The psychology of the summit

1st summit this season- May 16th 2014

With my first summit of Mt Rainier yesterday, I began thinking about what it really takes to summit. I have climbed Rainier many times now, but my clients are experiencing it for the first time.

The guide team on the summit

It takes us three days of trudging uphill with a heavy pack, batting winds, cold and very little sleep to physically get to the summit. And on the final few hundred meters of uphill, when you can see the summit and it takes everything you have to make your feet move forward to make it to the top. It stops being physical and becomes a mental challenge.

I remember my first summit, and it’s very similar to winning a race for the first time. The euphoric feeling when you summit or cross the finish line. The feelings you have had, the unknown if you will make it, wondering if you have what it takes and the inner dialogue that goes on during the climb or race. Not everyone will win a race and not everyone will summit Mt

Rainier, but if you are fortunate enough to successfully do either, it is a feeling like nothing else. This is a genuine accomplishment that no one can ever take away from you.

I am lucky enough to have had many summits of Mt. Rainier. It is the joy, excitement and raw emotions my clients experience when they finally reach the summit that keeps me going, makes me want to keep guiding.

My first summit of mt Rainier ever,  May 2010!

Fueling with Hammer Gel on the summit!

Recipe of the week

Stuffed Flank Steak:

 

Ingredients:

1 onion

2 cups chopped mushrooms

2 cups chopped spinach

3 garlic cloves (chopped)

1 flank steak (1/3lb per person)

Kitchen twine

2-3 Tbl Olive Oil

Preparation:

Pre hear oven to 350º

Sauté veggies over medium heat until tender (aprox. 20 min)

Add salt and pepper to taste

Place veggies in center of flank steak, roll and tie to secure

Bake on greased baking sheet for 40 min for medium rare.

Slice into delicate rounds, and serve!

Enjoy!

 

Change: A four-letter word

 

I hate change. 

You wouldn’t know that from my lifestyle for the last decade, but its true. Change causes me stress, anxiety and fear. It has been this way for as long as I can remember. The end of a school year, the end of a season, new jobs, new house new anything. 

Mid May every year for the last 7 years I have packed up my car, driven long distances and began a new lifestyle for the summer months. This year is no different. I will be packing up the car with the dog, and driving to Washington State to Guide on Mt. Rainier for a month.

Trapper enjoying the sunshine after a long run

I have worked for International Mountain Guides for 5 years now. After finishing finals, refreshing my wilderness first responder certification, a few local races and packing the car to make the 12-hour drive to Ashford, there has been quite a bit of change in my life. Not to mention my upcoming wedding in July. With all this change comes a lot of stress.

People always ask me how I handle my stress so well, because it never seams to show on my face. Well I have a little secret, I exercise, sleep eight hours every night and eat healthy. These simple lifestyle elements make all the difference to me. I am able to balance some crazy busy days with the help of my awesome fiancé Josh, and by taking care of what is most important, myself.

So my advice: Get off the computer, close out of facebook or pinterest, make a list of what is important to do in the next 3 days, plan out your days, and you will find that you have more time than you think.

I plan everything from my meals, to when I will cook, and when I have time to shower and walk the dog. This planning help we control the stress in my life from all the change that is constantly happening.

Finishing the 5K

On another note, here is a recap of my last three weeks:

April 27,2014 – Icebreaker Road race, Great Falls MT

            1^st place female overall. 19:44

What an awesome race, so many people involved. I was surprised and excited to have won the race. I didn’t set any land seed records but it was a personal best time for me in a 5K and my first win ever. A moment I will hold deer for a long time.

April 30^th – End of the Semester of Nursing school

            I have completed another semester of nursing school. I continue to add to the vast amount of random and not so random medical information floating around in my head. No the challenge is to retain it for the 13 week summer vacation. I am happy to say with as busy as I am I was still able to end the semester with all A’s and B’s. Another very proud moment for me.

May 3-4^th – WFR refresher

            Every two years I have to re-cert my wilderness first responder certification. This is a first aid course focused on providing care in wilderness situations. This was a fun course because it reminded me how much I miss and love wilderness medicine and why I got into nursing in the first place.

May 9^th 2014:

            Josh Left for his stint on Rainier. We will pass each other on the mountain but we will not see much of each other for 6 weeks. The life mountain guides.

May 11^th 2014:

            Unravel the scratch Gravel, Mt bike race, Helena MT

I’ll let you know how it goes.

May 12^th Last day of work as a CNA at the hospital for a month

May 13^th: Drive the 12+ hours to Washington

My Hammer Nutrition supply to get me through the 8 climbs up Rainier

May 14^th: 1^st climb of the season. I will start walking up Mt Rainier with my clients and begin our three-day adventure to the summit and back.

Whew, I’m tired and stressed just thinking about all that is going on right now. Good thing I went for a run today and already had a wonderful meal. Until the next adventure, I have one last piece of advice. Take time every day to do something for yourself. An extra 5 minutes in the hot shower, sitting in your car outside the grocery store to take deep breath and enjoy the quite, or go for a run on your 30 min lunch break. Whatever it is that make you happiest, find a way to work it into your schedule to help balance the craziness of life.