together with members of GL Arnel and GL Alman’s group along with two Kalinga guides. They have setup camp already and were getting ready to cook dinner. Immediately I sought out Bossing and told him about the situation at the rear. I requested him to send back the two guides to assist Yvonne and Ito.
Bossing led Adonnis and Ike back up the trail. Meanwhile, Bing, Alvin and Doc continued their slow, careful descent, assisting Ito and Yvonne down the dark, steep, muddy slope. Bing also lost his footing in the descent and fell a few feet; it’s a good thing a tree stopped his fall. Ito could hardly stand up let alone walk; the pain in his stomach intense, he was vomiting as well. Bing was already contemplating of setting up a bivouac along the steep trail. It was about this time that Bossing, Adonnis and Ike met up with them. They arrived at the bivouac site around 9:30PM.
Kudos to GL Alman’s group for the warm soup and assistance they provided to the Sweeper group and members of GL Jon’s group. Rain has abated; we went to sleep hoping that the next day would be a better one for all of us.
ATL Norman, TM Sky, the leadpack - Bojo, Gilbert, Rico and Carlo, GL Alman with Niel, GL Jon with Peter and Mercy, members of GL Arnel’s group - Chok, Ige and Buko managed to setup camp at the “kaingin”.
~ Carpe Diem ~