12pm eventually came. The Americans jumped out of bed and started pulling on their gear. Team Ireland stayed, all 4 of us clutching our head. Surprisingly, Joe seemed to be the best of us, Luke in second place with myself and Charlie struggling to put on our water proofs while squashing our head with our hands at the same time. Suddenly as soon as my laces were tied I felt like retching. I ran outside but luckily after a few deep breaths the feeling subsided. Joe came out to check to see if I was alright. Good old Joe. He's no Mammy Dooley but he does a good job sometimes. How you feelin I asked him, fantastic, much better today he said. I stayed holding the wall and watched Joe take 10 steps and then hurl up what looked like a large steak and kidney pizza. I laughed so much I forgot all about feeling sick. Deep breaths and the cold air also helped.
The whole group stayed waiting in the court yard for myself and Charlie who by now was really feeling the effects of Altitude sickness. All the colour from his face had drained away. 12.30 we joined the group in the court yard and started our epic adventure. We had missed breakfast but I dont think any of us were too worried about that. We carried our crampons, water and pick axes in our bags for the first section until we got to the glacier. This first section took about a half an hour, which had taken us 45min yesterday. we were all a bit worried at the pace Diego was setting at the front. At the edge of the Glacier we all put on our cramp ons and took a much needed breather. This wasnt a good sign that we were out of breadth at this stage. From the acclimatisation climb the day before yesterday and the 45min treck from the carpark to the refuge, Paulo had selected the teams. With one guide for every two people, (in order of bestness) Adrian was paired with Matt, Chris with Julia, Joe with myself and Charlie with Luke. However, By this stage Charlie had turned a light shade of grey and looked a bit drunk he was thinking that he might not make it. Team switch, the three Americans were roped together with Freddy, Joe who was looking remarkable well was bumped up to Julie with Paulo, I went with Luke and Fausto (AKA Legend) and Diego would monitor Charlie as he bore through the pain.
A sudden surge of excitement and energy came over me mixed with a little Dooley competitive aggression and I gave a little team talk to Team Ireland. Poor old Luke I think got the brunt of this. I told Fausto our guide not to go easy on us cause I knew we could make it. We set off racing. The first half an hour went really well. We were in first place and Luke seamed just as determined to make it to the top as I was. Then things started to slow down. Lukes boots were hurting him and the rests became longer. As I watched the three Americans pass us I started to whip Luke with the rope that attached the three of our harnesses. Heaa Heaa (SORRY LUKE) Was pretty funny at the time though. Fousto became worried that because the pace had slowed down that we wouldnt be able to make the top. This was a disaster. The reason we were climbing in the dark with flash lamps on our heads was because when the sun comes up it starts to melt the Ice and conditions become dangerous, Muy Pellegrouso, the most frequently used word the the guides said to me on the climb. Which would mean if we left it too late we would have to turn back.
Fousto Radioed down to Paulo to tell him the problem. Paulo said that one of his team was also finding the going tough so it would be better for me to switch partners. Yes I thought, Joe was doing well and we may still have a chance. We dug in and waited for Paulo and his team to reach us. I spotted Joe on his hands and knees trudging up behind Paulo. Doh! Julie who was a very strong climber and looked like she could start running at any stage. We switched Luke for Julie an the rope, I said good bye to luke and gave one last pep talk to Joe and then set off again.
This time I was clear I was the weak link. We started racing up the mountain. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep this pace up be I gave it a good go. We soon made it off the glacier and onto the real climb. The snow was now up to our knees (well my shins\ Julies knees and faustos waste). The incline was a constant 55degrees but there was no jig jag for Fausto. Straight up ta fuck I think he said in spanish. Soon we started passing out groups one by one who had opted for the sane zig zag take a break approach. My lungs were screaming for air. Screw this its time for a break I said. We dug seats for ourselves in the snow slope and took out our water. I was so tired though I forgot about gravity and placed my water bottle on the ground. We watched as it rolled the whole way down into the darkness. Maybe Joe might need a drink was my excuse.
