Hiking!

With the Uluguru Mountains so close, a lot of us have been itching to go climb them. This morning, 20 of us split into 2 groups with guides to hike them. We were in 2 groups and hired guides because a group a few years ago was robber while hiking. Of course, the group that started 2nd caught up with the other group on the way up so we were one big group anyway for much of the trip.
Most of the walk was actually on roads (dirt) and I was amazed at how high in the mountains the people live. Much of the mountainside is terraced farming, which I couldn’t really see from the plain. There were even sprinkler systems running way up the mountain! Eventually we did hike on single-track to finish the way to Morningside, which used to be a hotel (the road went that far back in the day) but is now a part of a university and is used for research and camping. There are some beautiful gardens up there too and we were given some carrots picked fresh from the ground. Per Peace Corps policy, I used my Swiss Army knife to remove the outer layer because I don’t know if they use raw sewage as fertilizer. Ideally, we are supposed to wash fruits and veggies with bleach and filtered water but it’s not so easy on the side of the mountain (who would think to bring bleach hiking?). Among the few things I ate was an apple I had saved from CCT on Thursday. It was divine! I am definitely missing fall in Central NY.
After Morningside, we continued along the side of the mountain and over a small ridge. We had some great views of the valley below, We passed by a Lutheran church and even though the service was going on, a man came out and was trying to demand the we pay money. Luckily we had some very good guides and they were able to smooth things over. If hikers start paying at the church, then other people along the route will expect to be paid and the hike just won’t be feasible anymore. Since there are many people trying to make the area a park, the guided hikes are a great way to show off the area. At one point, we passed some currants and some of us ate some. We did not take any precautions about washing them because all we could think was, “Mmmm…berries…”. So if I get sick, that could be the reason.
We were thrilled when we finally made it to the waterfall. Although many of us had wet bandanas at the few stream crossings (and put it on our neck or head), it felt good to take our shoes off and cool our feet. I put my knee under a small waterfall because it had been very sore on the way down. Others waded liberally in the knee-deep pool. All of us who went in the water failed to heed the PC warning about not wading in fresh water because it may be infected with schistosomiasis (schistos, aka Bilharzia). So if I get sick, that could also be the reason. I’m thinking schistos is going to be hard to avoid because when it’s hot and there is water, it is hard not to use the water to cool down. Granted, the locals just sat and watched us foreigners in the water – and tried to sell us fruit (which we aren’t supposed to eat because it could be contaminated).
Our hike passed through many villages in the mountains. It was interesting for us to greet people and see if they responded. I think a majority responded even though the Waluguru people (for whom the mountains are named) speak a different language. One of our guides has learned a little Kiluguru so he was able to greet people in their local language and they seemed to really like it. With the number of houses we passed and people along the route, I am not surprised now that a group was robbed. It’s not like hiking in the middle of the wilderness. If you are wondering why we didn’t climb to the top of the mountains (as I am usually inclined to do), it cost a lot more. We are getting paid very little ass PCTs and wanted the most bang for our buck.
I helped make ugali again tonight and realized that I still have a long ways to go in the kitchen. The temp of a charcoal stove won’t change much so I have to adjust my stirring to it. Holding a hot bowl over a hot stove (that is sitting on the floor) while trying to mix a thick porridge/mash to the right consistency without burning it is harder than I though. In addition to cooking, I finished planning my class for tomorrow. I’m glad it’s only 40 minutes and I hope the teacher is back from the exam so I can get more info on what topics the students still need to learn.