God saves my life

God saves my life

I am writing this as I recover from serious injuries sustained while climbing Mt. Agung, Bali. Foolishly I chose to climb solo without the aid of a guide. This mistake nearly cost me my life. Though the trail is unmarked, it is easy to follow until you reach the treacherous summit cone.

While descending I fell and lacerated my hand on a bottle some uncaring person had discarded. The subsequent loss of blood coupled with a cold driving rain caused me to lose the trail.

I spent the night in a makeshift grass shelter nearly expiring due to hypothermia. The following day I stumbled down through the thick jungle bivouacking one more night under a tree. I hadn't eaten in two days and was severely cut up (traumatized) when I stumbled into the farming village of Temukus near Besakih. I was then taken to a doctor who dressed my wounds.

As a warning to all hikers, don't attempt these mountains without a guide, proper rain gear, food, wool clothing, a torch, boots and a first-aid kit.

To the park service I advise creating affordable, licensed guide services including marking all trails clearly and cleaning up harmful debris.

Finally, organized search parties don't apparently start till a person has been missing one week. If I hadn't had extensive survival experience, I'd have been dead after just two days on Mt. Agung. The God of Besakih has been merciful this time.

THOMAS R. BURNS

Ubud, Bali