We are sitting in a tent with snow and rain pouring down around us. It is our 5th day into the trek and I am feeling really homesick and not really enjoying it very much at the moment. It is so much harder that I thought t would be, this is no stroll through the mountains. 4500m high and you can hardly breathe, I get exhausted just walking a few metres!!!
The first mountain after we left our first camp was quite large and it was hard but I managed it!. It was very steep and very rocky but I felt great once I had reached the top. It was a sence of achievement and I felt proud that I had done it. However this was not the end, once you reach the pass after hours of walking up up up, you go down down down and walk for another few hours around winding tracks threading through mountains into camp. That wasnt so hard, but it is a long day of about 6hrs of walking. I enjoyed this day and saw some fantastic views and our camp was beside a spectacular lake. I crashed into bed straight away though. It was a long day for my first day! I pretty much woke up had dinner (which is amazing by the way) and went back to bed. The night was horrible though, it was so cold that I hardly slept well at all.
Our 2nd day was quite easy as I rode the horse (I named him Blanco, because I couldnt remember his name) most of the way. I loved the riding, and really got to enjoy the scenery as I wasnt exhausted and not looking where every footstep is going! This so far has been my favorite day. Lissy (who was riding the other horse) and I arrived at camp with the donkeys (burrows) in this gorgeous little village (well not really a village more like a few houses) beside a gorgeous laguna. We got there early so walked down to the lakes edge where these 4 little kids were playing, they were having so much fun. I watched, took photos and eventually joined in their little game of jumping across to a tiny island then jumping back! I was the catcher, catching and dragging the little ones before they were covered in mud and freezing water. They were so cute. When the others arrived at camp we gave the children paints and a ball which they loved. They got so excited over such small things to us, it was amazing to watch. I know kids today that would cry if they didn{t get the latest playstation game!!! They lived in such drab conditions, it was so touching and heartening to see them so happy and excited. We also gave them butterfly tattoos which added o their excitement.
That night was another cold night for me and I got really homesick. I was so exhausted and was scared about the next day whcih was going to be a hard climb, I became negative about going and made myself stress even more.
The next day we were up early and I had such a negative attitude about the day ahead. I kept thinking that I wouldn{t make it and I was really upset, I just wanted to be home. Im not sure when but at some stageduring the daymy attitude changed and when it came to the really tough incline I had the mantra just keep going, just keep going, I found a rhythm, focused on my breathing, and even though every step hurt and was an effort, I put one foot in front of the other and finally made it to the top of the pass, 4800m. I was so overwhelmed and proud of myself for not giving up and excited that I had actually achieved it and not given in to the excuses running through my head!
I learnt that this really is a head game and one that I am really going to have to acknowledge, I have so much to learn about myself, that I am capable of alot more than I believe I am. I dont think that I am going to be extremely changed when I get back but I think that I am going to be more aware of myself. I think that already I am aware of when my attitude changes, or when I am making excuses. Anyway I had made the summit but still had another few hours of walking to go. It was so exhausting and something that I didnt think my body could handle, but it can, and it has so far. When we finally made camp after 8.5 hours I was definately ready to sleep!
Another cold night and we set off to where I am now. The walk was a long gradual incline. I set off with the right attitude and was in a great mood once I reached the pass, then jumped on one of the horses for the trip down. I dont get on the horses because I cant be bothered, I get on them because I love riding them, and I really enjoyed the ride, I felt I had control and felt really comfortable. At one stage it became really steep and I didnt trust myself on the horse so jumped off and walked the rest of the way. After jumping off the horse my knees were sore and I just felt my heart wasnt in it anymore. I wasnt enjoying myself and my whole body felt so exhausted I was over being here and just didnt want to climb anymore. As you can see I change all the time. When we got to camp there were natural hot springs and it felt very nice to have a hot bath and wash my hair for once.
We are having a rest day tomorrow which I am looking very forward to. I am really going to access why I am here tomorrow.