|
 Monday: rain
Tuesday: rain
Wednesday: rain
Thursday: rain
Friday: rain
Saturday: rain
Sunday: rain……. I just wanted to give you a little insight into the expedition for the past three weeks straight. The rain in unbelievable and the trail has turned to an average of 3 inches of mud. I feel like someone is trying to steal the shoes off my feet all day long. In the same breathe I am having the time of my life. The last time I wrote I was in Hanover, NH getting ready to head into the White Mountains which happen to be the most difficult but most rewarding as well. Now I am around 200 miles further north and into Maine which is the last state I will be walking through for a while as the expedition has me walking through Canada for a bit until I reach Halifax.
Floods and Mudslides: When I was close to Gorham, NH. The Appalachian Trail takes you to a visitor’s center and as I was walking in and a ranger had asked me how a particular water crossing was. As I explained earlier it has been raining for weeks and in fact it has been a record rainfall in Maine. I told him that I had not problem and rock hopped across it. He shared with me that someone had died two days prior crossing the same water crossing. I talked to another ranger inside and found out that over the past week 4 people have died in that area due to slipping and being swept away in the high water crossings. I have also been told that there are reroutes within the next 10 miles due to a mudslide that took part of the mountain. The trail is becoming more and more dangerous as the rain continues. I have slipped in fallen more in New Hampshire and Maine than all of the 12 other states. One fall was particularly dangerous as fell forward down a rock grade in which my shoulder and head took the brunt of the fall.
 Mt. Washington and Shivering Children: (Video from Mt. Washington) Mt. Washington is the highest peak in the Northeastern United States at 6,288 ft (1,917 m). It is famous for its dangerously erratic weather, holding the record for the highest wind gust directly measured at the Earth's surface, at 231 mph (372 km/h) (Wiki) If you have been on top of Mt. Washington you would know that it is a mountain that over the years have claimed many lives. In fact when you go into the summit house they have a list of about 180 people who have died and how they died ranging from hypothermia and slips to heart attacks. The Mountain is no joke even in August. When I hit the summit the temperature was 34 degrees with 50 mph wind gust and rain which is the perfect combo for a dose of hypothermia.(See Video) I was fine for I have the gear to deal with the weather in my backpack but I was blown away by the groups that came into the summit house. One group in particular was a group of 10-14 year olds that had climbed from somewhere to the summit. When I looked over at their table half of the kids were shivering accompanied by teeth chattering. One kid had actually took his shirt off and was holding himself trying to keep himself warm. I looked to their leader who looked about 17 years old and told him that “you better get those cotton shirts of those kids and get them into some dry clothes” He looked at me and said “all of their clothes in their backpack are wet too” … One of the girls was really bad so I told her leader to change her into my fleece jacket. Luckily about 5 minutes later a ranger had also noticed the shivering children and had located some dry blankets for them. I sat at the next table over thinking to myself …Who would send their child up to Mt. Washington with a 17 year old kid who obviously doesn’t have a clue as their leader? I guess the age doesn’t matter much for as I was thinking that question I wondered where one of my friends went off to. I found out that he (Philly) went about .6 miles back down the mountain to help a 15 year old and her adult leader get to the summit house for the 15 year old was going into hypothermia. He explained that she was hysterical and even when they were on the path about 40 yards from the summit house she was crying and afraid that she was going to fall… (she was on a walking path with no ledge)
Dan Paradise and Trail Magic: I was walking down the trail at the end of a long day thinking where I was going to be staying that night for it had been raining for two weeks and all of the “Stealth Sites” (undetected campsite) were flooded leaving me limited options for sleeping for the night due to the rugged terrain and weather. As I was walking a fellow with a Kelty daypack stopped me “You look like a Northbound Thru-hiker” I replied “yes I am” … he proceeded open his backpack to offer a variety of drinks to me that he had in ice and invited myself and 3 of my hiking friends to the campground 3 miles down the road. He said that he had drove 100 miles with his 20 ft camper to do this for thru-hikers. There was fried chicken, corn on the cob and coolers full of any drink you could think of. There were also 4 beds in the camper that he wanted us to use as he slept in the truck. All he wanted in return was to hear the stories of the trail. It is people like Dan who make this world a better place.
 Morale and Health: Morale is very high…. I think that may have something to do with the fact that I am not out in the cold rain right now as I sit warm and comfy in my host family’s house. But I am also excited about some possible opportunities that may be around the corner from short documentaries to magazine articles. I will keep you updated when those come to fruition. Outside of some minor scrapes and cuts I feel good. It is good to take this day of rest.
Media Exposure for July/August:
Relevant Blog: Interview Article
Vanity Fair July 2008
White Mountains: (Video from Mt. Madison)
Total miles travelled: 1,919.7
Stories from Blood:Water Mission’s work in Africa: Lwala, Kenya (Frederick Otieno Ochieng')
I think back to June of 2005, returning home for the construction of the clinic, meeting Joel and his Mzungu friend Jena in Rongo. Mom had always said that those who welcome guests have welcomed angels!
Looking at the connections we have made with Jars of Clay, and the relationship with BWM, I am truly encouraged to see God's hand at work. A pump has been drilled in Lwala. With their financial help, we currently have 4 health care providers and 5 support staff who work so hard. By November, we had seen over 6,000 patients since opening in April.
While doing malaria research and setting up laboratory services in the clinic this past summer, I kept hearing of the hope and gratitude that patients, some who had walked over 7 miles to seek treatment, had as they came to the Lwala clinic. We just began offering Pre natal care - Immunizations and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMCT) for HIV positive women. We are always thankful for what God is doing in the village of Lwala and the nearby communities.
Frederick Otieno Ochieng'
Vanderbilt medical student and Lwala community member "
"A difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existance holds a purpose- a cause to pursue, a person to love, a goal to achieve." -John Maxwell
"Life to the Fullest" Daren Wendell
|
