COURAGE AND PERSISTENCE AS A TOOL TO GET TO THE TOP CONTEST-, 7 Days, Day 7, Rewards 50 Steem @jun.imaginer 19/05/2021

Epilog

While browsing on Steemit 3 days ago I came across this post COURAGE AND PERSISTENCE AS A TOOL TO GET TO THE TOP CONTEST -, 7 Days, Day 4, Rewards 50 Steem and I want to take a part in it. I'm aware it's the last day to participate the contest and I wish I'll finish this writing before time running out.

Honestly, I'm not doing very well. It's been two days lying limp on my bed. Caught a flu and light cough, nothing serious. Today I'm intend to just laying in my bed like Bruno Mars's song, but finally decided to go out and finish this writing in the a cafe where I usually hang out with friends.

Allow me share my experience related to the theme of this contest, "Courage and Persistance As A Tool To Get To The Top". I try my best write this down in one sitting while sipping a cup of Sanger (Arabica coffee with a little skimmed milk), I tried to recall each and every moment when I attempt my very first hiking the mountain while collecting old photos on Facebook.

The Story Begins...

Around the second week, April 2017, two weeks before departure. Me, Jack, Yudi, and Alam were spending the night at a small coffee shop far out of town and there areno free wifi available like most cafes nowadays.

In other parts of the world, people gather after work or spend time with friends while sharing stories about their daily lives, usually places like karaoke, pubs, city parks, drinking Beer like in America and Europe, drinking Tea like in India, and Sake in Japan. In Indonesia, especially in Aceh where I live, we are most often found enjoying coffee. Regular plain black coffee without too many variants like in Starbuck.

The specialty of this coffee shop, here provides special coffee that is not served anywhere else in the city. "Kupi Nyen" peoples named it. The composition consists of Arabica coffee mixed with skim milk, egg yolk and a shred of young areca nut that made it special like any others. All blend together in a small cup. This drink is believed to be high in protein and increases vitality for men.

That night, Jack and Alam talked about their mountain climbing experience in college. They are both in the same class and are members of the Nature Activist organization at the Law faculty of Unysiah, Banda Aceh, where the majority of activities are related to mountain climbing, rock climbing and other outdoor activities. Yudi also joined similar organizations, but in different university. Yudi often interrupted their conversation and slipped in his stories, not wanting to lose coolness.

I enjoyed their conversation, wanted to feel the experience like they had. When I was still in college, I didn't join any organization. I spent more time in the library after finishing college. I spent the afternoon practicing for a basketball competition. Never have in my life back then experience anything about hiking and such.

Mountain hiking is strenuous physical activity, which I observe from their story. I think I'm a kid who is active in sports, and I dare to say I am capable enough to try this sport. I wanted to take part and enjoy myself the experience of spending the night in the middle of the wilderness away from the city and my comfortable bed.

They accept my intention. That evening we phoned our friends one by one, shared these ideas, and invited them to come along. Some immediately participated, some doubted and many refused because of their jobs.

Long story short, it took approximately a week to prepare all kinds of needs for hiking. Such as camping equipment, tents, sleeping mats, portable cooking tools, and personal clothes that are suitable for use while hiking and spend a long cold night in the jungle.

I admit not quite familiar with this whole hiking stuffs, there's a lot to catch up. I made up my mind, prepare what I should and shouldn't put in carrier and whatnots and insist to learn about this whole thing. Our team leader, Zakaria aka Jack (@mc-jack) taught me a lot about it. I just obey whatever he told me to.

Me and for some of us, these are our first hiking. Our destination are Mount Burni Telong in Bener Meriah Regency, Aceh Indonesia. A mountain with a height of 2,617 masl.

Burni Telong. Taken by Glory Travel

"A mountain that is suitable for beginners" Alam said (The Co-Leader of the hiking at that time). “… because the contours and routes are not too uphill, and the water source is sufficient. It took only 1 day and 1 night to reach to the top, it's easy, just calm yourself down, ”he continued to convince us.

We are total 8 members; Jack (Team leader), Alam (Co-Leader), Yudi, Mas, Abel, Rudi, Acel and me Jun. Those first three member are experienced hikers and the rest were beginners.

The journey to Bener Meriah city, the destination location from the departure point of our hometown Langsa takes approximately + - 7 hours by car. 4 hours from Langsa to Lhokseumawe, and 3 hours from Lhokseumawe to Beneh Meriah. we drove by 2 cars seperately.

