April 17, 2008
At altitude in Argentina
I'm finally back from Argentina and a mountaineering expedition in the Catamaraca district. While Aron and I didn't summit Ojos del Salado, we did manage to achieve my goal of getting above 21,000 feet, and more importantly, have a safe journey.
Its amazing how easy it has been to slip back into my normal life of driving a car, speaking English and sleeping in a bed. While my transition to the 'real world' has been facilitated by a trip to Texas, a spring snow storm and email, I am still trying to process the whole experience. How does climbing, freeze dried dinner, life and happiness fit together?
Of course, looking for meaning can be a dangerous thing. "Be careful to only get from an experience the wisdom that is there," some say.
For 10 days our group struggled with pushing forward and up. Without mule support, we were forced to lay depots ourselves - sometimes getting into camp well after dark. It was tedious, back breaking work hauling our supplies day after day. And to what end? A higher camp than the previous night? Personal satisfaction? Setting and achieving a goal?
Sitting here with the comfort of distance and time, without the constant wind of the Catamaraca and able to breath deep lungfulls of air with relative ease, I am amazed at what we accomplished and what I learned.
That area of the world is so vastly different that where I live. Big wide spaces stretch on forever. For 10 days, we didn't see anyone else. For 10 days, I was amazed and exhausted at the same time. For 10 days, we inched our way up a massive mountain.
The purpose of the trip was to gain valuable mountaineering experience at altitude. Spending a week over 14,000 feet, developing skills to summit Mt. Everest next year - its obvious to see the meaning in that.
Working together, solving problems, negotiating stress, physical strain... These things aren't so straight forward. Someday, I may understand who I am, my place in the world and where I am going. Until then, I will keep my chin up and back pack near.
Its amazing how easy it has been to slip back into my normal life of driving a car, speaking English and sleeping in a bed. While my transition to the 'real world' has been facilitated by a trip to Texas, a spring snow storm and email, I am still trying to process the whole experience. How does climbing, freeze dried dinner, life and happiness fit together?
Of course, looking for meaning can be a dangerous thing. "Be careful to only get from an experience the wisdom that is there," some say.
For 10 days our group struggled with pushing forward and up. Without mule support, we were forced to lay depots ourselves - sometimes getting into camp well after dark. It was tedious, back breaking work hauling our supplies day after day. And to what end? A higher camp than the previous night? Personal satisfaction? Setting and achieving a goal?
Sitting here with the comfort of distance and time, without the constant wind of the Catamaraca and able to breath deep lungfulls of air with relative ease, I am amazed at what we accomplished and what I learned.
That area of the world is so vastly different that where I live. Big wide spaces stretch on forever. For 10 days, we didn't see anyone else. For 10 days, I was amazed and exhausted at the same time. For 10 days, we inched our way up a massive mountain.
The purpose of the trip was to gain valuable mountaineering experience at altitude. Spending a week over 14,000 feet, developing skills to summit Mt. Everest next year - its obvious to see the meaning in that.
Working together, solving problems, negotiating stress, physical strain... These things aren't so straight forward. Someday, I may understand who I am, my place in the world and where I am going. Until then, I will keep my chin up and back pack near.