I slept with Electric Eels
78Alone in Cook Island Jungle Stream
A simple half-of-a-day hike results marooned in jungle stream overnight with electric eels
The Cook Islands
Cook Islands consist of 15 islands in the heart of the South Pacific spread over an area the size of India with a population no bigger than a small country town, 13,200 souls. These unique and friendly Polynesians have their own language and government and enjoy a vigorous and diverse culture with significant differences between each island.
The Cook Islands are a paradise to explore. There is something for everyone. I wanted to explore the lush tropical jungle and climb the tallest mountain called “Te Manga,” which is 653 meters, or at 2,140 ft (658 m) above sea level on the largest Cook island called Rarotonga.
It was a simple, half a day hike
The hike was with clear skies in nice warm tropical weather. I wore tennis shoes, Bermuda shorts and a T-shirt with a “butt-pak” that included my underwater camera and drinking water.
Alone
I began to follow the directions and instructions I had been given. The instructions were to follow a given path, climb the established trail, and hike up and over the tallest peak to the other side of the island. There was a road that circled the island. I could hitch-hike back – all in half of a day!
When I struggled up the trail, I should have realized this was much too difficult for the average hiker. In places, it required grabbing vines and getting down on my hands and knees to get up the very steep trail. Upon reaching the top of the mountain, I immediately was struck by the awesome 360 degree views. After resting and enjoying the spectaculars views, I began to explore the “path/trail” that would take me down and to the other side of the island. There was no path. This was the end. Going back down the steep path/trail was not a pleasant option. It was very steep and difficult trail.
I could see across the valley to another peak that had a radio antenna on the top. I assumed there must be a road to the antenna! Wrong! I plunged down the mountain I was on into the steep jungle, looking up to keep my distance reference with the sun. I could not see the other mountain with the radio antenna; now that I was deep into the jungle, sliding down into a narrow canyon. It felt good. There was no dangerous critters on the island. I felt I was in the movie, “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” It felt good to fall, roll down the lush green, wet jungle.
When I reached the top of the next mountain with the radio antenna, it was very jagged with a knife-edge peak only 3-6 foot wide with very steep sides that descended into the jungle. I located the antenna. There was no road. Now, I am in the middle of a very dense jungle and it is about 2pm in the wintertime with short days. It gets dark around 6pm. Every Boy Scout knows that the first thing to do was to locate a stream and follow it out to the ocean where there would be a road. I had difficulty finding a safe place to begin my descent. It was very wet, muddy, and slippery.
Sliding, grabbing vines and tree limbs I located a small stream. In a short distance, I came up onto a waterfall. No problem, I climbed back up the steep, tropical canyon wall and crawled parallel to the stream and back down to the steam. The stream was very rocky and covered with dense “Donga” (hardwood tree) limbs criss-crossing the stream. It was slow going. I detoured around many waterfalls. It was getting dark. I came to another waterfall detour when I stumbled across a large mudslide that took out a section of the mountain. The mud had nothing to hang onto. I had to cross this barren stretch of steep, muddy, and slippery mud. At the bottom of this canyon, I could see the rocky stream, a long way down…
Tumbling Downhill – Out-of-Control
My worst fears were realized when the root I was hanging on to assist my crawling across, broke! I tumbled head-over-heels, out-of-control. I tried to remain flat to no avail. While I was doing cartwheels, summersaults and rolls gaining speed, I located a small tree between me and the jagged rocks below. I managed to grab with my left hand a “death-defying” grip and hung on just as my body was speeding past it. It jerked the hell out of me. I hurt all over. I heard the rocks hitting the stream below that I had dislodged. I could not see out of my left eye. Yet, I was hanging on with my left hand.
I slowly did an inventory of my body to check what worked and did not work. I was OK, but bloody. With my right hand, I swiped at my left eye to reveal a smooth curtain of varying shades of moving red flowing across my eye. I felt no pain. I did not move. While I was mentally recovering from the “free ride,” I noticed I had knocked the bark off the tree with my eye. I thanked God for my hard head…
Slowly it began to dawn on me, I had a serous “challenge.” How do I manage to cross this very wet, slippery, and steep mountainside with nothing to hang on too? I felt alone… A sense of apprehension tried to ooz down from my brain. I refused to relinquish control to it. I was surprised that when desperation calls for solutions, you create solutions. After carefully digging around the mud, I located either a rock or a root and crawled on my stomach s-l-o-w-l-y across the remaining bare mountainside and back down to the stream.
