The Mountain
(Late-posting a brief memoir of the Mt. Whitney hike from Sep 2016)
X: I don't know if I should write anything about the trip this time. Everyone has already written everything there was to write.
Y: Yes, a few folks have used your style, you need to write something different.
Different... It was different for sure. It was different, difficult, distinguished, demanding, delightful, delusive, dependable, dark, defiant, deep, daunting, dauntless (yes, it was both). Anything but dull.
A daunting plan
.. "Wake up at 12am and go up the highest peak in continental United States as a day hike". My reaction: "Are you freaking kidding me??" True story.
A difficult prep
.. My standard words almost every weekend in the last two months: "Kunal, what time is your practice/show? We HAVE to do a practice hike today" closely followed by "We need to confirm our accommodations in Lone Pine this weekend" and "When do we get those energy gels, protein bars, and chews for the group?".
A delightful reunion
.. Made a much needed dent in the beer stocked in our fridge. And replaced the cobwebs in my heart and mind with lots of fun (pun?) and laughter.
A deep breath
.. that I needed to take on that first look of the peak from the hostel corridor on that super windy morning.
A dark path
.. that we shivered on at 4am, walking away from what felt like death by cold. No kidding, the water in our hydration pack pipes froze, gels turned into ice candy and a simple banana tasted like a split sundae without the extra sugar.
A distinguished palette
.. with hues of blue, orange and pink. Watching the dawn break faintly on peachy mountain tops reflected in Mirror Lake was a spiritual experience.
A demanding pace
.. with switchbacks threatening to kill it every 5 minutes as fatigue started looming over.
A dependable hope
.. asking me to go on when the body started giving in to the exhuastion of the mind.
A defiant shout
.. out to Kunal, not seeing him anywhere, but knowing he will answer if I call him. Yes, it sounds stupid, and overly dramatic. And yes, he heard me in the middle of nowhere.
A delusive walk
.. back to Trail Crest from the top where all rocks in the path started looking blurry. Unfortunately timed stomach cramps and altitude nausea work in wonderous ways, making rocks dance around like creatures from Fraggle Rock
A dauntless return
.. as the trail went on endlessly, with the dazzling night sky looking like a million high resolution TV screens pinned together to provide an integrated multi media experience.
It may have felt like some kind of diabolical torture had I not been surrounded by people whom I consider closer than many people I share my genes with. The "You got it" secret call, the methane blasts, the suspiciously squeaky bunk beds, the two critical Bs (beer and biryani), the crazy look-in-the-distance shots made it the amazing adventure it was.
And now that all the excitement has been lived to the fullest, "Dull" is what I am left with..
.. Till the next time that is :)
Y: Yes, a few folks have used your style, you need to write something different.
Different... It was different for sure. It was different, difficult, distinguished, demanding, delightful, delusive, dependable, dark, defiant, deep, daunting, dauntless (yes, it was both). Anything but dull.
A daunting plan
.. "Wake up at 12am and go up the highest peak in continental United States as a day hike". My reaction: "Are you freaking kidding me??" True story.
A difficult prep
.. My standard words almost every weekend in the last two months: "Kunal, what time is your practice/show? We HAVE to do a practice hike today" closely followed by "We need to confirm our accommodations in Lone Pine this weekend" and "When do we get those energy gels, protein bars, and chews for the group?".
A delightful reunion
.. Made a much needed dent in the beer stocked in our fridge. And replaced the cobwebs in my heart and mind with lots of fun (pun?) and laughter.
A deep breath
.. that I needed to take on that first look of the peak from the hostel corridor on that super windy morning.
A dark path
.. that we shivered on at 4am, walking away from what felt like death by cold. No kidding, the water in our hydration pack pipes froze, gels turned into ice candy and a simple banana tasted like a split sundae without the extra sugar.
A distinguished palette
.. with hues of blue, orange and pink. Watching the dawn break faintly on peachy mountain tops reflected in Mirror Lake was a spiritual experience.
A demanding pace
.. with switchbacks threatening to kill it every 5 minutes as fatigue started looming over.
A dependable hope
.. asking me to go on when the body started giving in to the exhuastion of the mind.
A defiant shout
.. out to Kunal, not seeing him anywhere, but knowing he will answer if I call him. Yes, it sounds stupid, and overly dramatic. And yes, he heard me in the middle of nowhere.
A delusive walk
.. back to Trail Crest from the top where all rocks in the path started looking blurry. Unfortunately timed stomach cramps and altitude nausea work in wonderous ways, making rocks dance around like creatures from Fraggle Rock
A dauntless return
.. as the trail went on endlessly, with the dazzling night sky looking like a million high resolution TV screens pinned together to provide an integrated multi media experience.
It may have felt like some kind of diabolical torture had I not been surrounded by people whom I consider closer than many people I share my genes with. The "You got it" secret call, the methane blasts, the suspiciously squeaky bunk beds, the two critical Bs (beer and biryani), the crazy look-in-the-distance shots made it the amazing adventure it was.
And now that all the excitement has been lived to the fullest, "Dull" is what I am left with..
.. Till the next time that is :)
posted by Priyanka M at 11:07 AM
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