8.1.08

Trek feedbacks

Decided to start a new post. Don't want to litter my Berke entry with this unhappy episode that I'm going to post.

Got varying feedbacks from the participants from the 2 Berkelah trip that we organized this semester break. Whilst most participants gave positive feedback regarding the trek, some express concern regarding the safety and difficulty of the trek. ( I share the same sentiments with them because due to the rain, the difficulty of Berkelah this time round has unexpectedly increase a few levels but then again, while the trek is now more challenging I must emphasizes that in no way safety was compromised.)

At this point though I must express my unhappiness and disappointment with some participants. I happen to chance upon the blog of this particular participant and I was totally disgusted by how HE condemn the trek.

I quote: " one word to describe the trek: treacherous..... waiting for an accident to happen"
He future went on to rant about how he feel there is a need for guide up the trek and comment that why are comm members leading the trek base on memory and why there are so many stoppages along the trek. He even doubt the capability of the comm members to lead the trek. FYI, he is not first time trekker and had went to Ophir previously with Rovers. *Fuming*

If you are reading this. Wake up your idea! You want something safe? Stay home and watch TV or go shopping with your girlfriend in town. All treks carries a certain level of risk and its about taking calculated risk, helping each other over come the challenges and conquering your fears and pushing yourself that makes trekking so fulfilling. A guide is totally uncalled for at Berkelah as it is a simple and define route which follows the path of the river. Yes, we lead by memory and sometimes we take wrong turns here and there but I feel thats its understandable. Weather and forces of nature sometimes makes it hard to recognize certain terrain and furthermore we are students just like you and are not full time trek guides that makes a living out of leading treks. Yes, some parts of the trek are indeed treacherous but did we ever ask our participants to try out the route without first putting ourselves at risk? We at all times ensured that all routes taken are walk-able and even extend a helping hand to participants knowing that if they fall we might fall with them. And the numerous stoppages? Trekking is a group activities and we only go as fast as our slowest participant. This is the basic spirit behind trekking: teamwork and mutual encouragement. If you don't share our empathy for that, I think you don't even deserve to be call a trekker.

Condemn me for this post. Condemn me for my seemingly disregard for safety and blah blah. I can't be bothered. You won't get it. It an Outdoor thing. Ha! =)


SJ blogged at 16:43 0 comments

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