The Adventurers (including fieldbase!)

Alpha 5 were the first to trek into Long Pa Sia this phase, and despite a quick KFC stop on the journey down have spent their time in the jungle living off Raleigh rations and the food the jungle has to offer. They have reported spending their time trekking, sweating, complaining about trekking and complaining about sweating – but are all having the time of their lives in the jungles of Long Pa Sia. They have however learnt a harsh lesson on jungle food when they collected and cooked up some mushrooms one morning for breakfast before setting out to Maga Falls – which they never reached due to the mushrooms getting their own back!

They completed their trekking with no further incidents, and more importantly no injuries, and have moved over to Mamutik Island this weekend to start their open water diving qualification – where I imagine they will dive and relax until they have to climb Mt Kinabalu with Alpha 6 at the end of the week.

Alpha 6 had the pleasure of diving first this phase and looked to be spending their first night in the idyllic island setting, it had been a beautiful day whilst they had been doing their classroom theory but as they made their way over to the island on the boat the heavens opened – in quite spectacular fashion. They were able to settle in for the night, and the next day completed the essential repairs to their sleeping area, as well as their first dive’s in the waters around Mamutik.
Everyone loved island life, and they all passed their open water and advanced diving exams before they had to leave for their trekking down in Long Pa Sia, where they have trekked to Maga Falls, and are preparing to join Alpha 5 at the end of this week for the Mt. Kinabalu climb.

Some of the fieldbase team have also had their fair share of excitement this phase. The loop vehicle, affectionately known to us as Bravo 2, is now the official Raleigh International Rescue (RIR) vehicle upon their return from the loop visit. Not only did the loop manage to visit Alpha’s 4 and 2 at Danum and Batu Puteh (and were fed with some top class tucker!) but they finally made it in to Imbak after days of heavy rain that almost prevented the team from getting to Alpha 3. Their excitement didn’t stop with the crossing of the Imbak river, the loop teams rescuing adventures started on their way to Ranau when they were first on the scene of an accident involving a family whose vehicle had gone off the roadway and down an embankment! -miraculously no one was injured, and the newly refurbished Bravo 2 medical kit contained everything they required to lend their assistance. They then made their way home along the Ranau-Kundasang road where the 2nd of the days incidents took place – a tyre blow out! The team quickly made the tyre change and were back on their way when they came across another road traffic accident – the team again sprung into action, assisting with general first aid helping where needed, before they unbelievably made it home without further incident – and just in time for tea!