Here and Now
Athletic endeavours – whether in a competitive setting
or completed as a personal challenge – are often used as metaphors for life. To
strive; to go beyond one’s perceived capabilities; to vie for some kind of victory;
to improve over time through learning, training and hard work; that’s not just
how we win at sports, it’s how most of us choose to live life. For me, no other
sport epitomizes that metaphor better than mountaineering.
Climbing a mountain is magic. It’s purity at its
purest. Clean air, vibrant colours, the whitest white and the bluest blue.
Nature which cannot be tamed, but which accepts, perhaps reluctantly, the
presence of humans. The mountain is in charge, we are but guests on its flanks,
and we had better know how to behave. The scale and grandiosity of our
surroundings are both intimidating and intoxicating, inducing wild adrenaline
surges, and just as powerfully soothing and relaxing.
 |
| Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
Not My First Rodeo
I went to Mount Rainier in 2014, and reached my high
point about 2,000 vertical feet from the summit. I had not prepared well. For
weeks leading up to it, I was in denial, in a weird way, that I had signed up
to climb a difficult mountain. I started feeling unwell with gastro-intestinal
issues at the top of the aptly-named Disappointment Cleaver, and turned around,
mentally unprepared to push through discomfort and fear of the unknown. When I
came home, the first question everyone asked was, “Did you summit?”. Not “how
was your climb?”, not “did you have a good time?”. The only thing that seemed
to matter was whether I had reached the top. I hadn’t, and felt compelled, like
all mountaineers who are inevitably asked the same question, to justify why I
had not summited.
I came back from that first attempt somehow more
determined to go back and try again. It wasn’t something I debated for long, I
knew I had to go back and do it again, with better preparation and a more
determined outlook. The guide who had assisted me down from my high point at
the top of the Cleaver also played a role in this. Peter Ramos and I chatted
for a couple of hours while descending by ourselves, and he did a great job
selling me on the idea that I should go climbing in the Tetons (Wyoming) that
same summer with him. I did just that, in August 2014, and reached the summits
of Middle and South Tetons (most people have only heard of Grand Teton), which
both required a significant physical effort on my part, and an even greater
conquest of my fear of heights and general lack of athleticism for such
endeavours. Bottom line is, I did it. I succeeded. And I started believing that
I should keep climbing mountains, because… it feels amazing. I’m not great at
it, but I love the experience of being in the mountains.
I went back to Mount Rainier last year. I had trained
better, had a much improved mental approach to the climb, and didn’t suffer
from pre-climb jitters since I knew what to expect. I reached the top of
Disappointment Cleaver, was sick to my stomach repeatedly, kept pushing on
despite having no energy, and got within about 1,000 vertical feet of the
summit before, once more, turning around and making my way back down the
mountain, disappointed, angry, and knowing that for the second time, I’d have
to explain why I didn’t make it all the way to the top. The weather was
perfect, the temperature almost too warm, the group strong, the guides
fantastic. So what was wrong with me that I couldn’t reach an altitude (14,410
feet) that I had often exceeded on previous climbs, like Kilimanjaro and
Chachani, both over 19,000 feet high?
The Mountain beckoned again in 2016. There was no
doubt I was going to try once more. I figured with good training, and a better
approach to nutrition, I would once and for all avoid the gastro-intestinal
problems that had plagued me the previous two years. This time, I also requested
that Peter be on the climb as one of the guides for our group. My friendship
with Peter had evolved since we had first met on Rainier in 2014, and I knew
that having him there would be a huge asset. Through the trips we’ve done
together, he’s come to know me very well, and knows what buttons to push to keep
me going forward and upward. I signed up for the June 2016 climb back in August
2015, and it became my main goal for the first half of this year. Another goal
was a difficult and demanding backcountry ski trip with Peter, which was
supposed to take place in February. Peter and I had gone backcountry skiing in Wyoming
last year, and it was another sport I decided to pursue.
“Never Sell the Bear’s Skin Until You’ve Killed the Bear” (French for “Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch”)
I trained pretty diligently on the bike and in the gym
through November, December and January, encouraged and motivated by my cycling
coach Ed Veal, and many friends, starting with Mike Mandel and the Morning
Glory crew at Gears Indoor Cycling Studio here in Toronto. Then, life took a
bit of a turn for the unexpected. At the end of January, I had a very sudden,
and potentially life-changing health issue that threw everything into question.
