By: Blonde One
As I looked at my shiny new Moroccan map (blogged about recently) I came to the sudden realisation that I might have bitten off more than I can chew with this trip. My initial excitement gave way to terror as I remembered my age and the fact that I am just a normal person, mother, wife, DofE Manager, etc and I am not really cut out for this mountaineering lark! It is a massive understatement to say that I am now a little nervous. How am I going to get up a 4,167 metre mountain in 40° heat with a bunch of fit teenagers? My fear is increased when I remember that the Two Blondes will not be together in this trek. Normally I can rely on Blonde Two to put my over-anxious mind to rest: who will give me a metaphorical kick up the bum on this trip? How will I ever manage to be calm enough to comfort and encourage equally nervous kids? So many questions flying through my head! Oh crikey!
Words like ‘summit’, ‘base camp’ and ‘altitude’ are now haunting me and keep jumping into my mind when I least expect them. Surely a true Blonde would be having thoughts of ‘cocktails’, ‘beaches’ and ‘relaxation’ at this time of year?
I can only hope that in normal Blonde One style I will ‘dig in’ at the right moment and surprise myself as I reach that summit at 4,167 metres!
And when you do it’s amaazing – you can see the Sahara! The worst bit of the whole thing is the ‘toilets’ at the Neltner Hut. Will you start in the dark? That’s quite exciting! And the best bit apart from summitting is an icey cold drink at the big white rock halfway back to Imlil. Envy!
I think you need to remember this is a challenge event, not a holiday!!!!!! I think in the heat you will all have your moments of “I can’t do this” but that is sort of the whole point. I’m sure the highs and lows of the trip will bring you all together with a particular bond that will last forever. And the sense of achievement of reaching the 4167 summit – wow!
At least with our current amazing weather, you should be semi adjusted to the heat – imagine if it was last year going from about 16 degrees to 40. At least this year its 25, 26 degrees!!! You’ll have an amazing time – looking forward to hearing all about it
x
It’ll be OK – you’ll get there the same way as everyone else, by putting one foot in front of another. If you break it down in to familiar chunks, walking from Imlil or Around you’re not doing much more than climbing a Welsh mountain a day (Ok, from sea level…) and the path gradient, at least as far as base camp is not too different from the one that leads up from Burrator Reservoir to Whiteworks for much of it’s length. And if you’ve been up a British mountain recently, especially in winter conditions, the summit day should straightforward.
As for altitude sickness , that’s independent of age and fitness. You’ll just have to be ‘inshallah’ about it, although you can help a bit by eating and drinking properly and walking slowly at the guides’ pace.
It’ll be OK…
I have no doubt that you will achieve the summit! I also have no doubt that it will be a challenge, after all the clue is in the name of the organisation :). I have seen the determination and, dare I say, stubbornness 😮 with which you approach tough challenges and know that you will overcome your doubts and fears. And when the going gets tough, remember that Little Miss Blonde and I are right behind you x
With a back-up team like that how could Blonde One fail!?! You are soooo right about that stuborness though!
Will you two stop calling me stubborn. I am no such thing!
If that is so, why are you stamping your foot as you say that? Determined then, you are determined!