A Brush With DEATH In The Mountains
A mountaineer’s true account
of survival
Elwin Deo Arroyo
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“It is a close encounter not only with nature but with the God of nature Himself.”
.
“It is a close encounter not only with nature but with the God of nature Himself.”
.
The hut we’re in shook violently as the howling wind blew hard against
it. Although the creaking noise was very annoying, I fell deaf to it. I could
do nothing more but slump my body on the floor in utter tiredness.
The coldness of the dark night could render anyone helpless in its
temptation to deep slumber. Even as I
closed my eyes to float away into oblivion, sights and picture of the day’s
experience still overwhelmed my thoughts.
As I looked blankly at the flickering flame of the kerosene lamp
struggling to stay alit against the tease of the wind, I reflected on how my
companions, Allan, a fellow student and Jonas, a professional, and I fought
hard to stay alive.
The three of us have found shelter at a shanty owned by a widow and her
children who warmly welcomed us when we pleaded for help early afternoon.
Mount Kanlaon forms a natural boundary between the Oriental and
Occidental parts of Negros Island. Towering at a height of 2,465 meters above
sea level, it is considered as the second highest peak in the Philippines, and
a dormant volcano.
The Iloilo Mountaineering Club, a non-government organization dedicated
to survey and help in saving the forests, organized the trip. The group is
composed of students, most of them in the collegiate level coming from
different universities around Iloilo, and professionals alike.
This trekking activity at Mt. Kanlaon was joined by about 30 people,
mostly members of the organization, and some were applicants for membership.
The ascent to the mountain started at around 10 o’clock in the morning
at Brgy. Araal, La Carlota, Negros Occidental on October 24, 1992.
By then, the weather was clear and promising a full visibility.
For us, mountaineering is a hobby worth pursuing. Though no concrete
rewards promised, for a true-blooded adventurer, the essence of “conquering”
mountains by reaching the summit is enough to make a nature-lover feel as if he
were on top of the world, looking down on the pitiful beings who cannot share
his
once-in-a
lifetime experience.
.
It is close
encounter not only with nature but with the God of nature Himself. Standing on
top of a towering mountain makes one feel as if he had become closer to God in
human form.
When standing on the highest portion of an area is a sensation as if one
were suspended between place and time. A mountaineer undergoing this experience
could only stand dumbfounded beholding the solemnity and sacredness of
witnessing the vastness of creation unfolded before him.
There was a deafening silence in all eternity in the utmost tranquility
of nature never before experienced. The dew of the clouds instilled the feeling
as if one were soaked in overflowing liquid of eternity.
Climbing a mountain isn’t easy at all. A climber must endure the
rigorous negotiations with the unforgiving terrain, the cruel weather, the
leeches, the risks and dangers, the rearing pain of cramped muscles, the
bitterness of sweat flowing from the face to the tongue, the heat during
daytime and the coldness of the night, the heavy burden of the backpacks, and
of course, the inconvenience brought about by the absence of a decent toilet.
The period which the body must take in adjusting to the environment and
strenuous activities has to take sometime, a day at least. For any climb, the
first day is considered to be the most taxing and the slowest in pace.
Nevertheless, we had to push ourselves to the limit to beat time.
By noon, we had to eat our packed meals along the way to save time. A
few minutes of siesta is all it takes after eating before joining the trek.
By late afternoon we were still hours away from our targeted campsite. As
the darkness of the evening fell we still had to conduct a night trek just to
reach the campsite in the middle of the high mountain. We reached the place at
around 8 o’clock that evening.
We have not reached the peak of the mountain yet and we still had to
continue with the trek the next day. We pitched camp, cooked supper, and
prepared to retire for the night.
By six o’clock the next morning, everyone was up, cooked breakfast and
prepared to continue the assault to the summit.
We took off our night clothes and put on again the ones we used the day
before, which were already damp of the evening dew. For a mountaineer, one way
of surviving in such hostile environment is to make his baggage light by
keeping his things dry and taking along only what is necessary.
Taking off cozy and dry bed clothes and putting on wet ones is very
uncomfortable.
Putting on wet socks and shoes is much worse. We had to break camp and proceed
with the trek as soon as possible to heat up our bodies and fight temperature
lower than 18 degrees Celsius.
Once the body
starts sweating the discomfort lessens, for the garments gradually dry up. We
were on track heading for the peak by about seven that morning.