It was now dark. I stumbled and fell often. The stream took up all of the canyon space. Both sides of both mountains made a sharp “V” and the stream was the only way out. I could hear another waterfall coming up. I proceeded cautiously. Mostly crawling, I explored ahead of me. I swung my legs over the waterfall and listened. I could not see the water, or anything else. It was pitch black. The water sounded like it was about 25-30 down and with the water landing in a pool. It was important to have the water land in a pool. I would be seriously injured if I jumped over the waterfall and landed on jagged rocks. This hike had turned out to be not for the faint-of-heart!
Jumped Over a Waterfall in the Dark
It is difficult to brace for the fall when you cannot see the bottom. Timing is everything. I remember as a child my neighbor and I had taken turns jumping off his house. First, a simple jump. Then I would make more of a challenge by turning a flip the second jump. He would do the same thing. Just like follow-the-leader. Then I put on a blindfold and jumped. No problem. He did the same thing. Now, it was time to turn a flip with the blindfold on. We both successfully did it. It was time to jump over a waterfall in the dark hoping I land in a deep pool of water. I could not go around. It was either set all night in the stream, or jump and hopefully get out of the stream… I landed in a pool of water.
After about an hour of jumping over the waterfall, stumbling with unknown “things” slapping me across my body and stumbling in the dark and crawling forward, I felt a sharp rock just inches from my jaw as I picked myself up out of the water. I knew I would seriously injure myself if I continued in dark. I had to stop. I felt a large flat rock that if I curled up, I could lie on, just out of the stream. It felt good to rest. It had been a long, damn day…
Electric Eel Discharge with a Blue Flash
I took out my underwater camera and took a self-portrait (pictures in storage). I thought I was OK. My pictures indicated otherwise. I was haggard, muddy and bloody. As I rested and reviewed the possibilities, I saw a blue flash next to me in the water! At the same time there was a blue flash in the trees above me. I knew what that was… An Electric eel! I had been crawling around a stream with electric eels. My fate was sealed. I was not getting back into the stream that night. I was concerned about the possibility of rain. Rain would force me off the rock to cling to something to avoid being swept downstream. The blue flashes continued most of the night. When dawn arrived, I was shocked looking at the ruggedness of the jungle and how the stream forced its way through it. It took hours to walk alongside the stream – not in it!
The sound of a chicken crowing never sounded so good. I knew I was nearing “civilization.” Eventually, I located the single road that circled the island. I flatbed truck stopped and the driver stared at me with a blank look. I did not know how scary I looked. I crawled onto the back and hung on as he drove me back to civilization, where there were people…
Two months later some of the same people saw me struggling to walk with a large back pack walking alongside a rode in Fiji after I had failed to sail to Sydney, Australia on a 50’ bamboo raft I had constructed… They were ‘dumbstruck” with the coincidence…
More Life Exploration Where I Did it, Rather Than Wishing I had Done it!
http://hubpages.com/hub/Sacramento-River-July-4th-Weekend-on-a-Raft-To-San-Francisco
http://hubpages.com/hub/Why-the-fall-of-the-Berlin-Wall-had-an-Affect-on-Me
http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-sail-free-from-Fiji-to-Sydney
http://dallas93444.hubpages.com/hub/cabin-cruiser-ocean-odyssey
My other book: www. eyeswideshutanenigma dot com
or enter into Google: Eyes Wide Shut: An enigma
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Earth Angel, Serendipity, sometimes the best path in life. The stream became a challenge! Thanks for sharing.
What an exciting adventure! You’ve made this almost a personal experience for me. Thanks for sharing. PS.: Perfect background for a novel!
MartieCoetser, Thanks for the great compliment! I appreciate it.
Thank you for sharing your adventure. Are these pics you took?
Hi, that sounded like a great adventure, afterwards of course! I read your profile, wow! can I come along next time? lol cheers nell
Ms Chievous These are not my pictures. My pictures are in storage. Mine pictures are in storage. I am toying with the idea of publishing another book about my life's experiences. I have been fortunate to have lived a rich, and exciting fulfilled life.
