Tuesday was a day of records for us... Our first night to sleep at over 16,800ft, our first summit of almost 20,000ft (short by only 20ft!), our earliest wake up time to hike (midnight, started hiking 1am), longest number of hours without going to the bathroom (roped up and harnessed for 9 hours), longest hike in the dark (6 hrs in darkness), first sunrise to view between our legs (our view as we ice climbed the last vertical 200meters and rested our heads every 5ft gasping for air), first time to hike past and along crevasses and exposed glacier ridges, and first time to feel so utterly and completely physically wasted! Awesome!
Neither pictures nor words describe the feelings we had on the mountain of Huayna Potosi right outside of La Paz... it was our first big mountain experience and as soon as we can forget the pain, we will plan to do another... it was amazing!
Tomorrow we begin our journey to the lowlands and warmer temperatures- time to treat ourselves to naps in hammocks and boat trips through steamy jungles... aaah at last my fingertips will not be numb! Love from the mountains and beyond, Melis & Cullen
5 comments:
Whoa! This is getting a little too extreme for your Mother to witness. Hiking along crevasses and exposed glaciers. Has the 20,000 ft altitude gone to your head??? Please enjoy your adventure but hiking in the dark over ice? Did I not teach you anything!!!! Cullen I count on you to be the cautious one!! I'm proud of you both and think you will be able to write a book when this "vacation" is over. This must be real living. Wow... Love you both, Mom in Fallon
Incredible, as always. The envy may be more than I can handle at this point.
;-)
The TV show Gladiator's is on right now (Mon. 12th) as I am reading your latest adventures. You both must be gladiators! Amazing adventures you are both experiencing. Looking forward to reading more.... Love The Hammond's
Uh, Joneses, do you realize it has now been over a week since your last post? I'm anxious to hear another story & see some pics!
(p.s. I finally got a new bike. It's so sweet. I think it would really like to experience some trails near Tahoe...)
wow- i can only imagine how the rest of us would fare if the climb was such a struggle for you two! an epic journey i'm sure!
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