This past weekend, our team was given the opportunity to go hiking into the mountains. We woke up at 3am, left the house at 4 and began our journey.
After walking for 10-15 minutes, we arrived at a tap-tap stop. Tap-Taps
are essentially pick-up trucks that get loaded up with as many people as can
fit. We then took a tap-tap (loaded up with 20 people and all our bags) to
Viale.
are essentially pick-up trucks that get loaded up with as many people as can
fit. We then took a tap-tap (loaded up with 20 people and all our bags) to
Viale.
We got out of the tap-tap and began our hike. We walked up past people
heading down to sell stuff in Viale, we jumped over streams, dodged oncoming
donkeys, mules & horses, though tired our faces all expressed the joy we
had to be on this adventure.
heading down to sell stuff in Viale, we jumped over streams, dodged oncoming
donkeys, mules & horses, though tired our faces all expressed the joy we
had to be on this adventure.
Background: Before I continue,
let me fill you in on our expectations. The
pastor told us that it would take us 6 hours to get to the village and that
a donkey would meet us in Vialle to carry our packs up for us.
let me fill you in on our expectations. The
pastor told us that it would take us 6 hours to get to the village and that
a donkey would meet us in Vialle to carry our packs up for us.
After what felt like forever (but was only 1 hour) we were still
carrying our heavy packs. The
further we continued, the steeper our hike became, our water supply was going
down faster than anticipated and we were beginning to get really hungry.
carrying our heavy packs. The
further we continued, the steeper our hike became, our water supply was going
down faster than anticipated and we were beginning to get really hungry.
Finally the donkey met up
with us, we gladly tossed all but 3 of our packs on the “millet” (tossed is
figurative, the poor thing was struggling with the packs it had). We then ate
some bread, and with a new burst of energy we continued our climb.
with us, we gladly tossed all but 3 of our packs on the “millet” (tossed is
figurative, the poor thing was struggling with the packs it had). We then ate
some bread, and with a new burst of energy we continued our climb.
Over 5 hours after we left, at around 9:45am we
arrived at the peak, 1000m up.
arrived at the peak, 1000m up.
Side Note: The pastor told us
that this was “the last climb”.
that this was “the last climb”.
By this time our water supply was severely depleted, and though we were
glad to have made it, we were exhausted. We continued walking, now on level
ground (for the first time since 5am). We stopped of every now and then to
catch our breath, enjoy the cooler air and the breeze before continuing the
hike.
glad to have made it, we were exhausted. We continued walking, now on level
ground (for the first time since 5am). We stopped of every now and then to
catch our breath, enjoy the cooler air and the breeze before continuing the
hike.
The hours ticked by as the countless peaks and valleys slowly moved
passed. Every time we went uphill the pastor reassured
us it was “the last climb”, that along with his persistant “vayan solda!” and
“djan djan” I began to ignore anything that came out of his mouth. Each
time we asked “how much longer” the ETA kept increasing, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3
hours!
passed. Every time we went uphill the pastor reassured
us it was “the last climb”, that along with his persistant “vayan solda!” and
“djan djan” I began to ignore anything that came out of his mouth. Each
time we asked “how much longer” the ETA kept increasing, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3
hours!
11 hours, and
approximately (it’s hard to judge since the path zig-zagged so much) 20kms later we arrived at Nado Village. We spent 2 nights there, sleeping
on the floor of the church surrounded by Haitians.
approximately (it’s hard to judge since the path zig-zagged so much) 20kms later we arrived at Nado Village. We spent 2 nights there, sleeping
on the floor of the church surrounded by Haitians.
I can now say that there is no way I had the energy to hike for 11
hours, without adequate food & water. There is no way I made it to Nado
Village, but God carried me, God’s strength never wears out but mine definitely did.
hours, without adequate food & water. There is no way I made it to Nado
Village, but God carried me, God’s strength never wears out but mine definitely did.
PS: Our return trip “only” took us 7.5 hours, we had more
water, more food, and 2 donkeys to help us along the way.
water, more food, and 2 donkeys to help us along the way.
I’ve been trying to get pictures up, but our internet is too slow. When I get them up I’ll let you all know where to find them! Also read the blogs of my teammates,
as we all had different experiences.
as we all had different experiences.