We have already covered two-thirds of the height of the mountain and we
would need only a few hours more to complete the climb to the summit.
As we continued, the surroundings got stranger and darker, and the
vegetation got thicker. Moss covered almost entirely the trunks of trees.
Humidity is considerably high in this area because of the thick foliage.
With these indications, we were sure that the peak was not far away. We
passed by a rusty shaped bar measuring about four feet long and weighing up to
20 kilos believed to be a part of an airplane that had crashed years before.
The area had an eerie ambience, coupled with sounds of crickets and
weird appearances of plants and trees not found in the lowlands. A few hours of
strenuous uphill climb and the peak would be visible.
The climbing group was divided into three. The lead group was composed
of those who could trek fast enough to be the head of the group. The body were
those who can trek with moderate speed to maintain their place between the lead
and the sweepers.
Sweepers were composed of the elders of the team and those capable of
carrying heavy loads - since they “sweep” the path not only of things dropped
or left behind but even injured comrades who could no longer maintain their
pace.
By eleven o’clock that morning, the lead and the body of the team
reached the shoulder of the mountain called Pagatapat, a portion with trees and
heavy vegetation.
Among those in the body were the five of us from CPU Mountaineering
Society, Jonas, Allan, Lemuel, Allison and myself. It was already the second
time for Allan and me to climb this mountain. For Jonas, Allison and Lemuel, it
was their first.
Surely, the excitement to scale the peak was so intense that the five of
us decided to go ahead of the group and have a view of the dome.
We headed out to a clearing, and there in the thick clouds was the
crater dome. Meters below us was the Magaja Valley, a depressed area considered
to be the centuries-old dead crater.
The weather that day was not like that of the previous day. Without our
knowledge, low pressure area had developed right over Mr. Kanlaon. Bringing
along with it gustiness and thick clouds. The fog was so thick that vision was
limited up to 10 meters only.
Nevertheless, the five of us decided to climb the dome, an hour’s climb
from where we were. We could hardly see in the distance, the sun was not
visible, and the wind did not blow to one direction
but
manifested in a circling motion.
Climbing the
dome
wasn’t very difficult without seeing the top since we
just had to follow the upward direction of the trees. Allan and I went ahead,
five meters behind us was Jonas, the ten meters behind him were Allison and
Lemuel.
Looking back, I could hardly see them. We were following an established
path leading to the summit.
Certain that they were following, Allan and I decided to go on until we
reached the crater. Along the way, the wind was so strong that we had to stoop
down while walking, almost crawling.
Otherwise, we would be blown away, a very dangerous thing that could happen
when crossing a ridge about six meters wide before reaching the mouth of the
crater.
We dropped down on our bellies and viewed the crater. Below us was the
seemingly bottomless pit to the depths of the earth with the stinging stench of
sulphur. We could not see the entire crater because of the thick clouds.
A few minutes later, Jonas decided to go back to the campsite, for the
weather was getting worse. He had left Allison and Lemuel waiting for us twenty
meters behind. Hastily, Allan and I got up and joined Jonas in heading to the
campsite.
The descent was more difficult compared to the ascent because of the
weight of the body straining the toes. Maintaining balance was also very
tricky. We reckoned our way back to the camp in the most inaccessible part of
the mountain because of the lack of trail signs formed in the vegetation. There was no plant growth in the uppermost
part of the mountain because of the high concentration of sulphur in the
ground.
We were already descending for sometime, but there were still no signs
of the our two companions or the campsite. A few hours more of descent but
still there was no progress in sight.
Finally, we thought that we had lost our way. It was then three o’clock
in the afternoon, three hours of sunlight left before darkness sets in. In the
brevity of three hours we had to decide whether to go back to the top and find
our way again of go down
and seek
shelter for the night.
We must not
waste time because we did not have any food supply with us for we left them in our
backpacks in the campsite. Arguments rose on which decision We must not waste
time because we did not have any food supply with us for we left them to take.
We tried to recall basic techniques of homing for base camp but to no
avail – dead reckoning was impossible. The compass went berserk because of the
magnetic field of the volcano, the sun was not visible because of the fog, and
the wind did not blow in a definite direction.
If we go back to the top, we could be overtaken by darkness and succumb
to hypothermia, because of the cold. Our most probable way of surviving was to
head straight down. However, we could not see what was below because of the
thick fog engulfing us.
