This is me when I had hair.
Gunung Tahan, Taman Negara, Malay peninsular. 1988
GT is the highest mountain on the peninsular http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tahan at over 2000m, not that high but set in a remote part of Taman Negara which is the oldest virgin rain forest in the world. You trek 60k through forest, traverse several rivers and after crossing several ranges you reach TG. You start the climb/trek at just about sea level and in those days we had no way of contacting the outside world if anything went wrong.
As for me I had been working for many years as a volunteer for Hampshire Association Care of the Blind HACB. We were a pioneering group as far as activities for vh people was concerned – camping, trekking, climbing sailing etc, doesn’t sound much now but back then in the 70s….
After trekking on my own in Taman Negara and my experience of expedition work in the Amazon I had the idea of climbing TG with a group of blind people.
Cutting the story short we ended up with two groups – the first had a group of four who were all partially sighted. We managed to reach half way on the trek when one member became sick and we had to abort.
The second group consisted of two totally blind guys Chris and I hope the other guys name comes to me (started forgetting things these days!!) Alison the nurse, Alison the physio, Anita a German volunteer, Kieran an Irish volunteer, and our local guide, yes forgotten his name also.
GT is the highest mountain on the peninsular http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tahan at over 2000m, not that high but set in a remote part of Taman Negara which is the oldest virgin rain forest in the world. You trek 60k through forest, traverse several rivers and after crossing several ranges you reach TG. You start the climb/trek at just about sea level and in those days we had no way of contacting the outside world if anything went wrong.
As for me I had been working for many years as a volunteer for Hampshire Association Care of the Blind HACB. We were a pioneering group as far as activities for vh people was concerned – camping, trekking, climbing sailing etc, doesn’t sound much now but back then in the 70s….
After trekking on my own in Taman Negara and my experience of expedition work in the Amazon I had the idea of climbing TG with a group of blind people.
Cutting the story short we ended up with two groups – the first had a group of four who were all partially sighted. We managed to reach half way on the trek when one member became sick and we had to abort.
The second group consisted of two totally blind guys Chris and I hope the other guys name comes to me (started forgetting things these days!!) Alison the nurse, Alison the physio, Anita a German volunteer, Kieran an Irish volunteer, and our local guide, yes forgotten his name also.
I had great admiration for all of the guys and especially the guides as it was probably the toughest thing they had ever undertaken. Two guides to each vh member, one giving instructions on where to step, imaging 60k with every step having to be explained! The concentration was immense, that coupled with storms , rivers flash flooding, lack of food, clothes rotting on you and boots falling to pieces in the damp –two of the guys ended up with one jungle boot and a trainer on the other foot. Insects and especially leeches. But I’ll let some of the photos do the talking. One camp especially freaked Ali the physio out as we were overrun with rats – that’s her spending all night stood on a rock.
On our way down we met another expedition – and I’m ashamed to say - of British Army personal. They were very surprised to see this raggy mob come walking into their camp and that we had successfully climbed GT. They very sheepishly told us that they had decided to abort their attempt …..then went and got in their bivvies. At least they didn’t need all their food any more so we got a good meal! By this time we were eating dried noodles. One cache of food had completely disappeared, whether an animal had found it or the Orang Asli http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orang_Asli had taken it we don’t know, but sure left us hungry.
On our way down we met another expedition – and I’m ashamed to say - of British Army personal. They were very surprised to see this raggy mob come walking into their camp and that we had successfully climbed GT. They very sheepishly told us that they had decided to abort their attempt …..then went and got in their bivvies. At least they didn’t need all their food any more so we got a good meal! By this time we were eating dried noodles. One cache of food had completely disappeared, whether an animal had found it or the Orang Asli http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orang_Asli had taken it we don’t know, but sure left us hungry.
Gunung Tahan in the distance
Kieran and that other guy!!
Some idea of the terrain and the trekking.
Trekking was really tough on the guys shins
Needing constant patching up by Alison
Feeling your way up.
