|  | | Trekking The Simiens - Day 1 | | | | | A really early start on the morning of the first day (05:30) so we could pack away our tents before we set off at 07:30. After a tyre change and food stop we headed for the mountains. After about 10 mins the road stopped and it was gravel track all the way.
After about 4 hours we stopped to pick up some more food, cokking equipment and cooks then after that we stopped at some random market to pick up a man with a machine gun. The scenery seemed like most of the other place we'd been to already with fields that are completely flat and stretch for miles. Then before you know it youre in the mountains with the clouds all around you on those twisty narrow gravel tracks.
We were almost to our drop off point when we caught site of a few groups of gelada baboons foraging on the roadside. We also had to get out a few times because the minibus got stuck in the mud so we had to lighten the load to get us moving again. Eventually we made the drop off point and loaded the kit on to some mules and set of for our "4 hour" trek to the camp site. It started off ok, really misty for most of the way. Saw lots of nice flowers and views over the cliffs of water falls. Hannah still had a cold from the past few days and was pretty short of breath - but she wasnt the only one! The walk seemed to just go up and down all day and they werent small hills either! It was really hard going didnt think we'd make it because we had to keep stopping to catch our breath.
After 6 hours we caught sight of camp (at around 3000m) by this time the temperature had dropped and becuse of the sweat soaked clothes it made it even colder. The air was thinner as well and even the smallest of jobs made you puffed out. Luckily the porters had put the tents up for us so we dived in them for a change of clothes then went to the hut where everyone else was for we ate and drank loads of tea to warm up. Went to bed about 7pm to keep warm in our sleeping bags. The only problem was that we had to get rid of endless cups of tea through the night and although the stars seemed right infront of your face it was mightily cold when your stood outside on top of a mountain in your undies! The lightning storms in the distande made a good distarction though.
| | | | | |
|
|