Fortunately, no underlying issues were found, and I received a 100% clean bill of health. But due
to the nature of what happened, I lost my driver’s license for 6+ months.
I decided to walk everywhere, and to avoid taxis and
transit as much as possible. I knew if I gave in to “oh, I’ll call a cab just
this once”, I would end up doing it all the time. I have wonderful friends who
offered to drive me places, and I took them up on their offers when it made
sense, but I always went grocery shopping and ran errands on foot, with my big
backpack. I walked everywhere in the city, and even got up at 4:30am to walk 30
minutes to Gears, in order to do a 1:30 hour-workout on the bike. I gave in to
temptation a few times and accepted a ride home afterwards. The point is, I
walked, a lot, and most often, I carried a pack weighing anywhere from 15
pounds to 40 pounds. If that’s not a fundamental part of mountain climbing
training, I don’t know what is.
I did lose the flexibility to drive out of town to go
skiing whenever I wanted. I had planned on driving to ski-country north of
Toronto, bringing my ice axe and crampons, and practicing walking with
crampons, self-arrest techniques, and other mountaineering “stuff”, thinking it
would help me build a foundation prior to heading back to Mount Rainier. That
didn’t happen, and that’s unfortunate. More significantly, I had to cancel my
February backcountry ski trip with Peter – it was too soon after the health
issue, and it was recommended that I ease back into things. I was beyond sad
about that, but I turned lemons into lemonade by joining my other good ski
friends on a less demanding but fun ski trip in late March.
Back to Mount Rainier
Peter was confirmed as one of the four guides for our
Mount Rainier climb. That was exciting. While I’ve only known Peter for two
years, experiences on mountains and in the backcountry are intense, and lead to
people getting to know each other well. Peter understood my motivations for going
back, and was eager to get me to the summit of Rainier this time. He has my
trust, and I knew I had the best possible coach and cheerleader in my corner to
help me reach my goal safely.
Our expedition this year was once more composed of
eight clients and four guides (the usual make-up of the 3-day Mount Rainier
Muir Climb with Alpine Ascents International). The eight members of the
expedition all met on the day before the climb for Gear Check, which Peter
conducted. Gear Check consists in a thorough review of every piece of equipment
that each climber will be packing or wearing on the climb. It is a crucial part
of any expedition. Bring too much, and you will be carrying an excessively
heavy pack, putting yourself at risk of accident or injury, not to mention
undue fatigue and an inability to keep pace. Bring the wrong things, or forget
something essential, and you become a liability to yourself and to the group.
Peter ran an efficient Gear Check session, all eight clients packed their bags
with the right stuff, and we all went our separate ways, to rest up before
meeting the next morning for our 6am departure from Seattle.
Peter and lead guide Craig Van Hoy joined us for the
drive to Mount Rainier National Park. As we reached the Paradise parking lot
(5,400 feet), fresh snow dusted the surrounding trees, and the parking lot was
covered in thick slush. What a contrast with last year, when it was summer and
the mountain meadows were exploding with fireworks of wild flowers! This year,
the climb promised to be much colder and snowier.
 |
| Photo credit: Dylan Cembalski/Danny Edmonson |
Our lead guide, Craig, is a renowned and incredibly
well-accomplished mountaineer with climbs of Everest and Kanchengjunga, and countless
other notable ascents. He held, for years, the speed record for Rainier (5hr 22
min from Paradise to the summit back to Paradise – which is crazy fast!). It
would be his 424th climb of Mount Rainier. That’s not a typo. Four hundred and
twenty-four successful climbs of Rainier if he reached the summit with us.
Our other guides were Peter (who is also qualified as
an Expedition Nurse), Dylan Cembalski, and Devin Bishop (who was waiting for us
at Camp Muir). Devin was my lead guide last year, and I looked forward to
seeing him again. I was once more impressed by the quality of the Alpine
Ascents International guides. Highly experienced, focused on safety, and
capable of gauging and dealing with eight strangers who – for the most part –
have never climbed a mountain before. I was, on paper, more experienced than several
in the group. But attempting one mountain climb a year makes me a beginner at
best. Add to that the fact that I failed to reach the summit two years in a
row, and I can honestly claim that I have zero ego when it comes to mountain
climbing. I know nothing and am willing to soak up everything the guides can
teach me.
We started up the Muir Snowfield in fresh snow that
was sometimes ankle-deep. The climb to Camp Muir is a long slog. It takes roughly
5.5 hours of climbing (including a total of about 30-40 minutes of breaks), and
feels like climbing up a long ski slope. A beautiful, never-ending ski slope.