We powered on. I constantly had to tug on the rope to get Fausto to slow down the pace but he must have remembered my little speech at the bottom cause there was no slowing him down. Any time Id stop hed give a little tug back on the rope and Id have to keep going. Each slope just seemed to be getting higher and steeper, and the snow just seemed to keep getting deeper and softer. Every time we passed a group out we had to drop a gear and pick up the speed. This was tough but I could smell that we were getting closer. There were times I thought about giving up but I knew I wouldn't be able to tell Kilian or Gerard on the phone when i got back. The near breaking point came about an hour from the top. Absolutely no energy left in the tank and we faced the craziest slope I have ever seen. I would have turned back if I hadn't spotted 4 people in the distance taking a break. It was the the three boys and Freddy. We had caught up to the Americans. Suddenly Ideas entered my head of clipping off my harness and sprinting past them with an Irish flag all the way to the top. Not to be. I got freddy to radio down to Joe and Luke and Charlie to see if they were on the way (Joe had the Flag). My heart sank, word came back that they had all turned back and gone back to the refuge. The success of TEAM IRELAND rested on my shoulders.
Fresh from their break the boys set of up the final leg of the journey. Eager to stay with them we went in convoy after them. I could have done with the break however. We stook with them the whole way until the very very last bit. This is when all of my muscles decided not to work at the same time. The last section cruelly was a near vertical section with two foot deep snow on it. You had to dig your pick in take four steps and watch your feet slip right back down to where they started........ and then repeat. I kept on slipping and falling and and a few stages ended up lying face down in the snow unable to get up because I was so drained. But with the help of Fausto tugging on the rope and Julie giving me her basketball half time speach I Finally made it to the top (5 and a half hours later). The feeling was indescribable.
The whole group stayed waiting in the court yard for myself and Charlie who by now was really feeling the effects of Altitude sickness. All the colour from his face had drained away. 12.30 we joined the group in the court yard and started our epic adventure. We had missed breakfast but I dont think any of us were too worried about that. We carried our crampons, water and pick axes in our bags for the first section until we got to the glacier. This first section took about a half an hour, which had taken us 45min yesterday. we were all a bit worried at the pace Diego was setting at the front. At the edge of the Glacier we all put on our cramp ons and took a much needed breather. This wasnt a good sign that we were out of breadth at this stage. From the acclimatisation climb the day before yesterday and the 45min treck from the carpark to the refuge, Paulo had selected the teams. With one guide for every two people, (in order of bestness) Adrian was paired with Matt, Chris with Julia, Joe with myself and Charlie with Luke. However, By this stage Charlie had turned a light shade of grey and looked a bit drunk he was thinking that he might not make it. Team switch, the three Americans were roped together with Freddy, Joe who was looking remarkable well was bumped up to Julie with Paulo, I went with Luke and Fausto (AKA Legend) and Diego would monitor Charlie as he bore through the pain.
A sudden surge of excitement and energy came over me mixed with a little Dooley competitive aggression and I gave a little team talk to Team Ireland. Poor old Luke I think got the brunt of this. I told Fausto our guide not to go easy on us cause I knew we could make it. We set off racing. The first half an hour went really well. We were in first place and Luke seamed just as determined to make it to the top as I was. Then things started to slow down. Lukes boots were hurting him and the rests became longer. As I watched the three Americans pass us I started to whip Luke with the rope that attached the three of our harnesses. Heaa Heaa (SORRY LUKE) Was pretty funny at the time though. Fousto became worried that because the pace had slowed down that we wouldnt be able to make the top. This was a disaster. The reason we were climbing in the dark with flash lamps on our heads was because when the sun comes up it starts to melt the Ice and conditions become dangerous, Muy Pellegrouso, the most frequently used word the the guides said to me on the climb. Which would mean if we left it too late we would have to turn back.
Fousto Radioed down to Paulo to tell him the problem. Paulo said that one of his team was also finding the going tough so it would be better for me to switch partners. Yes I thought, Joe was doing well and we may still have a chance. We dug in and waited for Paulo and his team to reach us. I spotted Joe on his hands and knees trudging up behind Paulo. Doh! Julie who was a very strong climber and looked like she could start running at any stage. We switched Luke for Julie an the rope, I said good bye to luke and gave one last pep talk to Joe and then set off again.
