The Mysterious Majestic Everest

After long travels and lots of experiences, we rolled up to the mother of all mountains. There she was in all of her glory. She stood erect and tall covered in snow. Her summit is the roof of the world. The day was as clear as it could be so we could see her in all her glory. We gazed up at her summit and shivered at the height of her. As we rolled up to our hotel, a tent, my heart started beating faster and my head started aching a bit. Yes, we were definitely higher than before. We took some nourishment for our bodies before we began the hike to the base camp. We hadn’t eaten all day and it was already 2 or so. I thought it would be a good idea for me to eat and eat and eat to prepare for the strenuous hike. So we took off for the base camp with full bellies, water in hand, and eager spirits. The path wound up and up. Rocks were scattered everywhere and mountains surrounded us. Water flowed angrily through the mountains. We walked, and walked, and walked. Eventually, we rested a bit. I was lagging a little. We began again and we rested some more. Overall, it didn’t take that long to get to base camp, and I did much better than I thought I would. At this height you can breathe only half as much oxygen as normal so even the simple tasks are more difficult. I climbed to the lookout point and gazed at Everest. The prayer flags flapped in the violent wind. The mountain stood and I gazed. Yes, she looked big, but she didn’t seem that large. I still felt so far away from her, but I wasn’t permitted to go any closer so I just stood there in wonder.

After snapping several pictures we descended, but our guide decided that we should take a shortcut. The shortcut was over rocks and over more rocks. We jumped from boulder to boulder from rock to rock from stone to stone. We cut our way down the mountain. I’m concentrating on each step and each breath. I’m breathing slowly and deliberately to make sure enough oxygen enters my body. It is a chore, but the shortcut is adventuresome and fun. We finally see our tent from a distance, and by this time I’m dragging my weary body into the tent. I collapse upon my bed and start stripping down to my first layer. My head starts thumping and my body just aches. Yes, I made it to base camp, and I made it back to our tent, but the altitude is really starting to take an effect. I can’t even move without feeling like my head will explode. I can’t function. My stomach begins to feel awful. I get so nauseated. Brett and Brooke are both feeling bad as well. Their heads won’t stop pounding, pounding, and pounding. We are all like zombies. It is 6 o’clock, but we can’t even begin to think about getting up out of bed. Then the techno music starts pounding. It intensifies our already massive headaches. I reach for my ipod and try to escape the techno and the awful feeling in my belly. I drift in and out of sleep trying to find comfort. I shift lazily from one side to another, but with each movement my head hurts worse. I cannot sleep on my belly because the oxygen level is so low. I need to maximize the flow of oxygen to my lungs. I concentrate on breathing and on living. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to make it through the night. I had visions of a brain aneurism. Is this what it feels like to have one? I also have visions of having a stroke. I think maybe they will find me comatose next morning. My imagination runs wild. Am I going to be able to get enough air? I’m already taking in half as much oxygen as normal, and there is the stove heating the tent that is polluting the air. On top of that the guides and locals are smoking in our tent. My allergies and sinuses are reacting. I don’t know if I’m going to make it. Finally, my nauseated stomach relieves itself from its pain when I puke into a plastic bag by my bed. I double over and retch into the bag. I almost instantly feel better. Now at least I only have one or two ailments. Maybe, just maybe I will get through this. I count the hours and the Ibuprofen I have taken and decide I can risk taking another two. I pop two pills in my mouth and hope that I will soon escape in the sweet embrace of sleep. Slowly it comes. My body gives into the weariness I feel, and I no longer have to concentrate on breathing and staying alive. I find peace in the rest.

Hours and hours later I wake up to find my body healed. I feel like a brand new woman. I made it through the night. I survived even if I had doubted before. I thank God for keeping me safe and giving me life. Then I think let’s get out of here! I feel so much better, but as I walk out the tent to find a rock to relieve my bladder the short walk makes me short of breath and my body becomes tired. I gaze at Everest in her glory, and I think she is very beautiful, but I have seen enough of her, and I’m ready to get down! I do not think I will ever really realize how high Everest is. The summit is over 8,000 meters! It is not uncommon for planes to fly at this altitude. This thought is almost inconceivable to me. Even base camp is extremely high. It is over 17,000 feet. Brett when he went skydiving jumped from 10,000 feet. This helped me put it into perspective of how high we really were.