Bujuku - Mubuku - Day 2 - Afternoon Storm

  Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda
Tuesday, January 31, 2006

7km - 3000ft

Me infront of Rutura

Nice Valley

Mt. Rutura

Weetabix and hot milk to get the day started. We dropped down to the Kurt Shaffer bridge where the Bujuku and Mubuku rivers converged (incidentally the hike was called the Bujuku - Mubuku circuit). We would follow the Bujuku for the next 2 days. Dropping down and out of the trees we got some more great views across to Rutara.

Vincent

Vincent and one of the porters

The trail!

Everlasting flowers

After continuing through what seemed like tree heather similar to the Simiens in Ethiopia we also passed bamboo and the start of the infamous bog! Luckily for us it hadn't rained much for the best part of the week and the wellington boots I'd rented weren't needed. Again many flowers along the way and the biggest bonus of all no rain for a second day in a row! We got to the John Mate hut for about 1:30.

Some of the porters carry huge sacks up to 25kg and the way they support them is strapped to their heads! The funny thing was even with backpacks they did not use the backpack straps, but rigged up their own strap system so they could still use their heads!

Luke

Storm Clouds

Sunsetting at John Mate Camp

View in John Mate Camp

Later that afternoon while in the safety of our hut down came the rains. Very interesting to watch as many of the clouds were down in the valley below us and we could see them clear, this time giving us nice views of Rutara from the back side. Made what was probably the most discussing food ever that evening, hard rice, very sweet tomato soup laces with chili sauce. Made a good effort to finish some up, but in defeat gave the rest to the porters. They seemed happy with it!