Monday, November 20, 2006

Episode 8: Mulanje Massif

Introduction

I'll admit that I'm not much of a climber/hiker. I don't usually enjoy the climb up mountains, and I'm normally the weakest link in my party. But the thing that keeps bringing me back is the view. I will do anything for a spectacular view. One of the top things to do while in Malawi is climb Mulanje Massif. It's not very tall at just over 3,000 metres, but the pictures and people's reports on climbing it convinced me it was something I had to do. So I was all pumped up to climb, and then the rains come! I think I actually prayed that God would delay the rains for one more week, because once the rains come, the mountain is virtually impossible to climb (I actually felt bad because Malawians rely on the rains for their farms). But the rains kept coming. And people kept telling me scary stories about Mulanje. About how this Danish girl ran off from her group and was never found again. About a group of hikers who got lost and were never found.

So I got to Mulanje base Friday afternoon, and there was no rain. And I was so happy, thinking "Yes God! Today will be good!" And then as if to spite us, the rains started coming, slowly at first. And I thought to myself "This is actually better, because I'm not as hot climbing up." And then the rain gods seemed to smite us with a hail of rain, thunder and lightening. It was a little frightening, and sort of reminded me of LOTR, when they are seemingly climbing forever to get to Mordor.

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