We gained 5,000 vertical feet in those 5.5 hours. We carried packs that weighed
somewhere between 35 to 40 pounds, and this part of the climb gives the guides
an opportunity to gauge who is strong, who is struggling, who can walk
confidently with their packs, who sounds and looks like they will or won’t make
it. As Craig reminded us at the bottom, there was no point worrying about two
things: the weather, since we couldn’t do anything about it; and our fitness,
since it was too late to do anything about it. Training was over. It was time
to show up.
 |
| Marmot!!! Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
The Snowfield was devoid of tourists (unlike last
year), and it felt wilder and more remote than in my previous two experiences.
And I loved it. You have to love the process to enjoy mountain climbing. You
have to find satisfaction in the long slog, the pain of tiring legs, the forced
breathing, the weight of the pack on your back. The guides taught us the rest step
(which I have often practiced, since first learning it many years ago). It
allows the climber to leverage skeletal strength (think “strong femurs”),
instead of relying on fast-tiring muscles (shaky quads and cramping calves
after a while) to balance and support weight. Then it’s all about rhythm, and
efficiency. An efficient rest step is like an efficient pedal stroke and good
cadence for cyclists: it makes the difference between smooth progress, versus
fast-building fatigue from which recovery is difficult.
 |
| Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
 |
| Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
After reuniting with guide Devin, and enjoying his
excellent dinner of chicken burritos (I was familiar with the menu!), we all
settled in for the night, with most of us asleep by 9pm. My own innovation this
year: I wore earplugs and a BreatheRight nose strip, and they served me well. I
enjoyed ten blissful, nearly-uninterrupted hours of comfortable sleep. This was
a first for me.
I woke up rested and happy. The skies were mostly
clear, and the day dawned a bit cold, but beautiful. More food, with scrambled
eggs, bacon, and blueberry pancakes. And heaps of French press coffee.
Five-star gourmet cooking, at 10,000 feet. Way to go, Alpine Ascents!
 |
| Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
Up at High Camp
 |
| Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
 |
| My rope & tent mate, Danny Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
After Devin’s excellent cooking the night and morning
before, it was Peter’s turn to make our late afternoon dinner of chicken and
rice stew. I made a point of eating just enough, but not too much. I felt that eating
too much (you need a lot of calories for a 12-hour climbing day) had
contributed to my issues the previous two years.
We settled into our tent to sleep at 6pm. Craig had
promised to wake us up no earlier than 1am, depending on the weather. Danny and
I chatted for a while. Intense situations, where people feel a degree of
vulnerability, somehow encourage them to share. We eventually quieted down, and
tried to sleep. My heart was hammering a bit: a mild case of nerves… Would I
make it this time, or was I doomed to repeat the same pattern from the last two
years? I wanted to keep believing that this year would be different, but lying
in the tent, at 11,000 feet, with the wind rising and pelting the tent with
blowing snow, my confidence started to ebb. I dreaded wind. Perhaps I’ve read
too many books about mountain climbs where high winds were a factor… I didn’t
mind cold: I could deal with that. But strong wind high up on the mountain were
something I feared.
I started listening to the wind gusts picking up
intensity, and the sound of precipitation hitting the tent, and gradually
convinced myself that the climb would be called off due to the worsening
weather. And I felt relieved. I wouldn’t have to go up, and the fact that I
wouldn’t summit would not, for once, be due to my weakness. The mind is
finicky, and it wants to play dumb tricks like that. Paradoxically, I knew I
was ready to tackle the climb if Craig gave us the go-ahead. Dozing off and
waking up periodically, I didn’t get much sleep, and at 1am, in between wind
gusts, I heard someone talking. Expecting Craig to come around to wake us up, I
was surprised when nothing happened. I concluded that the climb was off, and
promptly fell into a deep sleep.
At 2am, Craig’s voice woke us up, telling us it was
time to go climb a mountain! I’m not sure what emotion won at that moment:
relief that we would climb, or dread
that I would have to go up after all. I struggled to wake up completely, got
dressed in the confines of my sleeping bag, contorted myself to put on my
boots, and finally poked my head out of the tent, expecting vicious weather.
The skies were clear, and the Big Dipper twinkled above the summit of Mount
Rainier. The wind gusts that sounded so fierce from within the tent were fairly
mild after all, and the “precipitation” I had heard against the tent was
nothing but a bit of ground-level blowing snow. We would get to climb. Doubt
left me, and only the joy and excitement of the challenge ahead were allowed
in.
