Blog-a-thon Day #15

When I reflect upon my hike this weekend, what thoughts and images float to the forefront?

The gradual and magnificent sunrise as we descended the steep South Kaibab trail? The spiritual grandeur of the Grand Canyon with its constantly changing colors and magnificent shapes? The time spent with my husband out in nature and in the moments? The post hike feeling of accomplishment at having hiked 21 miles from the South Rim to the North Rim? Trekking through the canyon within a canyon at the bottom while relishing the flat terrain, and narrow canyon walls? The Colorado River and waterfalls? The perfect weather we had throughout the entire hike (It never got brutally hot, even in the usual hot spots.) The moment that I discovered I had just accidentally chewed an Advil, thinking it was an M and M? But then felt better afterwards? When  nausea subsided and I was actually hungry for the first time? (This was after the Advil.) How little it really takes to be happy (water, a place to pee, food, staying "within yourself" and not over taxing your body, temperatures that are not too extreme and the right clothes for hot and cold)? My husband, my hero and protector, who was there for me every step of the way with strength and creative ideas to help me keep going when things got really tough? The fact that I made it out safely? The ride that was somehow magically waiting at the trailhead to transport us the two miles up to the hotel? The beautiful photographs, our souvenirs, of this trip. Another extraordinary experience to add to that which is life?

When someone asks how was your trip, your Grand Canyon hike, is this what comes to mind? Does this list make it a great trip?

OR

I was not able to go to sleep the night before and got maybe half a good night's sleep. And it wasn't quality sleep. I gagged down a 1/2 peanut butter, honey, banana sandwich and it took hours to digest. I had some level of nausea most of the way down. About 3/4's down, I began to feel a little sick and also like I could lay down and take a nap. I popped some performance beans (jelly bellys with caffeine). By the time, we got to the bottom, I was nauseous and had trouble getting food down, and lacked color in my lips. I was also jittery but I think that was the caffeine beans- I'm sensitive to caffeine. I was scared as we were only 1/3 into the hike. I gagged down some more food and pressed on. I was making sure to drink plenty of water.

The accidental Advil made me feel much better and I suddenly wanted to eat more. Whoo hoo! I need calories. My pace through the flat spot was slower than it "should" have been. We were not making "good" time. What is "good" time???

When we got to the 7 mile chug up to the North Rim, I was actually feeling okay. I had eaten a few times, the nausea had passed, I had a little caffeine, and plugged in my special Grand Canyon playlist saved for this portion of the hike. I felt strong for a few miles. Approximately, two miles before the top, I began to feel sick. Nausea returned, headache, dizziness, the kind of symptoms which make you want to lay down.

It was time to dig deep. My hero, my husband Neil, took some of the effort off and attached my hiking poles to his pack and towed me up the hill. It helped for awhile. After that, he invented a method which would prove to be the thing that got me out of the canyon. He suggested I take ten steps and then stop and take a few deep breaths even if I didn't think I needed to. "Just get to the next switchback and then stop," he told me. Over and over. He was strong and encouraging and I knew I was going to be able to do it. I just had to take a slow but steady pace, BREATHE, take steps to move forward and repeat. This felt like the longest two miles ever. It was cold and dark, but I made it! And we may have broken the record for slowest rim to rim hike at 14.25 hours.

By the time we got to the hotel room, I was  sick and wasn't feeling better with rest. Dizzy, nauseous, pale, faint, cold. We even called a doctor friend. Primary diagnosis: I drank too much water!! About 3x the amount Neil drank plus added electrolyte drinks. I did not take in enough salt and nutrients and threw my body chemistry completely out of wack. Hyponatremia, is the medical term for water intoxication. Fortunately, it was a mild case.  There were other factors too, but it seems this may have been the main one, even from the beginning of the hike.

So what stands out? Which is the memory I want to spotlight? What comes to mind first when someone asks "How was your hike?" Was it bad or good?

For 85% of the hike, I was okay. Not speedy, but okay.  Was my Grand Canyon glass half empty or half full? There's more drama in the second half, isn't there? Isn't that just like life?

Tammy asked if it was worth it. I had to think for a moment but then I said "you get something out of every experience you have in life, so yes, it was." It doesn't mean I have to do it again. But if I do, I will drink in moderation.

Comments (4)

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written by Monica, October 16, 2012

I'm not sure if I remember this statement correctly, but I read somewhere lately that it doesn't matter if the glass is half full or half empty, you should be grateful there's something in the glass.

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