so the trip was ... not what any of us had planned. I hope that everybody feels successful and that they had a good time regardless. I probably just should not have gone, I think I was in okay physical shape honestly I think I was not terrible that way but I have not gone HIKING hiking, in years. I got altitude sickness really bad. It was awful we were only probably a 1/2 mile in when I got a head ache, I stopped with Adam and took something for my headache and he took some of my water to reduce the weight I had, then I kept having to stop and hold everyone up because I couldn’t get my breath and stuff, it was REALLY smoky from all the forest fires around. Eventually Joseph took my pack for a while to try to help me breathe you know less weight on my shoulders pushing down etc. But after a few more stops and my headache getting worse and worse I took my pack back, it just didn't help not to have it you know. I was pretty okay for a while, not great but the pain in my head eased up enough and I was breathing enough to talk some. We got pretty high up we could see this rock structure that you climb over and then down to get to the last stretch and then the peak, by this time I kept tripping and my head felt terrible it was truly like a migraine no joke and I felt nausea and was shaking really bad, crying. so dumb it say it was just impossible my head hurt so bad and I couldn't breathe enough to talk at all like asthma type panic breaths, we stopped every little while; finally we sat for like 1/2 hour and debated tying a rope to me and basically dragging me the rest of the way but I was in so much head pain and unable to focus that I worried I would black out and/or fall down and possibly hurt someone else (there where a lot of people climbing) that I decided I better go back. I hated to do it, if there was anyway I could have pushed through the pain and made it I would have. I have never not finished a hike before. I kept thinking I didn't come this far up and have these boys keep stopping and helping me and slowing down when they were just fine to go right up, just to give up and go back, you know?. I can honestly say it was not sore legs or being tired or having back pain/discomfort or anything like that it was just out of my control altitude sickness.
It was really hard for me to let go of this pride idea of finishing and conquering the mt and let go of the idea that I need those type of accomplishments to have value, I am kind of proud of myself for being humble and recognizing a need for help and for not doing something stupid. My head was so bad seriously, I didn’t care or even feel any soreness in my legs or back or anywhere all I felt was the worst kind of pain in my head like a migraine on steroids I can’t describe how miserable I felt. the worst part is they wouldn’t leave me alone (which was smart we were at a part steep enough that if I fell a bit to forward on my weight I would have gone a long way down on rock.) they ALL took me back down to the saddle part and then Dad and Joseph took me back not making it to the top. Michael and Adam went back up and then onward to the finish but dad and Joseph helped me back. I felt so bad not only physically but you felt bad because they would have gotten to the top NO PROBLEM if I had not been there. When we had been on the mt we tried electrolyte tablet and different things to try to help ease my altitude sickness migraine but nothing helped. The only thing to do was get me to lower altitude. I have no idea where we were I know the peak was at 12662ft and I think Adam said he guesstimated it to be 1/2 mile to the end (he and mike went back to finish it) I know we were close we could see this really crazy rock thing that everyone had to use both hands to get over and then after that you hike across this ridge thing that's a drop off on both sides and then up the summit I drew a picture for you to see. We were on the steep hill right below that part labeled "oh no really steep”. I really really regret that I was the reason dad and joseph didn’t get to the end. It was out of my control though and since I can’t go back in time and regretting it does not good I decided not to worry about it anymore. Instead I want to remember it positively. I can honestly say that I had a very good experience and that I learned a lot and had a good time. I feel kind of enlightened, although I can put my finger on why. Dad thinks we were close to 12000 ft. when we finally turned around so that’s higher then I have been before in the white clouds or River frank church area, and it felt so good to be really hiking a mt again.
Anyways that was my story of the trip, we took it slow coming back I kept slipping but I had a tight hold of dads pack and I threw up when we tried to stop so we said "you know let’s just get to camp. Camp was at about 7500 ft. so know it was below the magic 8000 ft. mark, after a nap I felt better and was able to eat lunch and of course drink a whole bunch of water. It was so smoky we couldnt see much of a veiw , someday i will go back again.
We love you, our family camping trip was fun this week too we went to starlight mt theater and camped nearby. The kids had a really hard time at night but loved playing in the river and “hiking" around (it was a walk really) they liked the play too we saw south pacific. A lot of the vacation was centered around the kids and things I wanted to do, but Mitchell had fun too and I really am glad we went camping and to a play and hiking because doing those things kind of filled me up "oh ya I am still me and these things are a big part of my personal tastes" Mitchell goes back to work tomorrow so we will all miss home since he has been home the last two weeks for our vacation.
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