Deadly Adventures "Sometimes we felt like we were in Jurassic Park because of all the crazy animal sounds." Sophanc<e PalJ Bradshaw Nick Michael 'The scariest part was the screaming monkey noise that was coming from the distance. We never did figure out what was making that noise." Sera Nick Lehrmn Coutesy of Paul Bradshaw 132 people ~ Encounters in the Australian Rainforest The Binna Burra Rainforest in Australia was considered one of the most exhilarating yet dangerous places on the planet. This rainforest had manyof the deadliest plams, animals and insects in the world. On Friday evening Oct. 24, students in tlle Harding University Australia (HUA) program wem on a guided tour of the rainforest. The group saw the rainforest at one of its most dangerous times. The tour guide showed them many things in the rainforest that could very easily have harmed them if they were not careful. The next day, many of the HUA stu,dents decided to continue their exploration and venture into the rainforest without a guide. Two groups quickly formed to tackle two separate trails. One group, junior :tYGchael Williams and sophomores Rebekah Gunter, Meagan Bussard, Leslie Osborne, Becca Jones, Kylie Akins and Chuck Nivens, went on a five-kilometer hike. "\'</e started off on the waterfall hike," Gunter said. "However, with all the imeresting things around, it was easy to get distracted." It turned out there were many distractions along the way. Leeches, nOt mentioned by the tour guide the day before, gave problems to the hikers. Some found them clinging to their clothes and shoes. '''There \vas so much to watch out for;' Gunter added. ''There are trapdoor spiders that are pretty venomous, stinging trees with poisonous leaves and birds that sound like crying babies, and we even ran into an eight-foot python, but no big deal." The second group, junior Russell Woods, senior Nick Lehman and sophomores Rob Drake, Paul Bradshaw and Austin Wade, decided to go on a much longer "man hike" that was 25 kilometers. 'We played witlllots of snakes, like a python," Drake said. 'We also crossed a giant downed tree that was across a creek, so that was cooL" With some of the most interesting animals in the world, the srndents were amazed with aU the sights and sounds of the rainforest. "The scenery was beautiful, and walking through the rainforest was amazing. 1t was so different and gorgeous," Jones said. ''The end of the hike was pretty with the waterfall and everything." The group that went on the longer hike had a similar experience of interesting encounters. "The most intense moment we had was when Paul Bradshaw jumped into a little pool with a three-and-a-half-foot eel in it," Woods said. 'We thought the eel would swim away, but it acrnally chased him. It didn't help that the water was really cold." Time turned out to be a big factor for the two groups. It gOt dark around 5 p.m. in the rainforest, and many were afraid that they would not make it back in time. They did not have flashlights or a guide to help them out this time. ',\Vhen we were going down the trail, we took our rime," Bussard said. "We were afraid it would get dark, and no one could see anything. I don't even know how the guide saw the trail the night before." The students, though exhausted and thirsty by the end of the hike, made ie back before nightfall. ' '1 t was so much fun," Bussard said. ''Besides being able to see all the amazing things Australia had to offer, it allowed us to spend time with one another." Cody Waits & Rachel Klemmer
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==