I was raised in a cautious environment, with the encouragement to always do my best but being careful and thoughtful with my actions. As I emerge myself in adventure activities, I value this perspective and have molded it in order to be a smart adventurer. There is a saying, "with risk can come great reward," but it should be expanded to acknowledge that understanding the dangers and your personal limits before attempting to reach your reward can bring even more value to the experience. I am taking a swift water rescue course in Coloma, Ca along the south fork of the American river. We are camped along side of Mother Lode River center for the intense weekend training course. My experience in white water is limited, but as talked about in my "H20," post, I Iove the water and I embrace any chance to expand my understanding of the element. The first day was jam packed with physical and mental challenges. We have a small group of five with one teacher. This small group learning style enables us to have more hands on training and more direct discussion about the skills. It took me a couple trials to feel comfortable swimming in the rapids and wading the width of the river, but with a little determination and trial and error my fears of the unknown were replaced with courage and understanding. We were immediately thrown into the crashing water holes and taught valuable lessons about the hazards in the river. We practiced maneuvering away through different obstacles in the water to reach specific vantage points. We practiced a multitude of different techniques to rescue drifting swimmers using throw-bags. We practiced escaping the pounding currents after being caught by a strainer. We practiced tying important knots and hitches. We wrapped up our day with smiles and feeling a little like our bodies were still being tossed by the waves. Then it was time to rest; so I laid down and looked at the sky to dream and think and enjoy the feeling of a day well spent. It's an addictive feeling to work to the point when you can set up camp or sit in your house and feel like your body was pushed to its limits and your mind engaged in activity. This is one reason for my love of adventure activities. I have experienced the most delight and natural highs from my lightweight backpacking trips, mountaineering trips, and whitewater trips. The rush followed by the calmness feels right, like the whole self is saying,"I was meant for this." I have met many that shy away from outdoor activities- many self conscious with how their bodies react initially with being stimulated in such a new way. The ones that stick out it though, and find their niche in the outdoor community-- they can attest to my testimony.
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We awoke at 3:15 am, grabbed our day packs and headed to the entrance of Machu Picchu. The gates to start hiking to the ruins open at 5 am. We waited with eager anticipation at the front of the line in order to reach the ruins before the crowds of people would start to arrive. We knew what lied ahead of us was, as National Geographic describes, "strenuous and takes about 90 minutes" Our bodies were adjusted to the altitude after the past couple days hiking the Salakantay trek some of us had a little more drive in us to make it up in at least under an hour in order to be the first ones in when the gates at the top opened at 6 am. As soon as we were let in, there was a rush of energy amongst the hikers as we set off at different speeds to find our personal paces. As I started stepping up the first of the 1660+ stairs, I knew my body was feeling strong and capable of a difficult ascent. I found myself passing swarms for people and the desire to stop was hushed with the eagerness to finish the trek. It was very dark and there was a slight mist so each step was carefully guided by my headlamp and cautiously taken because of the fear my ragged shoes would give out at any moment. As soon as I reached the top, I was filled with even more energy. I greeted two of my friends and found out that one was able to get to the top in 29 minutes, making him the first of the day. They congratulated me because I was the first girl to finish, taking approximately 36 minutes to complete. The security working the entrance informed us that the record to complete the brutal stair ascent is 10 minutes! At 6, we were allowed to enter the park and our guide took us on a walk to see the major historical landmarks of Machu Picchu. The weather brought a spooky fog and a light rain. Weather played an important role for the Incas. We learned about the importance of the position of the sun and moon and how the infrastructure utilizes the elements in order to give information to it's past inhabitants. The ruins are very strong and have withstood centuries. When the ruins were found, they were buried under a cloud forest and they are still not entirely restored. After the tour, our group had the opportunity to explore more or rest and snack. The fog was not lifting and the temperature was chilly so the group decided to go to the cafe and explore later in the day. I felt a strong pull to continue going so I decided to summit Machu Picchu mountain and meet with the group later.
It was a privilege to experience the raw beauty of the hike. I really felt like the mountain was giving me energy to make it to the spectacular finish. There was still a heavy cloud cover over the ruins, but surrounding peaks in the distance were exposed which made for a unique panoramic view. There were only a handful of other people at the top, everyone happy and mesmerized by the experience. I was full of joy and an awe; reminded of how the world never ceases to push and inspire me, and how magnificent and full of purpose the creator of it is.
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AshleyEnjoys playing outside. Archives
January 2017
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