Plateauing

Well, Mohammad has returned from the mountain.  Alive and in one piece, albeit pieces which made me highly aware of just home many pieces I have and how capable they are of screaming out in complete defiance to the paces through which I forced them.  Phew!  But we were gloriously triumphant.  13 hours of hiking, trekking, bending the knees at every conceivable angle, scrambling, jumping and leaping, trudging, climbing, reaching, balancing, thinking, concentrating, focusing, mind-gaming, burning, shaking and an entire host of other action verbs I'll leave to the imagination.  YOU give it a go and fill in the remaining '-ing' blanks.

 Much easier to ham it up secure in the knowledge that the mountain is BEHIND us and dinner is ahead . . . 

Reading a website, however thorough, simply could not adequately prepare me for what we faced yesterday.  My previous hiking experience entailed three or four hour outings which were safe, with a definite ending that didn't leave me guessing and not a challenge to my fitness, which is above average, that is to say good but not great, and certainly not world class.  (There were several runners of the lean and muscular variety who hopped rock to rock as if channeling the spirit of a nimble mountain goat; feats of jaw-dropping prowess to those of us slowly and carefully making our way cautiously and methodically.)

Whoops!  There's that fatigue poking through . . . 

Unaccustomed as I was to the altitude -- pretty darned flat where I live and walk -- my entire first third of the trip was spent focusing on my breathing.  Right out of the gate, in the cool pre-dawn hours we spent meandering through the forest, I feared my premature failure.  Within the first 50 yards, my lungs felt ready to burst.  Puzzlement led to disappointment which surrendered to a lightbulb moment when me and my sister realized my chest strap was too tight.  The air practically rushed to fill every oxygen-starved nook and cranny!  Still, each inhale and exhale was executed with attention to detail as I adjusted to the backpack and pace of the Colorado-dwellers with me.  Especially with two ex-Marines and a trim 26 year-old blond-haired blue-eyed veterinary student setting the pace.

WHY did I sign on for this . . . this . . . torture?

(Could be the views.   Just check out what's going on behind me!)

My little sister runs several miles most days and hikes very often in terrain which offers a variety of geographic and physical challenges.  But her sleep cycle has been off for awhile, as was mine, and I believe that factor sapped her of a higher level of endurance.  Her body told her just 1/2 mile from the summit that she'd better turn around if she had hopes of returning to the trail head of her own volition.  It just so happens that the final 1/2 mile is THE most difficult and dangerous section of the entire shebang.    With each passing section, moving from one 'bullseye' painted rock to the next, the elevation increased noticeably.  The knees strained; the breathing required catching.  We'd conquered almost 3/4 of the part of the hike referred to as The Trough.  Beyond that was The Narrows -- considered the queasy part for many, what with wall-hugging to the left and a dizzying long way down on the right.  And last, but certainly not easy, the summit climb: consisting of a nearly vertical ascent of hand-over-hand and foot-into-nook journey for the ultimate view and bragging rights.  Followed by a reverse repeat of the entire first 6 1/2 hours of the day!  Starting with a controlled slide down that summit climb.  Two in our party made it to the top: a 6' 5'' ex-Marine who wanted to turn around several times AND his determined young girlfriend who said she shook with fear while awaiting her turn on The Narrows.  Me and my sister turned back just short of the mark with her ex-Marine fiance as our escort.  Bummed as I was, I knew the folly in going at it alone, climbers are repeatedly warned via signs and website and pamphlet to avoid 'summit fever' at the cost of safety, not to mention the many cautionary tales about being stuck on the business side of the mountain if the distant clouds decided to rain down on us.  There was still plenty of which to be proud and self-assured.

And this mountain was mine to climb with my sister.

I'll leave you there for tonight.  I'm falling asleep.  This was started a few days ago.  Evidently, I'm progressing bullseye-to-bullseye with this blog subject much like we did on the mountainside.  Slow and steady and forward motion.

Whatever the reason, I'm thrilled with the accomplishment.
REALLY, I AM!

Fourteener

In less than 24 hours, my knees and I will be ascending Long's Peak with my little sister, her fiance, his Marine buddy and Marine buddy's girlfriend.  Yes, that's 3AM in Colorado.  Evidently, one must arrive at the peak before the afternoon in order to make it down in time.  The time I'm recalling in the informational recap rolling around inside my head encompasses a "cool, scary and monumental" adventure of roughly 16 hours.  I told my sister I'll focus on the cool and monumental part . . . but I'll be prepared for scary.  I think.

Now, my involvement in said outdoor trek came about two night ago when my sister called to say she had found an affordable airline ticket and wondered if I might want to join her little high altitude party on Saturday.  For me, who likes to plan and has plans stacked up into next year on her TO DO list of hobbies, chores and volunteering, THAT is pretty last minute.  But when how often does such an opportunity come round?  Especially pre-paid?!  A quick conference with the hubby left me with clearance for takeoff! (Though he made it abundantly clear just how much he detests caring for the animals . . . I think Hank is who he actually means . . . and Hank does require more attention than any pet we've previously owned, I must say.)