We arrived at the destination at 3 am. We agreed on the hiking schedule later that day at 7 am as early as possible. So the remaining hours we try to rest get some sleep.

Minus 1 hour, the team leader woke us up to immediately pack the equipment. Everyone is still reluctant, with sleepy eyes cause of lack of sleep, all of us must start to tidied up immediately to fit the schedule.

The starting point before the hike was a café owned by Jack and Alam senior at university. BrotherGembel we called him, because of his stature like a scavenger. Gembel has successfully run his coffee shop business, so that celebrities have taken the time to enjoy a coffee distillery that he brewed himself. The cafe was once covered by one of the national TV channels for The One of The Best Traditional Coffee Brewing in the country.

After brother Gembel waves us goodbye and wish us a best of luck in a friendly manner. We were ushered to the door of the hill. The entrance to start my first ascent. Fear and anxious came to me along the trip from Café Seladang earlier. Anxieties like will I be okay up there? Have I packed all my equipment, is our logistics enough for us till this trip end?.

"Is everything alright, bro?" Jack's pat on my shoulder chased me from my reverie. "I'm okay, I guess." smiled reluctantly.

The sun was getting a little high, The weather was clear, the sun was dazzling to the eye. Soft clouds, calm, The wind is not too cold, chill. "A good start", I muttered. Perfect.

Just about one hour of hiking has started, we have already asked for a short break couple times, 2-3 minutes to catch back our breath and continue walking. The climb was ascending a little bit, the sun was right overhead. Abel was no longer strong enough to carry on, he first asked to stop and the start walking last . Until "Blaargh", finally the contents of his gut forced to come out. His condition is weaken. Some of us also feel the same fatigues, but we still endure it in silence, actually me nonetheless. Probably due to lack of sleep after a long car trip last night.

But in order stay on schedule, the team leader gave the command to continue the hikes. After treating Abel and the others, the march continued. Our target are to reach First Shelter and have a luch at 2 pm. We arrived just in time. Following a predetermined schedule is crucial in hiking, we can be flexible and adjusted our march but tried our best not postponed too long. Adjusted to the weather (rain, storm), physical conditions and the stamina for every each one of us. The team leader often reminded us that

"The weakest among us must walk ahead, and the pace of marching must follows the weakest. We do this to synchronize the marching paces so no one leave behind!

I say, fresh waters are the soul of the hiking. Information on the location of clean fresh water sources must be obtained long before the ascent begins. Even though there is no clear water from the river, for example, there is at least a safe and fit for consumption to relieve thirst and cooking needs.

To meet the supply of drinking water, each of us have to carry 5 liters of tap water from downhill. The bag was full already, and it was getting heavier. This is why the hustle and bustle of the mountains is such a tough sport. You have to carry heavy loads on your back and walk nearly 8 hours plus a day before camp overnight.

A Nightmare About To Come

"Guys, y'all just go ahead. I'll stay in the tent."

Dawn, minutes past 3am. Day 2. Summit Attempt.
Everyone confused and concerned about what I said. Everyone just woke up before me and started to packing their stuff. Light weight carried attempt to summit attack and witness sunrise from apex. "Damn it, I got diarrhea" I got so embarrassed but I got say it, I don't want to fail everyone just about hours to reach the top. I can't sleep last night, I got up whole night back and forth doing my stuff to empty my stomach. I don't know what wrong with me. I ate what we cooked that night. Everyone did the same. Perhaps it caused by the water. I murmured. I'm not used to unfiltered waters from the mountain. Silly me.

I saw Jack put down his bag, searching for water, salt and sugar from another tent in the cold night with a torch on his forehead. "Drink this !", "You got to complete this mission, man !". "Toughen-up!, you've come a long way to this point. Only 2 hours left walk to the top. You gonna regret it tomorrow if no picture of you with us at the top". "Come on, get up!"

End Game

O, eight hundred, we all step our foot on top of Mount Burni Telong. Late arrive because of me, no doubt about it. We missed sunrise. I dragged my a$$ up step by step to the top. Couple times I shout with weak voice to other, asked them to stop cause I got to walk astray a few meters from the path to finish my "business" again and again. Lost many liquids form my body drained all of me. I got no power left. Just a tiny bit courage and persistence that I'm gonna be alright with them, encouraging me to keep up, with support and understand my issue and jokes and laughs to lighten up the mood along the journey.

I'm blessed of this fellowship of Genk Burni

Galleries of Genk Burni ; On Top of The Burni Telong Mountain, April 17th 2017.

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