Okay, let’s talk about this high altitude thing I tried recently. Wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting into, but you know, you gotta try stuff.
Getting Started
So, the whole idea started kinda randomly. Saw some pictures, looked amazing, thought, “Yeah, I could do that.” Didn’t really think much about the “high altitude” part initially, just the view, you know? First thing I did was some basic searching online, just reading what other folks went through. Lots of advice, some good, some maybe overkill.
Decided I needed to get some gear sorted. Didn’t want to buy everything, ’cause who knows if I’d do it again. Borrowed a good jacket from a friend. Dug out my old hiking boots, hoped they’d hold up. The main things I focused on getting were:
- Decent base layers – heard layering was key.
- Good socks – learned that lesson the hard way before.
- A reliable water bottle or system – hydration seemed super important based on what everyone said.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses – apparently the sun is no joke up there.
Preparation wasn’t just gear, though. I tried to do a bit more walking than usual in the weeks leading up. Nothing crazy, just tried to get my legs moving a bit more consistently. Read somewhere to go slow, like really slow, once you’re actually up high. That stuck in my head.
The Actual Trip
Travelled out to the area. Took a couple of days just to get there. The plan was to spend a night or two at a lower altitude first, just to kinda ease into it. Honestly, didn’t feel much different at first, maybe just a bit out of breath walking up stairs.
Then we started the actual climb, or trek, whatever you want to call it. The first day was okay. Took it super slow, like ridiculously slow. Felt kinda silly stopping so often, but remembered what I read. Drank loads of water, probably annoyed everyone with how often I needed to pee.
Day two was when it started hitting me. Woke up with a bit of a headache. Nothing major, but noticeable. Everything just felt harder. Putting one foot in front of the other took real effort. Breathing was definitely faster, even just sitting around. That whole “thin air” thing? Yeah, it’s real.
We kept going up. Scenery was wild, gotta admit. Totally different from down below. But man, it was work. Saw some other people going way faster, others looking worse than me. It’s a mixed bag up there.
Had moments where I thought, “Why am I doing this?” Especially when it got cold. The wind cuts right through you. But then you’d get a view, or just the weird satisfaction of pushing through it. It’s a strange feeling.
Reaching the Point
We didn’t go for some crazy summit, just a high pass that was our goal. Getting there felt like a massive achievement, even though it probably wasn’t that high by serious mountaineer standards. Just standing there, knowing how much effort it took, was pretty cool. The headache was still there, kinda dull, but the view kinda made up for it.
Took some pictures, had a snack. Didn’t stay too long ’cause it was freezing and honestly, you just don’t feel 100% up there. Your body knows it’s not supposed to be there.
Heading Down and Final Thoughts
Going down was faster, obviously, but still tiring. Knees started complaining. Took a couple of days to get all the way back down to where we started properly.
The weirdest part? As soon as we got lower, like noticeably lower, the headache just vanished. Poof. Gone. Felt like myself again almost instantly. It really showed how much that altitude affects you.
So, yeah, that was my little experiment with high altitude. It was tough, definitely pushed me. Glad I did it? Yeah, I think so. The experience was unique. Would I rush back to do it again tomorrow? Probably not. Need to recover first! But it showed me what’s involved. It’s not just a walk in the park; you gotta respect the altitude. Go slow, drink water, listen to your body. Simple stuff, but easy to forget when you’re focused on the goal.