So, you'd think that boulder fields, and steep rocky paths, and a little thing that one climber called "the narrows" in the photo expose of HIS climb ( click here for pics: some other guy's adventure ) would rank as my main concern this morning.  Bu-u-u-t, NO.  In no specific order, perhaps even sharing pole position, my biggest challenges of the moment are packing and heartburn.

The heartburn comes courtesy of an all-day bake-and-cook fest for my only son's 17th birthday dinner party.  Lack of sleep, excitement and nervousness about the impromptu trip and hormones had me eating sugar from sun-up to sundown with a protein in between.  Not much in the way of fruits or veggies or whole grain. I did add flax seed to my cake and milk for lunch -- I believe flax can go anywhere -- and the addition of home-fried bacon bits in my Kentucky Delight ice cream proved to be a phenomenal combo!  I kid you not.  Would THIS face lie?

Or THIS face?

I did not, nor will I ever, prevaricate to garner sympathy and attention from my readers.

 No deception here.

 Surely THIS morning-hair is incapable of spreading untruth?

I paid the extra $20 to have the privilege -- because that's what the airlines make it seem like now -- of having a piece of luggage come along with me to Colorado.  And my borrowed internal-skeleton backpack from my daughter's boyfriend will be the most important item in that bag.  Followed by clothes for layering to meet any foreseeable weather conditions, including 45 degree temps as we draw near the summit, rain, sun, etc.  My living will (though it wasn't on the list).  Camera and lenses.  Carbo-rich food for energy.  Water.  Dry socks.  My iPhone.  Toilet paper and plastic bags for packing out.  A Swiss knife or comparable.  Maybe a small notebook and pen. Mini self-activating ice packs for my knees, which will be ensconced in flexible cloth braces.  And whatever else I'm instructed to include. This is my first true hike-climb of a "fourteener!"  I expect it to whup my hiney and plant itself firmly in my memory banks.  Wheee!

Below I've pasted a more-than-decent explanation of the whole fourteener thing.  I've always heard about them but never really expected to be a part of the movement.  This may be addicting and become a bucket list item.  As you scroll down, you'll see where the effects of altitude sickness are listed.  Yeah-h-h . . . I'm going in hydrated and staying that way.  As for the admonition at the very bottom of the write-up, no one has to tell me twice to avoid loose rock debris covering a slope!

So as I leave you dear readers to your day and go about the business of raiding my closet and dresser, please . . . say a little prayer for me and my climbing partners as we head out to tackle one of the less-than-easy mountains on the fourteener list.  Thanks.

FOURTEENERS

***Colorado has 54 mountain peaks exceeding 14,000 feet (known as "fourteeners" or "14ers" by locally) — the most of any state. Outdoor enthusiasts of all skill levels will find peaks ranging from easy to very difficult, with hiking trails for exploring the state's scenery, wildlife and rugged beauty.

Some of the Colorado's best-known fourteeners include the tallest, Mount Elbert (14,433 feet); Pikes Peak (14,110), which inspired the poem "America the Beautiful"; and Longs Peak (14,255), which resides inside Rocky Mountain National Park.

The reward for reaching the summit of one of these giants? Some of the most breathtaking views you'll find anywhere on the planet. But it's important to know a few things before you head out to these massive Colorado fourteeners.

BE AWARE OF THE EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE

While climbing up a fourteener can lead you to breathtaking views, the thinner air can lead to altitude sickness. Altitude sickness is brought on by a lack of oxygen to your body and a failure to acclimate to air that has less oxygen. It can be caused by going too high, too fast.

The problem is, everyone's body has a different rate of acclimating, so it's important to be aware of any changes you feel. The most widely felt symptom is a headache, but other symptoms include shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, marked fatigue and weakness. If you experience any of these, just follow the simple guidelines below and let others know you're not feeling 100 percent. Symptoms often improve once your body adapts to the higher elevation, but you need to be patient — and most importantly, keep hydrated and take it easy.

• Drink plenty of water; replenishing fluids helps to stabilize your body.

• Take it easy; don’t over-exert yourself.

• Experts recommend eating a high carbohydrate diet while at altitude.

• Keep alcohol intake and smoking to a minimum.

• Remember that altitude sickness can affect anybody, even top-flight athletes.

• Most importantly: if you're not feeling well, let someone know.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Colorado has the great fortune of having these 54 majestic fourteeners right in our backyard. But every year, an increasing number of hikers and climbers attempt to ascend one of these peaks, impacting the alpine environment. It is up to those who love these mountains to minimize damage to their fragile ecosystems. The Leave No Trace (LNT) program is dedicated to building awareness, appreciation, and most of all, respect for our public recreation places. It is not based on rules and regulations as much as attitude and awareness.

Please be sure to follow the Leave No Trace principles so that future generations can continue to enjoy Colorado's breathtaking mountains:

• Rest on rock, not on vegetation.

• Leave what you find, including flowers and berries.

• Pack out all food; don't throw it on the ground.

• Conduct bathroom stops at least 200 feet from bodies of water.

• Pack out toilet paper in plastic bags.

• Stay on designated trails and don't cut across switchbacks.

• Walk through puddles on the trail, not around them, to avoid creating wider or multiple trails.

• Spread out when walking in areas where there is no trail.

• Avoid loose rock debris covering a slope; use the most stable route.

For more information on the fourteeners in Colorado, including a complete list, visit the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative.