Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the treacherous peak. God knows what made us want to do it; perhaps we were trying to
prove something to each other.
The day arrived, and we set off from the beach as the sun was rising over the purple ho-
rizon. We were dressed in dark clothing and carried a rope in our backpacks along with
water, some light food, and a camera. We both wore rubber soled sneakers. Paula accom-
panied us to the foot of the peak and would remain on lookout as long as she could. She
kissed me, wishing me good luck, and begged us both to be very careful.
Herman and I took one last look about for anyone and started climbing. We would have to
climb the rock face for at least two hundred feet before the first of the iron steps could be
reached. (The maintenance crew used the trolley on the cable that snaked down away from
the slope which ended in a hut that was kept locked at all times.)
It was difficult climbing. Herman and I were by no means practiced mountaineers and
found it challenging and frightening. Looking back down at one stage, Herman, who was
puffing heavily, suggested we turn back. I suggested we continue and that it was a good
exercise in patience and personal skill and achievement. We continued slowly, searching
out cracks in the rocks for our hands and feet, and eventually worked our way up to a more
gradual slope where the going became a lot easier. Resting there for a few minutes, we con-
gratulated ourselves and noticed that the first iron rung was close at hand: just a few more
minutes and we would be there.
“The view will be worth the effort, you'll see.” I assured him.
The sun had risen, and we felt its warm rays on our backs. We continued up after a while
and soon came to the huge foundation of the cable which jutted out and disappeared from
view towards the tiny shed below. We had reached the first rung, and I beckoned Herman
to go ahead and begin the climb.
We looked up at the set of rungs and were shocked to see how high up they went. Our as-
cent to this point had only been a quarter way up. We started climbing, taking our time to
get used to these iron rungs that were nothing more than u-shaped staples hammered deep
into the rocky face. They had obviously been there for a long time as they were worn and
shiny, slippery too, and the going was slow. Now and again we would look down, and our
hearts would leap into our mouths. It was a long and frightening drop down to the base of
the jagged, rocky bottom and the white breakers of the waves could be seen roaming about
in slow motion.
“I've never done anything like this,” confided Herman. “If my mother saw me now she
would freak out, I swear.”
