I Can Beat My Limit

Mt. Pichincha.  15,700 ft.  Active volcano. 

Today I climbed - because the phrase "hiked" does not do this trek justice - Mt. Pichincha, an active volcano here in Quito with five other friends from GlobalLEAD.  It was the most sureal feeling ever being on top of a almost 16,000 peak, in South America, with five other friends who I just met a week ago.  Hardest hike I have done yet, but by far the most rewarding. 

At the beginning of the hike the altitude was very hard for me to handle.  I was having a hard time getting enough air in, and at times it was impossible to catch my breathe.  I thought that hiking to 10,000 was hard, try 15,700.  There were times when it seemed like we would never get to the top.  We hiked over hill after hill, trekked straight up a mile of dirt past the grass line, and then legit rock climbed up a mile of hardened lava and rocks to reach the top of the summit.  

At the top of 15,700 ft you are in the clouds.  So getting up to the top you could not see anything.  It was like you were at the edge of the world.  You could stand and look over the edge and have no clue what was below you.

Never have I ever felt more proud of myself or my physical abilities.  Getting to the top of that summit meant that I beat my limit.  I was as high as I had ever been before in my entire life.  And I was the one that got myself there.  Not a car, or a plane, but my own two feet.  It was absolutely incredible.  The adrenal rush and stupid smile that washed over my face at the peak will stay with me my whole life.  I was hard do not get me wrong, but it was the kind of hard that made you get to the bottom and want to turn around and do it again, because you know you can.  I mean, how many people can say they've climbed an active volcano before?  Not very many. 

"You must do the thing you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt

 

 

 Pure joy at 15,700 ft.