If we descend further we could either be heading for civilization or be
trapped in the old crater and freeze to death in the eleven-degree-Celsius
temperature. It was a situation “between Cherubdis and Scylla.” Anything could
happen in that mountain and we must find shelter to survive.
In the confusion we could only look at each other silently. Finally, one
of us blurted to look up to God in prayer. An immense realization came to us.
We had forgotten to call to God for help.
Without hesitation, we bowed down our heads and each one said his
sincerest prayer gushing forth from the depths of his heart in the plea for
guidance, protection and preservation.
That moment I recalled the biblical passage in Romans 10:13: “Those who call on the name of the Lord will
be saved.”
Surely, as this verse holds true, the moment we agreed in an “Amen” the clouds before us burst as if
to unveil the brightest ray of hope shining for us.
There, hundreds of feet below us were the galvanized-iron roofs of
houses glittering under the afternoon sunlight. The clouds opened and cleared
for a brief moment in time – only about ten minutes – after which it closed
again in utter thickness.
Praising God for His glorious majesty, we scampered down the path
knowing that His provision for our survival was waiting for us below.
By five that afternoon, we arrived at Brgy. Upper Masulog, Canlaon. We
have literally traversed the border of Negros Occidental and Oriental.
Warmed by the house we were in and safe for the night, an immense
realization came to us. We were thinking of our other two companions.
We climbed back to the campsite to inform the team that we were safe.
A few hours after, Juli came back with the news that Allison and Lemuel
were missing since the previous day. Jonas and I decided to travel back to La Carlota
rescue operation for our companions.
As we travelled to La Carlota City for five hours, I could see in the
distance the imposing figure of Kanlaon Volcano, a gargantuan mountain where
the forces of nature could lead a disoriented mountaineer into confusion and,
eventually to his death.
But for the three of us, it was on this very mountain where the Maker
Himself, God Almighty, manifested His sovereignty and tremendous love for His
children by sparing us from sure doom.
As I closed my eyes trying to grab some sleep in the monotonous humming
of the engine, I reflected on the verse from Isaiah 59:1: “Surely, the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too
dull to hear.”
Indeed, God is so merciful that He showered His mercy on us though we do
not deserve it. He heard our prayers and extended His arms to save us from
utter destruction.
THE AFTERMATH.
Lemuel de Jesus was considered missing until
he was found alive three days later in a place called Guintubdan. He was found
by a native of the place who went out with his dog to gather rattan.
Without a survival food pack, Lemuel ate what he had along – a roll of
tissue paper and some tablets of Diatabs. Dehydrated and weak, he had survived
the ordeal with one leg injured and a slight frostbite due to too much exposure
to the cold.
The decomposing body of Allison was found 13 days after the incident
with the aid of helicopters and rescuers. He was presumed to have died the very
day we got separated and lost. He died of massive injuries after falling from a
series of stair-like ridges, each measuring up to five feet high.
By June the next year, I joined the team in climbing Mt. Kanlaon
again. There
in clear weather, I was able to see the spots where I had experienced a
dramatic event with Allan and Jonas.
 |
| He ain't heavy - he's my son. |
That was the last time I ever joined a mountain climb because of my
hectic schedules doing prioritized activities.
But I have not closed the chance of scaling the heights again and
savoring the overwhelming sensation of adventure.
Nothing is final. But one thing stands certain – that the God of nature
Himself would never forsake His loved ones.
.
.
Graham Kendrick
All I once held dear, built my life upon
All this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this
Now my heart's desire is to know you more
To be found in you and known as yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness
.
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“Knowing You”
(All
I once held dear)
Graham Kendrick
lyrics
All I once held dear, built my life uponAll this world reveres, and wars to own
All I once thought gain I have counted loss
Spent and worthless now, compared to this
Knowing you, Jesus
Knowing you, there is no greater thing
You're my all, you're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love you, Lord
Knowing you, there is no greater thing
You're my all, you're the best
You're my joy, my righteousness
And I love you, Lord
Now my heart's desire is to know you moreTo be found in you and known as yours
To possess by faith what I could not earn
All-surpassing gift of righteousness
Oh, to know the power of your risen life
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like you in your death, my Lord
So with you to live and never die
And to know You in Your sufferings
To become like you in your death, my Lord
So with you to live and never die
First published in the Central Echo, Official
Student Publication of Central Philippine University, Iloilo City,
January-March 1998 issue.
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