Climbing the Guyana face of Mount Roraima for the first time was an experience that will never be forgotten, according to two Akawaio men who are the first Guyanese on record to do so.
Edward James, 56, and Troy Henry, 38, both of Phillipai, Region Seven, are said to be the first Akawaio men on record to scale the Great Northern Prow of Mount Roraima. They achieved the feat alongside a team of mountain-climbing experts as part of an expedition which was a collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority, Air Services Limited and retired Major-General Joe Singh.
During an interview with the Sunday Stabroek yesterday, James related that he has always wanted to scale the top of the mountain but was never presented with an opportunity. He said that in 2003 he asked a mountain-climbing expert if he could be allowed to make the journey with the team, but was turned down because he did not have the requisite gear. In 2006 he decided to fulfill his dream on his own, but only managed to climb up to 7,000 feet. Nevertheless, he never gave up and when he heard that a team of mountain climbers were going to ascend the mountain, he got excited.
James was present when the team arrived in his village and he introduced himself to one of the climbers, Leo Houdini, who disclosed to James that he had read a book about him (James) detailing his 2003 journey half way up the mountain. Subsequently, James said, Houdini asked him if he wanted to join the team, and without a second thought he agreed because he was informed that they had extra gear. “They asked me if I could make it but I told them I does go climbing without gear so I know I could have made it. Is my mountain so I got to reach the top,” he declared.
Henry acknowledged that he was merely a porter on the team but had no idea that his journey would have an amazing ending. He noted that he left the village two weeks before the team arrived in order to clear the trail for them. Even though he was invited to join the team, others were a bit skeptical about him joining because he was working for two weeks prior to their arrival. Regardless, Henry said, he had no intention of accepting no for an answer and convinced them that he could make it. The fact that the team consisted of foreigners, he said, is what motivated him to join them because he lived near the mountain and had never climbed it.
The nine-day journey finally began. James observed that the higher he climbed, the more invincible he felt. However, the team ran into some unexpected issues with the rope and were forced to discontinue their climb for a couple of days while they addressed the problem. James recalled that they spent nights hanging from the wall. The two men agreed that that was the most challenging part of the journey for them. After the issues with the rope were resolved, the team continued their ascent and within a day reached the halfway point, where they spent four nights camping out on the ledges of the mountain. The duo related that it was at this point that things got scary for them as they were unable to see the ground. Henry said that the team made their way to the top while he and James stayed on the ledges. The team later returned for them and together they made their way to the summit in just over four hours.
James recalled that when he reached the top he was filled with pride and awe. “So when I reached on the top I feel good and proud. For plenty people this is minor, but for us, this is a great achievement,” he explained and Henry agreed. After settling down on the mountain, James said he rushed to have a bath since he hadn’t had one for days. He said he was awestruck by the view, which he described as breathtaking. He noted that words could not adequately describe the beauty of the mountain. “You have to see it for yourself.”
After bathing, the two men set out to explore and observed that there were a lot of ponds on the mountain top. Unfortunately, James said, they were unable to fully explore the area because of the clouds which would clear up for a couple of minutes before blinding their view with a white mist.
Despite that however, James said that it was a really great experience and expressed the hope that more people would be able to witness what he saw. James added that it was very cold but in spite of that, the trip was amazing. “It’s a rough trip but at the same time it was just wonderful,” Henry stated.
James then disclosed that they were told that they would have to participate in a 6-week mountain climbing course next year, after which they would teach others the skills that they learned. The duo declared that they are really excited about that chapter of their life and they would never forget their first experience of climbing the majestic Mount Roraima.