Page 9 - 2003 AMA Summer

and the cost of living (once in country) is relatively cheap. For me the lack of hassle / JSATFA more than made up for the addi­ tional expense.
The food would knock most vindaloos into second place, and the beer isn’t bad either: 5 brands of lager or Guiness Foreign Extra Stout. The tej (mead), however, is not for the faint-hearted or weak-livered. It was an amazing experi­ ence, wonderful trekking and an excellent way to spend some leave.
Notes for those tempted to try:
Books and mapping: The most up-to-date guide-book is Bradt: Jan 2002, but they seem to have missed out updating the bit on the Simiens! Simien Mountains map from the Map Shop: Tel 01684 593 146 or themapshop@btinternet.com The 1:2,000,000 of Ethiopia from Standfords, National Map centre etc (NB Inda Selassie stage between Axum and Debark is known locally as Shire.) Lonely Planet do an Engllsh-Amharic phrasebook: but you’re on your own for their reply! Of dubious relevance, but I found someone who spoke Arabic everywhere! If you are inter­ ested in a bit of “kultsha”, try Stuart Munro-Hay’s “Ethiopia an Unknown Land”
London: IB Taurus 2002.
Flights:Try Trailfinders, or www.opodo.com for a ticket: a BA subsidiary called British Mediterranean flies to Addis via Alex (although they lost my bergan for five days!) If you don’t book your internal flights in advance (highly recommended to do so) the Hilton Hotel has an Ethiopian Airlines bureau with influence!
Food: Basic food is available in Debark, but at a premium. Buy staples in Addis / Axum / Gonder. If you hanker after any exotics (Marmite!) bring it with you from UK. Likewise, if you’ve got the space, some tins of (UK) tuna / corned dog etc won’t go amiss. There’s a bakery on the main square for bread, and the market 50yds up the Park road will sell you sugar, salt, fresh fruit & vegetables, rice, paraffin, honey, tea / coffee etc. Take a couple of ? pound bags of green coffee beans into the mountains (it’s manners to offer some if you are entertained in a home.)
Water: You will have reasonable access to water (as does everyone else, but not sewers...) I used a Millbank bag and iodine (if you rely on boiling, remember you're at some altitude.) Bottled water is available in most towns, so is beer!
Medical: I took a full trauma and primary health care into the hills Ethiopia has AIDS in plenty: take plenty of canulae. You will be pestered for medicines (the nearest chemist is a week’s walk away!) If you are prepared to take the risk of litigation, recommend aspirin, ‘brufen, and tubes of cream for conjunctivitis. I never worked out what the Amharic for Diamox was, but everyone had half an aspirin with breakfast, just in case.
On top of Mt Ras Dasher.
Kit: You can hire most things in Debark, at a price, but some is fairly ropey. Cutting wood is in the park forbidden, so take a stove. Ras Dashen is more of a plod than a technical hill: BCH / trail boots would suffice (your “guard" will wear flip flops!) Amazingly, GPS caused no ripples (and solves Lat and Long problems without resorting to a chart table and rolling rule!) Take waterproofs & a tent during the rainy seasons- 8 0 % of the Blue Nile falls on the Ethiopian Highlands! I did without a sleeping bag: a roll mat and waterproofs sufficed. Binos are useful to see the endemic and elusive fauna.
Orientation & convoy: When you get to Debark, you will be dumped in the N-S town square, with the route to the Mountains off to the east. You need to travel south ? mile past the Simien Park Hotel (ask for Rm 11: it has its own shower and loo @ Br60/p/n. The hotel also has left luggage lockers) then round several bends take an unsigned cobbled drive diagonally up to the right / west to the Park Office (Tel: 251 08 11 34 82.) There you must purchase tickets to the park, prices as in Bradt.
The compulsory “guard” is a stealthy injection of cash into the local economy: they are senior members of the community whose presence is your laissez-passez-
they may also invite you to coffee in their home. Hire a mule: you'll enjoy the trip far more! They can carry up to 75kgs of kit. Buy / bring 3 2m ropes for baggage straps, and some plastic sheeting for waterproof­ ing. The muleteer can “guard” the camp on your summit day. I recommend you hire a (Park Office) “guide”: they were trained by the Austrian V S O , and can explain customs etc for you, and point out the various fauna and flora. If he is a chap called Da’oud, it is the Thick (not “Tick”) Billed Raven, and the Augur (not “Ochre”) Buzzard! Take some food for them, as they will give you the big brown eye treatment otherwise, and tip them a day’s pay at the end.
Various: The road goes past Chenek to Buwhait, and a 4x4 pick up can be arranged at a cost (if you’ve lost 5 days thanks to BA loosing your bag...) The park huts on the trek in have been re-built and are available for accommodation, at a price. Remember that you are in the Developing World, cast off your inhibitions, smile and haggle! The bridge is a mile south / down stream of the direct Chiro- Leba to Ambikwa route, near Mender Selam.
If anyone has more queries. I’ll be delighted to answer them. Good Luck!!
Campsite before/after ‘Summit Day'. Church in background, shrouded body to right is “Guard"
( ftBMY MOUNTAINEER 7