Post Elbrus Summit
Here is what I did to stay healthy; ensure I stayed with the team and had an amazing adventure .
#1) Manage your stress:
No matter what happens, take the climb is one step and one day at a time. I will not worry about anything. EVER. That's the code. I'll be conscious of all things occurring around me and within my own body but I will not allow my mind to create unnecessary stress. If you remain stress free, then you're halfway there.
#2) Manage the basics:
Sleep. Food. Water....and the obvious of relieving oneself. This is the simple science of mountaineering. It sounds like first-grade advice but you'd be amazed to know how many people mess this up. Altitude can suppress your appetite. Even if you're not hungry, eat anyway! You are in control. Your body is burring calories at an exorbitant rate. Feed it and you're chances of success will be maximized. Drink four to five litres of water a day and try to sleep eight hours.
#3) Check your ego at the door:
That means having the humility to know when your body is sending you warning signs. Acute Mountain Sickness -- otherwise known as AMS -- can affect anyone at anytime. If left untreated, AMS can lead to very serious cases of pulmonary and cerebral edema, an abnormal buildup of fluid in the lungs and the brain. The side effects could be as severe as death. If you have a headache, it's the first sign. Nausea, insomnia, irritability, lack of appetite etc. are all warning signs that you're pushing your body too hard or that you're not acclimating optimally.
#4) Monitor your oxygen saturation:
This is the amount of oxygen saturation in the blood. Taking small baby steps on the climb helps with this and was my key on Kili as well as Elbrus. It’s the small steps that ultimately climbs mountains
#5) Smile. Laugh. Breathe.
Live the experience in the moment. Nothing is quite like being above the clouds, close to the heavens, ever-present and living an adventure.
So how do you know if climbing Elbrus is for you? Well, if you've done Mount Kilimanjaro and you're looking for the next mountain challenge, Elbrus could be for you. You'll need some basic mountaineering skills to pull it off, a strong team, a logistics or expeditions company like Adventure Dynamics International (ADI). It's slightly lower in altitude compared to Kilimanjaro, but you're climbing on snow and mixed terrain which is a different ballgame entirely. Your fitness level should be high in order to maximize your experience.
The experience is priceless. We were gifted with a clear and unobstructed view from the rooftop of Europe.....so go out there and get your dreams.
As Sheriff Woody says in Toy Story “Reach for the skies”!
I had a blast on this adventure and I hope that if you have interest that this blog will help you enjoy it as much as I did.
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