After breakfast (I stuck to an all-liquid breakfast of
warm energy drink to load up on calories without filling my stomach), we
hurried to finish getting ready, putting on crampons, and verifying our
harnesses were correctly buckled. We tied into our rope, with me directly
behind Peter this time, and Danny bringing up the rear. We would have three
ropes of three — 3 guides each leading a rope, with 2 clients each. Devin,
Susan and Charlie were staying at High Camp; mountaineering is a series of
tough decisions, and Susan and Charlie decided they preferred to stay at High
Camp. They had everyone’s respect for making that difficult call.
Disappointment Cleaver
I knew the half-hour walk to the base of
Disappointment Cleaver would not be physically demanding, though it required
concentration as we walked beneath a menacing ice fall on our left, and above wide
crevasses on our right. Yes, this is the real deal big-mountain stuff you see
in movies.
 |
| Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
We were walking eastbound (roughly), and before we
reached the base of the Cleaver, the sky was beginning to take on orange and
pink hues, producing a spectacular display of alpenglow on the glaciers of
Mount Rainier. No time to stop and smell the proverbial flowers, or take many
pictures, but time enough to take a deep breath, feel grounded, offer a namaste to the Universe, and revel in
being in the here and the now.
 |
| Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
The Cleaver, this year, was mostly covered in snow,
which made the climb in crampons much easier than it was a year ago on dry
rocks. In fact, except for two or three irregular steps that challenged my
short legs, the ascent of the Cleaver went better than in the previous two
years, and I arrived at the break feeling strong and confident. That is, if I
chose to ignore the beginnings of rumblings in my gut…
I followed the typical break routine: take off your
pack and set it down, put on a “big puffy” (warmest down jacket), get water and
food out, sit on your pack, eat and drink. Breaks are usually between 5-10
minutes every 1-1:15 hours. Efficiency is key to maximize rest and recovery in
such a short time. My hands got cold as soon as I took off my mitts and my
dexterity was not the best. Peter immediately stepped up to help make sure I
was ok. I was – but felt a little less than 100%… I swallowed a few gulps of my
energy drink – which, predictably, had turned fairly thick in the cold. It went
down, but, I knew I was starting down the path of previous years, with stomach
and gut growing unsettled. Damn…
 |
| Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
Above the Cleaver
Break over, we got going again. The temperature had
dropped quickly as we gained altitude, and we kept our big puffy jackets on.
That is unusual: rarely do climbers on Rainier need to keep their big puffy on
while walking uphill. The heat generated by the exertion is usually sufficient
to rewarm the body. But it was cold! With windchill, it was somewhere between -15C
and -20C. My legs were fine, covered only by merino wool long underwear and
hiking pants, but my core needed 3 layers plus the big puffy to stay warm,
without even breaking a sweat. It felt like a cold ski day back home. I
realized that the wind was not as bad as I had feared, and I was relieved to
note that.
Less than 5 minutes after we started walking, I yelled
to Peter to “hold up!”. He turned, said, “what’s up?”, as I bent over, tried to
catch my breath, before retching the little bit of fuel I had ingested during
break. I heard Peter say, “oh no, Helen… not again…”. I was pissed off: not
again, indeed… What was it about Rainier and reaching the top of the Cleaver
that seemed to always make me sick? I changed my nutrition, I was in better
shape, so… I guess I have to acknowledge that altitude does affect me.
With no time to acclimatize for a 3-day climb on
Rainier, we count on our bodies not “noticing” we are submitting them to a
dramatic and sudden altitude gain, since we go up and down so quickly. Perhaps
my body just doesn’t appreciate that. But thinking about it made no difference,
I was still throwing up. I did feel better immediately afterward, and found I had
no reason to stop or turn around. But I knew from experience that not being
able to keep food down would eventually leave me depleted and lacking the
energy to keep going, unless I did something differently this year. I
determined that at the next break, I would force food down, or… do something
else…
Holy Crap
If you’re squeamish and/or don’t like coarse language,
you might want to skip this section. I’m about to share too much information.
I’ve thought about not sharing this part, but if it can help any reader prepare
for a climb, or better yet, make you laugh along the way, well… why not?
By the time I reached the second break, I puked again.
