The recent deaths at Mt Kinabalu has brought back memories of my own trip in 2000 with VJC ODAC students. I was not an ODAC teacher but I did attend the ODAC YLTC when I was a JC student. And of course, I had lots of outdoor education experience since my primary school days as a cadet scout.
We arrived at the National Park hostel at night to help in altitude acclimatization. The next day, we went to the Mersilau Resort to start the mission on the Mersilau trail. The trail was quite new, and has more jungle and is actually more scenic than steps. It joins the main trail at Layang Layang. We reached the "base camp", the Laban Rata guest house at 3.30 pm. The slower kids and teachers would stream in at 4+ pm. Dinner was at 6 pm and bedtime followed.
We woke up at 1.30 am and assembled at 2 am for the assault. It was delayed a bit due to rain but we bravely went ahead through the drizzle. It was cold when we reached rock. I remember my hands were numb with cold due to climbing on wet rock. Four kids did not make it and turned back due to altitude sickness. The PE teacher followed them back and still could catch up, amazingly. We reached the summit at about 7.30 am. The teacher leader even opened a can of Coke at the summit to celebrate.
We went down much faster, even though it was actually more difficult. An ill-disciplined NTU girl running down somersaulted on her head and rolled down the slope. I saw it happen in front of me. But she survived. After packing up, we exited the guest house and reached Tymphohon Gate at 4 pm.
So was I changed by the trip? Definitely! We did TWO mountains at one go - Trus Madi and Kinabalu. I think kids should so such things regularly, every few years. OK, maybe primary school kids are a bit young, especially with the Via Ferrata. But they can do simpler expeditions.
The mountain is a killer -- people die on it every few years. With big risk comes big reward, and the feeling of being on a mountain-top, the sight, the rocky scene... Only those who take on the mountain will know it.
I was taught during my CCAB-OE expedition leader course that we must remember that it is other people's kids we are taking for OE trips.
This time, they were very unlucky and they got it big time. Many of the kids died miserably. Although I think no negligence is involved, the fact is that people died. Most of them died on the via ferrata. The commander of the unit, the Principal, has the final responsibility. She will have to live with the fact that her programme killed many people.
Also, like I said, some teachers and guides should get a medal of valour. Maybe even post-humously.