Nell Rose, Of course, come and join me! Most of us have our "emergency brake" on and limit ourselves with the statement, "I could never do that; or I wish I could do that." Why not? Including myself, most of us limit ourselves. We forget, we are going to die. Done: es todo no mas... There is no "rerun" notwithstanding your articles...!
I felt like I was in an Indiana Jones movie. Fortunately for you mate you had lady luck on your side to prevent the eels from getting you. I have seen what they can do to a human and not a pretty site.
I use to catch eels when I was a boy with my uncles. Night fishing using lamps handing on the side of the boat to attract them to the surface then we would net them. They are actually good tasting pan fried or over the fire.
The adventure of the unknown is an adrenalin rush for people like yourself and I to enjoy trekking into the unknown and the challenges of what's ahead at every turn. Life has to be lived, no sense looking at it through a rear view mirror. Well done, I enjoyed your adventure, you shocked the hell out of me with this read. Peace
saddlerider1, Yep, I appreciate your knowledge about electric eels. They are not a pleasant thing to be with... I would eat them, if given an opportunity. I have ate rattlesnakes and yes, they do "taste like chicken!" It sounds like you had a jolly good time preparing the electric eels. Pan friend over a fire sounds like a great time.
"The adventure of the unknown is an adrenalin rush for people like yourself..." Well, I think I am "normal," yet I do not want to be "normal." Average people do and accomplish "average" things. I strive to be all I can be. I am thankful everyone is not the same as I. We need the diversity. I can tell you I have experienced over achieving. It is as painful as "under-achieving." What, who, are you then? It was a time to look at my navel and access what I really wanted to achieve in life. I was raised very poor. I mistakenly assumed to have more "things" and more money would equate to being happy. I had to learn the painful way. I am a hard-head. Through out the learning process, I learned the obvious... Money cannot buy, or rent happiness.
I was dancing last night at a local resort (Maddonna Inn, San Luis Obispo, Ca) last night and a lady asked me if I ever was not happy. I looked at her with a questioning look and she continued, "...I have never seen you not smiling. Do you ever get mad?" Of course I do, but I have worked at the process of inner serenity.. It works for me. I have paid a high price in terms of relationships, economics, and angst. The results are an inner "knowing" that folks like me are going to die like everyone else and it is up to me to enjoy the process!
"Shocking the hell out of you..." Perhaps I may sound like a "nerd" when I write about science stuff, but I am grounded in my reality of life as it presents itself and enjoying the process...
Amazing hub and story!
PhoenixV, Thanks! Life is a process...
Sweat Jesus .. I think I wet myself.
jim aka tmwnp
TheManWithNoPants,. Amen! Not as exciting as chasing "bad guys..!"
Dallas,
This is an amazing story! What an adventure you had. I still can't believe you jumped down the waterfall! And that moment when you were tumbling down and almost fell into the canyon, I was right there with you. You had entirely too much excitement for a simple half-day hike. I'm glad you made it out alright. You sure do have an adventurous personality!
I can't wait for the continuation.
~AC
AC, Our world as I know requires a diversification of personalities... Thanks for sharing.
I actually sat several inches forward while reading this captivating tale.....
thanks for the telling....
onegoodwoman, can you imagine being there and no one in the world knows where you are and you are alone..?
I hope you publish a book about your adventures. Thanks for sharing this hub.
My father used to hunt for electric eel during my childhood days. We cook it with crushed garlic, onion, black pepper, coconut milk and vinegar here in Philippines.
Rated it up!
travel_man1971, Do they "taste like chicken?"
Hunting electric eels is one thing; discovering you are falling, rolling, climbing into and out of a stream not knowing there are electric eels there is another... It changed my attitude immediately when I discovered, saw the blue flashes, the presence of electric eels...
I can't say anything. I love this hub. You share amazing story about electric eels. Very provoking tittle. Just in my mind, are you kidding me if you slept with electric eels. But good work, my friend. I really enjoy reading this hub. Vote up.
Prasetio
Holy COW this is as if straight out of Indiana Jones. I worked up a sweat just reading, Whew I need to get my heart rate back down... Thrilling!
prasetio30,
Not kidding. My creative abilities are not as good as living my life... See bio http://hubpages.com/profile/dallas93444
Thanks!