There wasn’t much to bring up, fortunately, so it wasn’t that exhausting an
ordeal. I knew I would be sick again, and would keep being sick, unless I did
one other thing: take care of #2. Now, try to picture the scene. Nine climbers
perched on the side of a steep snowy slope, tied together in groups of three,
each person sitting on their pack, all within an area about the size of a small
living room. It’s windy, blustery, -15C or so, and I tell Peter, “I have to use
a blue bag.”
Oh, yeah… I forgot to mention that on Mount Rainier,
you can’t just take a dump on the snow and leave it there, or bury it. You have
to do it in a bag designed for that purpose, and carry it with you afterwards
(you get rid of it at Camp Muir on the way down). The bags are blue, hence
“using a blue bag” is the polite euphemism for taking a shit. Peter had
half-expected it (we had discussed this scenario before – like I said, we know
each other pretty well by now), and his response was something along the line
of, “well then, get it done”. Roped up, with a harness around my waist and leg
loops around my thighs, wrapped in a puffy down jacket covering three more
layers, and on the bottom, pants, long johns and underwear, just “getting
ready” is a significant challenge. Add to that: cold stiff fingers struggling
to unbutton pants, eight other people in very close proximity doing their best
to ignore me, and being perched on a narrow snow platform that Peter had kicked
flat for me, and you’ll start to understand what a complex production this was.
Peter provided a shield to hide me from all my new best friends (we were way
beyond just “teammates” at this point), and I took care of business. I will
leave additional details out, but you get the picture. I will add that in the
entirety of the climb, this is the only time where I thought, however briefly,
“What the fuck am I doing here?!?”. The thought made me chuckle, and I knew
things would be all right if I found it within me to laugh at the situation.
This break took a bit longer than it should have, but
– predictably – I felt exponentially better after. The other two ropes, led by
Craig and Dylan, had started up already, and Peter, Danny and I needed to
hustle. The wind was picking up a bit, blowing more snow and dropping the
temperature further. Peter looked me in the eye, must have seen I was feeling
better, and said, “All right. To the fucking summit!”. I echoed him, with my
own “To the fucking summit!!!”. Off we went, upward and onward. Danny, a
physician by profession, took all this in stride (thank you, Danny, you have my
undying gratitude…), and the three of us tackled the last hour of the climb.
That’s when I knew, for a fact, that I would make the summit.
An Anti-Climactic Climax
During that last hour of climbing straight up, the
blue skies disappeared completely, replaced by blowing snow, and eventually
snow falling sideways, pushed by a constant wind. Visibility was reduced
greatly. I heard Peter say, “Helen, we’re here, this is the summit!”. I looked
up, saw my friends on the other two ropes to my left as they were waiting to
high-five us, and I was almost stunned to realize that we were, indeed, at the
crater! Mount Rainier being a volcano, the whole crater rim represents the
summit. There were some big rocks visible, marking the change in terrain from
the upward slope to where the crater began. Other than those rocks, there was
no visible cues that we had reached the top.
We were in a white-out, and there were no views from
the summit. But we had reached it. I felt elated, and relieved – finally, I had
done it. Danny, Peter and I hugged and congratulated each other. We took three
quick selfies, with Peter’s beard completely covered in icicles being the best
witness to the deteriorating weather conditions.
 |
| Photo credit: Danny Edmonson |
Here and Now
Peter got a call on the radio from Craig, urging us to
start down right away, with no delay. The weather was getting worse, conditions
were serious, and our safety was dependent on us being all together. Nine
climbers are safer than six and three climbing separately. Turning around and
starting down without even stopping for a sip of water or bite of food, we knew
this was no time for distraction, and we needed to make up about 5 minutes, the
approximate distance between us and our friends. “Descending rapidly”, on a
rope, in crampons, under pressure, is easier said than done. The more you
hurry, the more likely you are to trip, catch a crampon on a gaiter or pant-leg,
step on the rope, drop your ice axe, or do myriad things that beginner climbers
are likely to do when the pressure is cranked up. Add to that the fact that
climbers, after summiting, often let their guard down during the descent, due
to fatigue and depletion, and the risk is great of making a mistake. We were
walking in “pea soup” – very low visibility, with little ability to discern
more than the tracks in front of us and the little red flags on wands bordering
the trail at intervals, through our foggy sunglasses. Peter took the lead. Normally
he would have let Danny descend first, so that Peter could be our anchor
uphill, at the back, but due to the limited visibility and Danny’s and my
inexperience navigating safely under these conditions, it was safer for Peter
to be on the front. That meant that Danny and I could not afford to slow down,
stumble, and especially, fall. We did not.
