Mountain Guides Who Turn Into Saviors

By Noorazlina Jindeh After the mountaineering activities resumed on Mount Kinabalu on Dec 1, 2015 Bernama's writer Noorazlina Hj Jindeh joined the group that scaled Mount Kinabalu using a new route for the first time. Part two describes the writer's harrowing experience on the way down after being afflicted by 'Acute Mountain Sickness' (AMS. KUNDASANG (Sabah, Malaysia), Jan 5 (Bernama) -- Mere words could not describe the exhilaration I felt when I set foot on the summit of Mount Kinabalu at 7.15am on Dec 2, 2015. Many before me may have conquered Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, but on that day, I was part of the first group to do so after it reopened to the public. It had been closed to climbers following the earthquake that shook the state in June. Along with other media practitioners, I captured on camera the beautiful scenery at the top while enjoying the morning rays. It was thrilling to be standing at 4,095 metres above sea level, looking down at the world below me. Little did I know that my joy would be short-lived. After about 20 minutes at the top, I started feeling light-headed and nauseated. AMS A climber who identified himself as a doctor gave me a pill to help rid of the nausea. He advised me immediately start descent. Heeding his advice, I headed down to Sayat-Sayat and was treated for acute mountain sickness (AMS). Dr Na'im Ab Razak, a trauma and emergency medicine officer at the Lahad Datu Hospital, who was also a member of my climbing group, administered two injections to help me manage my pain and nausea. He urged me to quickly descend to Panalaban because the best panacea for those suffering from AMS is to get to a lower altitude as soon as possible. However, the injections seemed to do little to ease my condition. It was then clear that I had to be brought down as fast as possible or risk further complications. KINABALU HEROES The mountain guides then discussed among themselves on how to proceed next. It was, however, difficult to understand because they spoke in Dusun, the local dialect commonly used by mountain guides here. The Mountain Search and Rescue Auxiliary Firemen (PBB MoSAR) was contacted via walkie-talkie. However, as time was the essence the mountain guides at Sayat-sayat decided to not wait for PBB MoSAR but meet them below instead. At the time, there was no other choice but to rapidly descend with the help of the mountain guides. Equipped only with a messenger bag, mountain guide Gregory Junis carried me piggyback down the steep and treacherous cliffs. My body was going limp. Fearing my dead weight would make it harder for the mountain guide to make his way down, Dr Na’im decided to put me on a glucose drip for energy. It is hard to describe how difficult it is to ascend while ensuring the glucose bottle remains higher that needle point on the arm at all times in order to facilitate the flow of the drip. I prayed silently for dear life as I noted the route we had to take to get down was tough. TENACIOUS MOUNTAIN GUIDES “Don’t be afraid, we are trained for this. Just close your eyes and don’t look down,” said Gregory to me soothingly as he made his way down. I scrunched my eyelids close but the image of the rocky cliffs below kept playing in mind. I was also worried that I might drop the bottle of liquid glucose at any time. Despite it all, my heart goes out to the mountain guides as I now have a good idea of the kind of risks they put their lives in every day, just to earn a living. Their courage, teamwork spirit and prompt response in handling a difficult situation was truly admirable. RESCUE Throughout the way down, other mountain guides would shout out directions to aid the mountain guide carrying me. Once, during the descent there was a backflow of blood from the drip needlepoint and Gregory had to stop. Gregory and the other mountain guides carefully helped me down on to a large rock to reverse the bleeding. When the bleeding stopped, we continued the descent but another mountain guide took over the task of carrying me. There were times when the mountain guide could only hang on to the guide ropes with one hand. I knew that if he suddenly slipped, our chances of surviving were slim. However, the fears were quickly dispelled when we bumped into a PBB MoSAR team on the way. -- BERNAMA