Guam Boonie Stomp

On the way to Dante Falls

10 January 2009

Today I went on my first Boonie Stomp in Guam. For the uninitiated, this is a form of severe masochism sponsored by the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation. Wreckreation is more like it! In fairness, today's hike was listed as "extremely difficult" and the hike leaders did their best this morning to scare away the out of shape, the uncertain, the ill prepared, in other words, me. But, I was not to be deterred.

During the morning briefing we were told (and there were about 30 foolish souls who turned up for this self abuse) that this was TRULY an extremely difficult hike and probably the worst of the year. The leaders really did try their best to scare us off. But at 10 am I found myself at the trailhead on the way to Dante Falls, some three hours away according to the advert. It was hot, and humid, and coming from Alaska I quickly found that I wasn't doing well in the heat. Within the first mile I'd decided that I should turn back (the first mile was largely uphill). But the leaders made the mistake of giving us a long break after the first hour and I recovered enough to press on. Much of the next hour was over fairly level ground and I did pretty well despite the heat and humiditiy. Eventually we worked out way down a slope to the river and a place called Champagne Falls by squeezing over, around and under vines, roots, brambles, swordgrass, and sharp edged succulents. This was real bushwacking, and I just kept thinking, "Thank God there are no bears in Guam!" I've done this kind of bushwacking in Alaska and bears are the greatest danger.


After a long rest at Champagne Falls the leaders announced that we had to spend about the next 90 minutes working our way through the river bed in water that was sometimes chest high. This I wasn't expecting and hadn't brought waterproof containers for my video cam, Palm and cell phone. So, I had to turn back rather than risk ruining some $1500 worth of electronic gear. My sometime dive buddy Luther was in a similar situation and so the two of us reversed course and headed back to the vehicles.

Champagne Falls

The trip back was in the absolute hottest part of the day and several times I had to stop and lean down to catch my breath. If I stood up too fast I got a bit faint. I just don't do well in hot humid climates. But, we got to see a fellow riding his caribau up the trail. He was on his way to check some fresh water shrimp traps that he'd set.

Caribau on the trail

Eventually we made it back to the vehicles after many stops and I slowly recovered. When I was finally able to drive I headed back up the coast and stopped at Jeff's Pirate Cove. Something I meant to do last year and never got to. I must say they serve a great Gyro Platter. I washed it down with water and a bottle of Michelob Winter Cask Ale. Certainly much better than the usual swill that passes for beer in America. But I'm and admitted snob and my taste runs to microbrewed Ale, Porter and Stout. I won't drink Miller, Bud, etc. In any event, I finally felt revived enough to head on home and get ready for my boat dive tomorrow. So, that's what I'm doing now -- laying in bed and getting ready to snooze.

Cheers from Tumon, Guam!

***********
17 January

I made two dives -- Cocos West and Nathan's Dent. They went okay although I started coughing a bit during the second dive. After lunch I decided to try a hike down to Double Reef Beach (2.4 miles round trip, 340 feet elevation gain) , but that didn't go so well. The hike started on a downslope and I had no trouble with that, or on the level road. But when I had to start scrambling over moss covered volcanic rock things started to deteriorate and got worse as I got off the forest trail and onto the bare rock.

The bare volcanic rock was not worn down like the rock in the forest. This rock was jagged and sharp, and being on the small side, somewhat unstable. Progress was slow because I had to be very cautious not to fall. A fall on that rock could cause severe lacerations, not to mention fractures.

Even though the distance from the trail head to the beach was only 1.2 miles, I had to quit after an hour and a quarter because I was having paroxysmal coughing spells lasting several minutes and was having to stop frequently -- sometimes after only having gone 20 feet. Even though I was only about a quarter mile from the beach, I just couldn't see going on considering the breathing problems I was having. So I decided to head back to the car and spend the rest of the weekend resting up.

By Monday my cough was worse and I suppose it was due to post-infectious pharyngitis since I'd had pneumonia in December. A combination of oral and inhaled steroids combined with IV and oral antibiotics finally got things under control. If fact, by the 24th I was even able to make a scheduled dive without difficulty.

I still had a very slight cough the day before I left Guam, but since reaching Oahu it has cleared up completely and I'm ready to start strenuous exercise again. Whether that's due to all the drugs, or simply because a virus ran its course I don't know. But I'm damn glad it's over!

Now, if things here in Wahiawa will just settle down I can start an exercise program and try to rebuild my stamina.

Cheers from Oahu