I adopted a mantra on the way down, to prevent myself
from getting distracted, or “hypnotized” by the whiteness all around me: “Here
and Now”. Right here, right now, is what counts. Yes, we summited, but it
doesn’t count if we don’t make it back to the parking lot at the bottom safely.
So – right here, right now, is all that matters. This step. The next step. And
the next. Nothing else. Lift foot, put foot down safely, quickly, repeat with
other foot. Watch the rope, don’t trip. Plant ice axe. Maintain balance. No
hesitation allowed. Efficient. Solid. HERE. NOW. Total mindfulness.
 |
| Photo credit: Devin Bishop |
We reached the top of the Cleaver again, and took a
very quick standing break. Just time enough for a sip of water and a quick bite
(pretty much my only calories since throwing up during the ascent) before
continuing down. We were confident, not worried and not scared, but keenly
aware that we still had important work to do to get down safely. There was no
time for jokes or levity or chit chat. Our guides were checking that we felt
ok, were not cold or otherwise impeded from making a safe and speedy descent.
We started down again, through the increasingly snowy
Cleaver. Despite the definite challenge and danger posed by the weather and
fast-accumulating snow, I found the descent of the Cleaver easier this year, compared
to descending on dry rocks last year. Perhaps growing up as a Canadian kid
playing in the snow finally started to pay off.
As we safely reached the bottom of the Cleaver and
started the traverse (westbound this time) with the jumbled ice fall on our
right and the gaping maw of the crevasse on our left, we couldn’t see any of
that scenery. We just knew that we were in a danger zone, where stopping was
not an option, in case a serac (gigantic block of ice) in the ice fall
collapsed. Peter was right on the tail of the last climber from the previous
rope when, all of a sudden, we heard the unmistakable sound of “something
coming down” – avalanche, or serac collapse – on our right. With the snow
falling and the wind, it was difficult to determine how far this was, and
visibility was too low to see anything. We all froze. I dropped to my knees,
expecting Peter to tell us to go into self-arrest mode (no idea why I thought
that…), but instead, after a few seconds, Peter yelled “move fast!!!” and
picked up the pace very quickly. At 11,500 feet, moving fast is relative. I got
to my feet, and rushed forward, not even noticing whether Danny was tugging on
the rope behind me or not. I took about five quick steps (there was no real running
in crampons, carrying a 20-pound bag, at 11,500 feet…), and then the noise died
down, and… nothing happened, other than my heart rate spiking violently.
Apparently, a serac had collapsed on itself, with no consequence. Phew. This
all happened much more quickly than it took me to write the above or for you to
read it, and so it probably comes across as much more dramatic than it was.
Hum. No, not really. It felt pretty dramatic in the moment.
Back to High Camp and On To Camp
Muir
I was familiar enough with the route that despite the
lack of visibility, I had a decent sense of our approach to High Camp. We
turned left towards camp, and all of a sudden, there were a dozen more people
walking on the Flats. They looked like apparitions coming out of nowhere and moving
slowly and randomly through the blizzard. I didn’t know who they were and where
they had come from (descended from above, or climbing up from below?). I
realized they were also descending, ahead of us, and must have been the
climbers from another expedition (they were). They had gotten disoriented
looking for the trail in the very poor visibility. Unlike us, they were not
stopping at High Camp, and were headed down to Camp Muir, another hour away.
Our guide Dylan helped them find their way, while directing our group to our
tents.
Normally, arriving back at High Camp during the
descent offers a brief occasion to celebrate summit success, take a quick
break, down some beverages and food, before repacking all remaining gear
(sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and extra stuff left behind during the push to
the summit). Then, after everyone’s had a half-hour, 45 minute-break or so,
everyone goes back down to Camp Muir together, still roped up.
This time, there was no time to celebrate, or even
take a break. Danny and I jumped in our tent, struggling with a jumble of packs
and boots and sleeping bags and sleeping pads, which resulted in bulky,
poorly-packed bags; trying to swallow a bit of water and food; and hoping to
rest for a few minutes, while our guides were pressing us to hurry, since
weather conditions were still worsening. Peter even had to hurry down leading
another rope, and Craig, Danny and I were the last ones to leave High Camp. I
silently said good-bye to this beautiful place, even though on this trip, we
hadn’t been blessed with all the magnificent views it had to offer. I don’t
know if I’ll make my way back up to High Camp in the future, but it will always
remain special to me. I wish my teammates this year could have had the kind of
experience I had there in the past two years. There’s reason enough to climb
Rainier again, if only to experience High Camp in completely different
conditions.
