The Biggest Mountain I’ve climbed
I recently climbed Mt. Chachani a volcano 6070 meters in elevation located in the southern region of Peru. To give you an idea how high that is people usually start becoming affected from the altitude around 2500 meters and the tallest peak of the North American rocky mountains is only 4400 meters. This is by far the highest elevation I have ever hiked but not the most significant summit or the biggest mountain.
The journey started with 7 of us hiking an initial four hours into base camp at around 5000 meters with all our camping/hiking gear. We quickly set up camp had dinner and tried to get some sleep as the next day would be long and intensive. Sleeping in such high altitude proved difficult as the blood in ones system tends to flow away from central organs towards the outer extremities including the brain. This elevated the blood pressure in my head and gave me a ringing headache. I didn’t learn the trick of sufficiently elevating my head to relieve this symptom until about half an hour before we had to get up thus resulting in only 30 minutes of sleep. At 2 AM we started our 8-10 hour journey to summit with 1 kilometre of vertical assent.
The stars and moon guided us the first 500 meters of draining high elevation hiking. The temperature of -10 celsius didn’t let up until we felt the first rays of sun break over the mountain and gently crash across our faces. The light and warmth greatly boosted our exhausted morale and yet we still had the hardest, steepest and highest half to go.
When committing to this challenge I made a non negotiable to myself, I would reach the summit no matter how I felt, quitting wasn’t an option. This was a personal, internal journey for me more so than a physical one. I chose to climb this mountain to break past my limitations, let go of weakness and prove to myself what I am capable of. Ultimately I wanted to materialize undeniable proof I could climb the greatest mountains within myself and rise above them.
each step we took was challenging at that elevation and yet all we could focus on was one step at a time. Each time I thought about slowing down or felt doubt creep in about making it to the top I immediately course corrected. I took a few deep breaths, resharpened my determination and remembered the commitment I made to myself, I would make it to the top no matter what. This brought me into the trance like zone of focus that would bring me to new heights, one step at a time.
eventually I looked up through the haze of high elevation and there it was, the summit. only about half an hour left. I kept thinking to myself just stay locked in, determination building. With one step at a time we made it to the summit.
I felt stone walls crumbling down within me like a great castle collapsing to rubble. The self doubt, the lack of confidence, the failure, the weakness all crumbling away. The things holding me back from my own greatness diminishing. For I had proven to myself I can do great things.
I remember the days I was too depressed to get out of bed, too anxious to eat, too stressed to leave the house having no idea how I was ever going to survive. Now here I am literally climbing mountains. I think back to that frightened young teenager and show him around the summit. The only thing I could repeatedly say is “you did it kid”.
With tears flowing now, I felt deeply proud of myself and prideful for being who I am. An experience I will never forget. I plan on committing myself to many more experiences like this one because it shows how far someone can come when they truly love themselves and go all in on changing their lives, capturing their dreams and ultimately actualizing the greatness we all have within. From the deepest valleys to the highest peaks.
with love,
Kristian McCannell
RISE TO UNITE
