Phase 3 was the adventure phase, I was reunited with Nat and alongside Joe & local guide Nooh our first 12 days were to be spent in the jungle near Long Pasia. That plan was immediately challenged as the 4x4s hit a muddy hill and were unable to get us to our starting point. So we spent an unexpected night in a logging camp with the unexpected luxury of a gas hob.
We'd be trekking with everything we needed on our backs for 12 days, bar a resupply of food midway. So single pot cooking on open fires were the order of the day. Each day followed a similar schedule rising at 5.30 to pack tarps and hammocks. Fueling up with porridge, a morning stretch and then leaving at 8to get to the next jungle eating where we'd again set up hammocks, the radio & start a fire. Most of the camps were located next to the river which meant a handy supply of water and a spot to bathe.
The first few days were easy treks of just a couple of hours which meant plenty of time in camp. After a rest day on day 6 we took on a bigger challenge to get to Maga falls on a day. We knew the phase 1 group took over 5 hours to reach our targeted lunch spot, but we had acclimatisation and the weather on our side and were setting up for lunch in less than 3. Post lunch we trekked an old logging road, the first chance to see open sky for nearly a week. After a particularly large river crossing we made it safely to camp to get a bonus day off.
Perhaps the highlight of the trek was the day off walking (without bags) down to the waterfalls and into a bat cave. The afternoon involved a spot of dressing up in jungle costumes & dancing and the chance to make our own jungle bling, ratan bracelets.
The uphill trek to Sinapong camp took us to 1800m, probably the hardest walking day. But it meant we got some great vistas the next day on our return to Long Pasia.
The final night was spent in home stays, some wonderful baking and a real bed (my first for 9 weeks). At 5 o'clock the whole village seemed to descend on the football & volleyball pitches. Teams are unimportant just get on the pitch & start playing.
We'd be trekking with everything we needed on our backs for 12 days, bar a resupply of food midway. So single pot cooking on open fires were the order of the day. Each day followed a similar schedule rising at 5.30 to pack tarps and hammocks. Fueling up with porridge, a morning stretch and then leaving at 8to get to the next jungle eating where we'd again set up hammocks, the radio & start a fire. Most of the camps were located next to the river which meant a handy supply of water and a spot to bathe.
The first few days were easy treks of just a couple of hours which meant plenty of time in camp. After a rest day on day 6 we took on a bigger challenge to get to Maga falls on a day. We knew the phase 1 group took over 5 hours to reach our targeted lunch spot, but we had acclimatisation and the weather on our side and were setting up for lunch in less than 3. Post lunch we trekked an old logging road, the first chance to see open sky for nearly a week. After a particularly large river crossing we made it safely to camp to get a bonus day off.
Perhaps the highlight of the trek was the day off walking (without bags) down to the waterfalls and into a bat cave. The afternoon involved a spot of dressing up in jungle costumes & dancing and the chance to make our own jungle bling, ratan bracelets.
The uphill trek to Sinapong camp took us to 1800m, probably the hardest walking day. But it meant we got some great vistas the next day on our return to Long Pasia.
The final night was spent in home stays, some wonderful baking and a real bed (my first for 9 weeks). At 5 o'clock the whole village seemed to descend on the football & volleyball pitches. Teams are unimportant just get on the pitch & start playing.
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| Getting up the hill |
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| Long Pasia |
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| Bamboo camp |
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| Jungle life |
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| Sleeping quarters |
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| Leech! |
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| View from my hammock at Ratan camp |
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| Jungle life 2 |
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| Nooh providing some extra rations of deer |
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| Trekking the logging road |
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| River crossing at Maga falls |
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| Maga falls |
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