Upon leaving High Camp, Craig, who has been on Rainier
well over 500 times and summited 424 times, needed a few minutes to find the
little red-flagged wands by the side of the trail in the white-out. I knew,
roped up behind him, that he wasn’t turning left and then right just for the
fun of it. I also knew he would quickly and safely find the trail, which, of
course, he did. I can’t emphasize enough how phenomenally capable and competent
our guides all were. Safety – ours, and their own – comes first, well above any
summit ambitions. Craig is a consummate professional, a calm leader, and I
thoroughly enjoyed his presence and leadership on this trip. We had a chance to
share stories about our respective trips to Bolivia and Cuba, and it was
fascinating to hear him describe his experiences climbing all over the world.
So, I’m glad I got to share a rope with Craig Van Hoy, however briefly. It was
an honour.
Safely arrived at Muir, where it was still snowing,
but much warmer, I was busy changing out of my big puffy into a lighter jacket,
when I heard Devin come out of the WeatherPORT dining tent, asking “where’s
Helen?”. I turned, said, I’m here. He walked straight over to me and gave me a big
hug! Devin was the leader on our expedition last year, and he remembered my
efforts to keep going even after getting sick multiple times. He had given me
huge respect for that, and was genuinely pleased to know I had finally summited.
I was really happy to have that moment with him. Guides take great pleasure in
seeing their clients succeed – whether success is a summit, or the joy of
having climbed higher than ever before – and to have them share that joy with
us is part of what I love about expeditions and climbing.
Inside the WeatherPORT, where I had time to drink and
eat a little, I finally gave Peter the huge hug he deserved for helping me get
to the top and back down safely. I know he is very happy for me. And he’s no
doubt happy he won’t have to go back to help me try that one again.
The Slog Down
Unroped, unharnessed and uncramponed, we shouldered
our heavier packs and started the downhill slog through heavy and slippery
ankle-deep snow on the Muir Snowfield. In the past two years, I’ve usually come
down that part fairly quickly, at the front of the group, having had a couple
hours’ rest at High Camp while the rest of my teammates were still busy
reaching the summit. Well, this time, I’d had no rest, and had consumed minimal
calories in the last 10 hours, and quickly got dropped by the group. Devin and
Craig were the “sweeps” at the back, so there was no risk of being alone or
getting lost, but every time I caught up to the group, I got distanced again.
My feet were wet and sore and starting to blister, and my legs were getting
tired, there was no denying it. It was uneventful, but it was long.
I tried to enjoy every step, and remind myself that I
should cherish these last few steps on Mount Rainier. But basically, I just
wanted to be at the bottom. I eventually saw the parking lot, and the Alpine
Ascents van and trailer, and just about everyone else. Relieved to finally be
able to stop walking after 30,000 steps in twelve hours, I got to clean up a
bit and change into clean clothes, before sitting down in the van, heading to
dinner. The climb was done, it was successful, everyone was safely down and had
enjoyed themselves, and six of eight clients had summited. We had earned the
right to say we had climbed in “challenging conditions” (some might want to say
“epic” – oh hell, why not?), and the face-splitting grins all around spoke
volumes.
“It’s All Over But the Crying…”
You and eleven of your closest dearest newest bestest
friends go mountain climbing for three short days in epic conditions (yes, I
said it, epic), and it’s impossible for intense bonds not to form. We all
developed deep respect for one another. All other clients who summited were
there for the first time, and didn’t have much, if any, mountain climbing
experience. Immense kudos to them all for reaching the summit, in style, on
their first try, in these conditions. Two clients who made a wise, educated,
and mature decision to stay at High Camp, equally deserve kudos for having the
courage and wisdom to make that call. Coincidentally, they are amongst the most
experienced in the group – no doubt they had a good measure of their
capabilities at that point. And I… well, I was the one who finally summited
after two failed attempts; the one who persevered through feeling sick and
having to shit in a bag on the side of a snowy blowy mountain, the one who
needed the most help from her guide. But I made it.
The Thank-Yous
At the risk of sounding like a boring Oscar winner
with a boring speech, I will still endeavour to thank and acknowledge many
people who played a part in this.
Peter – we met on Rainier two years ago, he’s seen me
at my weakest and most vulnerable, and also at my most daring and determined.