Dallas
katiem2, You remind me of when as a Assistant Principal, I had to fill-in for a Kindergarten class. I had no idea what to do, or how to "entertain/teach" precious littles ones... I fell back onto my life's adventures. I began to share with the upturned bright faces that were filled with wonder and innocence. After completing the "Raft Story," one child looked up into my eyes and with a concerned looked asked, "Did you die?" :-)
I have been fortunate in struggling with "over-achievement," financial success, failures both in relationships and finances and realization: Life is what you do while you make plans. It is powerful to live today and plan for tomorrow...
Wow, what an adventure. A half-day hike turned into a scary overnight stay, albeit with electric eels. Must be quite an experience. Rated awesome.
anglnwu, Life is filled with memories. We decide if they are good ones, or .... Thanks!
Suppose there could be worse things to be stuck in a stream with, dallas? Sounds like a very big adventure
CMHypno, I could have been stuck in traffic in New York with a lady giving birth in my back seat..!
Wow, what an adventure! Don't think I could have made it, however, I guess when one is faced with such a situation as this; the survival instincts kick in to help pull you through. Thanks for sharing. :)
Money Glitch, One would be surprised when one must do something and cannot rely on others. You learn to be "self-reliant!"
Great journey... you spark me up to get going with one..
metaphysician, Today is the first day of the rest-of-your-life...
holey moley!!! that's a hair-raising hike to make alone!
Really fun read- thanks!!!
carolina muscle, Yes it was. The half-day hike turned out to be a Not "very smart" thing to do... alone coupled with no one in the world knew where and what I was doing. It was an exercise in utilizing resiliency... and keeping a "cool head."
93444
Crazy amazing, I am someone who loves the WILD, but add electricity!!! WTF, craziness, what a strange and superb creature!!!!
Ben
Ben Zoltak, I have seen displays where lights were powered by electric eels. One was a Christmas tree. I certainly did not want to be "powered" by an electric eel!
Electric eels are not eels. They are fish of the family Gymnotidae. They can produce electric currents. These serpentine fish can produce paralyzing discharges with their powerful electric organs. The powerful electric organs lie on either side of the vertebral column. These electric organs have around 5,000 to 6,000 electroplates which are arranged like cells in a battery. The organ emits 2 kinds of discharges, a high voltage one and a weaker one. The high voltage discharge can go up to around one ampere at 500 volts. It is usually for stunning prey. The weaker discharge is used for direction and as an indicator for locating objects. Electric eels have been known to knock down a horse crossing a stream from 20 feet away not to mention also killing humans. They are also known to still emit discharge eight to nine hours after their death. The shock from an electric eel affects the body by altering physiological functions such as involuntary muscle actions and respiration. Symptoms of being shocked by an electric eel can be respiratory paralysis and cardiac failure. These symptoms may result in death.
Great story. I would like to visit the Cook Islands some day, but without the electric eels. Thanks.
InfoFinder, I enjoyed the Cook Islands because they were "under developed." When I was there, there were no resorts, nothing commercial. I stayed at a hostel. It cost around $5. per night. Things have changed since then. However, it still is a great place to visit and explore... Best to stay on the "beaten, worn paths..."
Great! Voted Up! Reminds of the eels and manta ray I came too close to while scuba diving beyond the reef of the island of Moorea. Close call. Thank you for the additional knowledge, appreciated!
World-Traveler
You could write about about your adventures!
As long as you hang onto the manta by the tail - no problem!
great adventure - and I never knew electric eels were not actually eels until now - fantastic Hub
arthurchappell,
While I was in the stream with the flashing electric eels, it did not matter! I too learned this. Thanks for the comments.
You are fortunate to have survived. What a scary time you had!
Wow. I was on the edge of my seat as i read and I knew exactly how it would turn out. I got to hear it first hand from the hiker just after it happened. I knew that you could write this as a juicy story. The details are so descriptive and riveting. Well done, my dear. Are you working on a book which chronicles your many adventures? It would be a best- seller. Keep on writin!!! xoxo
Donna Jean,
You were the first to hear my experience! Hope all is well!
I am writing books!
You want to read one, let me know and I can email it...
Your life-time friend,
Dallas
I love nature, but I have been in a similar but not as dire situation and it is no fun, especially when your own foolishness gets you in to it. There is no reward for that.
Those eels are very very interesting though, why were there flashes in the trees??? I wonder how badly you would be shocked if you had actually been shocked by one. You try it first and tell me if it hurts ;-)
Definitely interesting hub.
Alexander Markm
I must assume the flashes in the trees were from the eels. There is about 600 volts generated from each flash. As a comparison, our house uses about 120 volts...
I enjoy selecting the path that is less traveled.
Thanks for the comments.
You have had some scary experiences. I have too and can relate somewhat!
anemometers,
Life is like the wind blowing... We cannot stop the wind, but we can harness and benefit from the wind and enjoy what it does. Or, we can be passive and let the wind be in charge and react...
Most of us "risk-takers" calculate the odds and dare to be ourselves.
Thanks for your comments!
WOW...first of all...great story...I envy your adventure but I do not envy the encounter with the eels! That's for sure. I am just in awe over this photo above of the jungle. It's just gorgeous!
theherbivorehippi,
Life is a process!
Fall down seven times, get up eight times: be resilient -I was born with nothing and I still have most of it... yet I was born with everything I need.
...Everybody dies, but not everybody lives.
Life is what you do with the "Dash." The things you do between the date you were born and the "dash" before you die...
I have to admit, none of my adventures are quite that dramatic! KEEP LIVING!
kaydenlee,
Each of us hears our drum. My goal is to be able to "dance" to my "drum" and be able to say, "I did it, rather than wishing I had done it..."
Others may have a drumbeat to invent great things... Perhaps my "discovery" is me: Who/what I am...
Thanks for your comments!
Wow that was quite a ride!!! Thank u for sharing!!!
Carrla Carr-Koonce,
Thanks for your comments!
This is way too adventurous for me! Its the kind of thing you can look back on and think, did I really do that? Sort of reminds me of my single Himalayan trek
cashmere,
Each culture has their "walk-abouts!" I am sure your Himalayan trip was an adventure. Tell me about it!
dallas93444-
Wow, I think the Cook Islands must be about the most remote and beautiful islands in the whole world. You did what I myself have often dreamed of doing, going to these remote and spectacular corners of the earth ,away from the tourist areas and experiencing them as though you were one of the first inhabitants.
You certainly pushed the envelope on this adventure, I'm glad your still in one piece! Seeing and hearing thoughs electric Eels is living the dream, I doubt Harrison Ford has a clue to what you actually experienced. Regards and blessings-WBA
wba108@yahoo.com,
I had gone there during the huge financial recession around 1989 era. I was looking for something like Hawaii was before it was ruined by missionaries and other "do-gooders" who changed their culture. I wanted to experience the South Pacific the way it was 100 years ago...
There was no hotels. No resorts at that time! There was a youth hostel. I stayed there in barracks type housing. I enjoyed the conversations with fellow hostel travelers. They are a hardy bunch!
Thanks for your comments!
Dallas - you've recorded some fantastic adventures here, and in exceptional detail!
I've only seen electric eels in the zoo aquariums. The ones who don't carry charges are creepy enough.
While I was reading the hub, with all the climbing, slipping, crashing, and bleeding, I got worried for you, lol!
Excellent way to relay and I enjoyed it very much!
femmeflashpoint,
I want to die with a worn-out body and be dragged into my grave, kicking and screaming...! I want to be "aware and alert" experiencing each moment...
Fascinating hub! You sure have led an adventurous life. I danced on your buttons!
habee,
I want to be worn-out, dragged kicking & screaming into the grave! Life is what is happening while we make plans...
Thanks for your comments.
Wow thanks for sharing~~~
"Perhaps my "discovery" is me: Who/what I am..."
Dallas my new found friend, I love this quote of yours in one of your replies to the comments.I am sure while you were sliding down a rocky cliff in the dark with flashes of unknown origin in the vicinity. The path of your life must have flashed through your mind. The fear that you would not make it anywhere must have been uppermost, enabling you to react with lightening speed reflexes as you did.Your story is a wonderful example of life emulating literature and imagination. More power to your pen and survival instincts. you have a customer for the book. ?????
Want to be my first one! Stay tuned...
Earth Angel Level 3 Commenter 19 months ago
What an amazing adventure!! Thank you for sharing!! Glad you survived to tell the tale!!
Blessings always, Earth Angel!