This time I was clear I was the weak link. We started racing up the mountain. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep this pace up be I gave it a good go. We soon made it off the glacier and onto the real climb. The snow was now up to our knees (well my shins\ Julies knees and faustos waste). The incline was a constant 55degrees but there was no jig jag for Fausto. Straight up ta fuck I think he said in spanish. Soon we started passing out groups one by one who had opted for the sane zig zag take a break approach. My lungs were screaming for air. Screw this its time for a break I said. We dug seats for ourselves in the snow slope and took out our water. I was so tired though I forgot about gravity and placed my water bottle on the ground. We watched as it rolled the whole way down into the darkness. Maybe Joe might need a drink was my excuse.
We powered on. I constantly had to tug on the rope to get Fausto to slow down the pace but he must have remembered my little speech at the bottom cause there was no slowing him down. Any time Id stop hed give a little tug back on the rope and Id have to keep going. Each slope just seemed to be getting higher and steeper, and the snow just seemed to keep getting deeper and softer. Every time we passed a group out we had to drop a gear and pick up the speed. This was tough but I could smell that we were getting closer. There were times I thought about giving up but I knew I wouldn't be able to tell Kilian or Gerard on the phone when i got back. The near breaking point came about an hour from the top. Absolutely no energy left in the tank and we faced the craziest slope I have ever seen. I would have turned back if I hadn't spotted 4 people in the distance taking a break. It was the the three boys and Freddy. We had caught up to the Americans. Suddenly Ideas entered my head of clipping off my harness and sprinting past them with an Irish flag all the way to the top. Not to be. I got freddy to radio down to Joe and Luke and Charlie to see if they were on the way (Joe had the Flag). My heart sank, word came back that they had all turned back and gone back to the refuge. The success of TEAM IRELAND rested on my shoulders.
Fresh from their break the boys set of up the final leg of the journey. Eager to stay with them we went in convoy after them. I could have done with the break however. We stook with them the whole way until the very very last bit. This is when all of my muscles decided not to work at the same time. The last section cruelly was a near vertical section with two foot deep snow on it. You had to dig your pick in take four steps and watch your feet slip right back down to where they started........ and then repeat. I kept on slipping and falling and and a few stages ended up lying face down in the snow unable to get up because I was so drained. But with the help of Fausto tugging on the rope and Julie giving me her basketball half time speach I Finally made it to the top (5 and a half hours later). The feeling was indescribable.
Me standing on top of the world (Crater behind)Unfortunately this feeling soon wore off as the top was covered in fog and mist and a blizzered that cut through every stitch of clothes we had. I stood right beside the crater to the largest active volcano in the world but I couldn't even see past my own nose. Its just a theory but seeing as cotopaxi is on the equator and I was the tallest person on top of that while the sun was high in the sky. I recon I was the closest person in the world to the sun for that brief period. Stop me if Im getting carried away but I made it to the top 5900m, Charlie to 5208m and Joe and Luke to 5400m. Base Camp at Everest is 5208m. How do you like them bananas indeed!!!!!!!!
The way down was not easy either. One of the many muy pellegroso moments I had on the way down was slipping off the foot wide path down a cliff nearly taking my two buddies attached to me with me. I was so tired at this stage I could hardly put one foot in front of the other. Managed to clip my own heel and slid off the cliff. Thank god for the training we had done yesterday. I turned onto my belly and jammed my pick into the ice like my life depended on it. I wasn making things easy on myself, I then had to climb back up the cliff using my crampons and pick axe. Muy pellegroso.... Ya Ya I know.
I then started to ask him could we slide down instead of walking. Any thing to stop the burning in my legs. After a few NO no Muy pellegroso from Fausto be eventually gave in and let us slide down on our asses using our picks to slow us down. So much fun but Im sure It was pretty dangerous seeing as there are cliffs and crevasses everywhere, not to mention that we were doing it in single file and each of us had 12 razer sharp knives on on the soles of our boots.
A few more slips and falls and slides later we were back at the refuge. just over 3 and a half hours to come back down. The boys had been back at the cabin for the last 5 or 6 hours sleeping, where I was fit to die. More good news, no time for food we had to pack up all of our stuff and treck back down to the carpark. On the bright side though, my altitude sickness had gone, Im a glass half full guy.
The 4x4 jeeps took us back to the first camp to collect our stuff and then back to the secret garden where we crashed straight away. We went for a massive chineese when we woke and then it was back to bed for a well deserved mammoth sleep. 14hrs solid straight through. Longest in quiet some time.
2 comments:
An epic saga Ro! That has to go down in the Dooley book of records! Fair play, nic
Respect.
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