He has encouraged me and pushed me (and pulled me) on Rainer, and in the
Tetons, on rock and on skis. There is more to these outdoor adventures for me
than simply showing up for a few days a year and having fun. I didn’t grow up
doing these sports. Every moment on a mountain is a new challenge for me, and
goodness knows it has taken me well into my advanced age to find in me the
belief and confidence to do it. Quite often, that belief is voiced by Peter
before I can recognize it in myself. He has helped me, and continues to help
me, discover abilities and an amount of “daring” that I didn’t suspect I had.
And, in addition to all that, I have a ton of fun on these trips with him. We
will be planning more trips together. And if you’re looking for a great guide
to take you rock or mountain climbing, skiing, and generally “adventuring”,
I’ll gladly put you in touch with Peter.
Danny – my rope mate and tent mate. We met during Gear
Check the day before the climb, and then spent two of the next three days tied
by a rope, and sharing very limited confined space. A gentle soul, and a very
caring and generous person. It was an honour and a joy to share this experience
with him. Oh, and he’s also a heck of a great photographer who made magic with
an iPhone.
Craig, Devin and Dylan – on my three trips to Rainier,
I have been impressed with the team of guides from Alpine Ascents
International. Every single time. And yet, this time, there seemed to be extra
magic in the air (ok, maybe because I finally summited…). But this team of four
guides (Craig, Devin, Dylan and Peter) had fun working together, were relaxed
and made us feel relaxed, inspired calm confidence with all the clients. Their
professionalism under the more difficult weather conditions was exemplary, and
their ability to bring out the best in every one of us clients, when we could
have so easily faltered, is to be commanded.
Chris, Charlie, Andrew, Pamela and Andy, Susan – you
guys rock! I so enjoyed getting to know you all. And what a delight to see so
many of you reach the summit, and enjoy the climb and expedition experience.
I’m so glad I got to climb with you and I genuinely hope to have the pleasure
again in the future.
And the support crew…
Mom & Dad didn’t try to talk me out of going on
this climb, even after “the January event”. I’m grateful for that, and thankful
for their genuine pride and overwhelming love, as they sent their
congratulations as soon as I told them we had made it to the top. I’m sorry to
scare you by going on adventures like that, but I appreciate that you worried
silently this time :) You love me beyond description, and I too in return.
Thank you for all the opportunities you have given me, and for the love of
travel you instilled in me way back when. It has defined me more than anything
else.
My friend Pearl. She is My Person. ‘Nuf said.
Ed, who has been coaching me on the bike for a while
now. I’m not as consistent and diligent as I should be with training, and we
both know that. But Ed’s “in my head” a lot, pushing me and urging me on, and I
heard his voice on the mountain too. In his own life, he doesn’t give up, and
he has accomplished many things that others would have denied him. I’ve learned
from him that I should believe I can, that nothing will stop me if decide I
want it badly enough. He lives like that, and yes, it’s inspiring, and I’ve
drawn a lot from that over the last three years, more than I can express.
Mike, a close friend who is always there for me and
provided lots of support, especially this past winter. Mike was there, along
with Scott, Ron, Joao, Michael and others, at the time of “the January event”.
Mike’s willingness to immediately care and help, and his continued
encouragement and friendship have made him one of my dearest friends.
So many other friends - Dan and Paddie, Michael and
Janel, Maggie, who just before the climb got to wish me good luck live and in
person, after not seeing them for so long! They were instrumental to me falling
in love with mountains. Karen, who loves to discuss and analyze process with
me, and who will no doubt be happy (?) to explore the whole thing in more detail
with me. Josée, who has an ability to remind me that it’s ok to keep pushing
the boundaries. Jeff, who drove me many places this winter, and always made
sure I had everything I needed – most importantly, a ski trip to go on even
when I had to cancel the other trip.
…And everyone else who provided encouragement in
person, by text, via Facebook….
I make all this sound as if I’d just climbed Everest
or conquered a new continent or won an Oscar. Of course not. Thousands of
people summit Mount Rainier every year. And all of you reading this have a long
list of accomplishments equally worthy of kudos, and thank-yous to people who
helped you along the way. But Here and Now, I wanted to express my gratitude to
all of you who have played a role in getting me to this point in my life, where
I conquered not a mountain, but my self-doubts, my fears, my laziness. The
mountain is just a metaphor. Upward and onward, and back down safely – it’s the
only way to go, and I couldn’t do it without you. Thank you.
I’ll leave you with this quote that Craig Van Hoy read
us over dinner, after our climb. It says it best.
