Training and other Updates – 28 Days Later …

28 days to go before the BigE expedition starts with the multiple plane flights.  This may not be the most exciting post I’ve done – but it’s better than writing about “28 Days Later‘ – the 2002 movie by Danny Boyle about a mysterious, incurable virus that spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary four weeks after.

Here’s where things are at:

Training status – mostly on track.  Working to stay injury free.  Mostly all focused on the legs and lower body now – running, biking, stairmaster.  Fighting a nagging muscle pull in the left shoulder and just letting mother nature take her time in healing.  Almost two weeks of traveling made it difficult to keep up a complete rhythm, but with no travel planned – I should be able to get to where I want to be.

Gear list – good.  Have a huge pile of stuff in the living room.  Need to consolidate into two giant North Face bags plus the larger backpack – each will weigh about 50lbs.  At this point I probably have about 90% of what I need but keep double and triple checking the list to make sure.  I’m also working to break in some trail boots for the hike/climb in that are a bit still so far.  And we still have lots of questions on some items like, “how much TP should we bring and do we buy it in Kathmandu and if so, what will it be like?”

Logistics - getting there.  There are so many big and little things to get in order before being gone from your life for ten weeks.  I finally got Travelguard travel insurance which provides for everything from trip cancellation to evacuation to additional medical coverage.  Also need to insure that bills are paid and auto-payments set up, someone to watch the place, start the car etc.

Technology - on track.  Did you ever get asked at the airport if you’re carrying any electronics and you go through the list of stuff?  For me it’s always, “well, I have …”  I always feel the need for redundancy and fall-back systems.  The short list for BigE now includes two high-tech altitude watches, two high MP weather-proof still and HD video cameras, a Kindle, S9 Panasonic Toughbook, 2 iPods, 1 iPhone, a solar charger etc.  Plus the assorted array of chargers, extra battery packs, SD cards, etc.  (Why can’t call chargers and storage cards be the same type?!) Still to get is the Thuraya SatPhone and laptop connect card.

I get asked a lot now if I’m excited.  After coming off the long trip and a super-busy week at work, my answer was more of anxiousness than excitement.  But now, after getting a number of things crossed off the proverbial list, I can’t wait for the adventure to start – bring it on!

I think every climb or marathon goes through a certain cadence from deciding you want to do it, to checking dates, aligning flights – and then all of the preparation of training and getting to the mountain or the start line.  And then, and here are when the goose-bumps start – you take that first step on the trail with your pack on – or the gun goes off.  And you’re off.

And with about 6 miles or 10km to go and your body says, “what the hell are we doing!” – and you say, “come on, just a little more!” – nothing else matters in the moment.  And when you put your spikes on for the in-darkness summit attempt and all you hear are your own and fellow climbers footfalls crunch in the snow – my favorite moment – you’re just focused on one step at a time.

The difference comes when you cross the finish line and raise your arms in cheer, someone puts a medal around your neck, removes the timing chip, and all that is left to do is get some warm clothes and soup, and you’re done.

When we reach the summit of Everest and we’re standing on top of the world, that feeling of immense satisfaction will last for about 20-30 minutes before the hardest part comes.  Getting down to the high camps and base camps. Safely, when all of your energy is drained.  But then — after we get to 17,000′ and everything gets packed up and showers taken — all that is left is descending on a well trodden trail and being back in the literal and proverbial arms of family, friends and colleagues.

At that point nothing else will matter but being back in the world again and the training, gear, logisitics and technology will just have been the means to an end.  I’m so excited!!