A Tough Climb

The Stirrups that Karina Forgot

I guess the last day of the year should stand out as a day to remember for better or for worse.

I met Karina at 5AM in the equipment room in the back of the research area and we prepared for climbing as today’s schedule called for. Jerome, meanwhile, was on one of his long transects (up since 330am). The two of us hiked 3 kilometers in light rain to Cabezon nest only to find out that we were lacking the stirrups for the climbing gear. These web straps attach to the left jumar and are absolutely essential to ascend the tree. Because the tree would have to be climbed sometime that day, we left the pack there under a tarp and returned to the lodge.



After breakfast Karina, Ruben and I headed out to climb. Ruben is a guide who is built like an ape (in a good way) and can climb trees like one. As such, he was designated by Karina to be the climber, while she would collect data. I would be the 3rd wheel of the bicycle. I didn’t seem to be able to do anything right, letting the rope flow over in the bag which Karina was filling. She griped about that, and then griped about me resisting the rope’s pull too much. These morning climbs were done in part to show visitors the chicks, who duly impressed their audience with their cuteness.


The Chicks with the Power to Impress

After Ruben had to return to the lodge with his “guidees”, Karina and I did a tree, with me climbing (since her back has been hurting). This tree, like several others in the area, has not only a climbing rope dangling down from it, but also a wire which sends the video signal of the happenings of the interior of the nest down to a monitor. Somehow during my climb, the climbing rope, the cord which installs the rope, and the wire all became tangled with the cord which is used to raise and lower the bucket containing the chicks (so that they can be measured on the ground). After trying in futile to sort out the tangle locally, I ended up having to lift the 100 or so feet of climbing rope (not light) two times through the tangle that was causing the trouble. (This was accomplished only with a stress-relieving scatological accompaniment.) Returning to the ground, Karina complimented me on getting the lines straightened out, but suggested that it was important to stay calm in such situations!

When we returned, Jerome told a great story, true, about seeing a puma during his transect. This was a very unusual sighting with many of the guides not having seen one in many years of leading tourists on night walks around the area. With Karina, Monica, Lupe and myself for an audience, Jerome regaled us with lots of chatter about having missed his chance with the tourist from LA, who ended up going into the bathroom with one of the guides to have some fun. As the graphic stories, regrets and lamentations continued, and I observed gestures and facial expressions on Jerome that I had not observed before. It was only later that I had to be told by Jerome that he had gotten a bit stoned in the morning after his transect.


The Expression on Jerome's Face

In the afternoon, Jerome and I climbed 3 more trees, I two and he one. He filmed the lowered chicks and I filmed him climbing and then descending, headfirst! Pretty impressive: I think I’m in love. I was tired and overheated (from the hike and climbs) on our return and stood under the shower for a long time. Dinner was going to be late because it was New Year’s Eve, so I ate only boiled potatoes and vegetables, skipping the main course of pizza. I ended the day exhausted, feeling used and taken advantage of, all for a completely pathetic and ultimately futile attempt at attracting someone who is totally unavailable and who, by the way, has not led me on. I’m definitely infatuated!