Diary > High altitude attitude

11/06/2009

I think we in the martial arts often take for granted the intangible benefits we get from our training, so often were focussed on the training that its not until we have to help others that we realise how much we have helped ourselves.

Im in lima, Peru at the moment having just completed the Lares Track which is similar to, but much physically harder, than the normal Inca Trail but in doing so had to work as part of a team, to battle the heat, altitude and fear we each faced. We all learned alot about ourselves over those long, hard four days.

There were only four of us and the guide, the other three from Canada and didnt look like they had ever seen a gym or sports shoes and after only a hundred or so feet they realised they were in way over their heads, I didnt know how hard it would be or how my tenacity can work against me as easily as it can work in my favour.

In the van travelling to the track the guide made it quite clear that we would follow his instructions to the letter as we were going to be on our own in the middle of the Andes, a hostile and dangerous environment mostly due to altitude abetween 4 and 5000 meters above sea level and unpredictable weather.

Waking up in the Andes is a special experience, there is nothing around you but snow capped mountains and a sense you are very isolated and alone. But still my companions chose to get up almost an hour later than the guide told us, and at this rate we could be walking in the dark at the end of the day, not something you want to be doing in this neck of the woods.

I had some serious words to the guys but they just told me they thought it was supposed to be a holiday and would treat it as such. By lunchtime they had changed their tunes. We climbed steeply for about six hours and we were all suffering from altitude sickness, I was having to walk with my arms under one of the guys armpits to stop him falling on the rocks and shale upon which we were climbing, the others I had to constantly talk through every few meters.

It was no walk in the park for me either but knowing how to control my breathing with my diaphram coupled with the die hard attitude us martial artists take for granted I was in much better shape. Also through teaching Ive learned how to motivate, when to push and when to sympathise and rest my team, and this was the perfect testing ground. We all made it through the next few days, we all took turns at helping each other, and at one stage through my own stupidity and competitiveness took off too far ahead and got lost.

When you have altitude sickness you dont know whats going on, you go into your own wee world and are sodeeply engrossed in it you lose sight of reality. I couldnt see the others and couldnt see the track then broke the golden rule of always zig zag up the mountain, so you can gain altitude slowly and its easier on your legs. I went straight up and eventually found the guys but I was a mess but too stubborn to admit it, so I kept pushing wanting to be first to the top, and it cost me.

I was first to the top but broke down in tears and just fell apart. Then I felt like I needed to run down the other side to decrease altitude as fast as possible, but it wasnt going to hapen as we were camping at 4300 meters. I was so sick all night, bad head spins and you think youre gonna die and in the morning I could barely walk.

Then it was my turn to be nursed and Im glad i had the others there, its such a scary feeling but feels so good once you do drop lower. the next day we were at sea level and feeling very sleepy from all the oxygen so slept alot.

I learnt alot about myself on that trip, some good and some not so good, how trying to be first isnt always a good idea, to follow those who know better and to know your own limitations. Climbing there is an experience you should all try once in your life but remember... sometimes you get there faster by going slowly.