While the original structures were burnt to the ground there are markers throughout the area such as the one below.
Although we were not "slated" to see gorillas that day, Francois and one of the soldiers heard and then spotted a mom, infant and a silverback. My birthday wish came true and I looked into the mom's eyes and communicated on a spiritual level with this magnificent creature.
I'm including this last photo which was taken by Peggy on our way back down to give you an idea of the terrain. She, along with her porter, were way down the path as Francois and my porter kindly fell back and let me go at my own pace.........slow!!! Although it was easier than going up the mountain you had to always be looking at your feet to try and put them where the guide had just walked.
A post script to this day: It only took a mere 2 1/2 hours to get back down. I'm sure that was a very long day for Francois compared to his usual treks. I envisioned that he had to be on bedrest when he got home for his back to recover from helping me. When we were almost at the bottom (you actually end up in terraced fields) he probably felt I'd never make it all the way down so he called Paul on his cell phone (which works, by the way, in the jungle) and Paul brought the vehicle up into the fields to get us. I'm sure those poor folks working in the fields had never seen such a sight. It was a birthday I'll never forget!!!
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