The Amazing Power of “One Foot in Front of the Other”
There is so much that a person can do when they take one step at a time. Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) was a lot more physically challenging that I thought it would be. From the get-go, I was challenged by the uphill gradient and the steps. Sometimes the journey seemed like there would be no end when you just kept trekking for hours. More than once, despair had crept into my mind. Very quickly, I vanquished that thought from my mind and often fell into an almost meditative state of “one foot in front of the other”. I trekked close to 90km in 7 days, up to an altitude of 4130m and back, simply at the back of a simple mantra of one step at a time.
Nature has a Way of Quietly Humbling a Person
It’s almost mystical, the lessons that the nature imparts on you when you take the time to lose yourself in nature. Many silent hours for 7 days straight, walking through varying terrains, listening and observing the natural equilibrium that nature exists within and welcomes you to explore at your own choice. Nature is far more deliberate, complex and intricate that one could ever imagine. Nature is as benign and as perilous as she chooses, her volatility is capricious. Nature has a way of taking you out of your head and truly opening your eyes to the vastness of this world.
How Purpose and Determination Changes the Path You Take
When I had reached Machapuchare Base Camp (MBC) at 3,700m, I was faced with a view of the ice slate / slush ahead leading up to Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) which was about 1.5 to 2 hours away. The views from MBC were already phenomenal. I was worried about my ability to go through the ice patch safely, especially with the threatening rain and how I would manage the icy temperatures and strong winds.
While I knew it was somewhat risky and I am opening myself to some form of injury, it would not be fatal. I had a guide with me to help me through the tricky parts. At that point, I was 80% convinced that all things considered, this was as far as I go and that Mr.C would do the last bit without me.
After some deliberation with Mr.C, I thought of my children. I thought of what I would like my children to learn from my trip on grit, determination and purpose. I wanted my children to know that when faced with a situation that scared me, I carefully considered my options, took adequate safety precautions and forged on. That made all the difference to where my journey ended. Purpose and Determination can take you far beyond limits that you set for yourself.
Gratitude
The journey to the Base Camp and back showed me countless avenues to be thankful with such depth that can only come by witnesses the event firsthand. I will talk about one in particular and to do that, let me transport you back to the tea house in MBC, where I sat chattering in cold after my trek back from ABC. I saw indoors trying to warm myself up and control my body temperature by drinking a hot cup of tea. It was pouring rain outside and the wind was howling. I looked across to the icy slate leading up to ABC that I had just ascended and descended from, thankful to not be out there anymore. Then I saw some movement. 3 Nepali men, with long pieces of heavy wood twice the length of their bodies balanced on their back, were making their way up to ABC through the very same path I had taken. I was awestruck at how precarious their journey was and how exposed to the elements they were. I was thankful to them for the tea house I was sat in, for it was these amazing Nepali men that built the shelter I had from the weather that was beating down on them. I was thankful for the nature of work that I had which was very challenging but in no way, shape or form comparable to what challenging meant to these men.
Inspiration
An inspired soul is a soul that is alive
Ms.K of SippingCoconuts
I think inspiration is priceless. It’s a gift that money can’t buy. It’s the essence of the Pay-It-Forward model and it keeps the world spinning, at no cost. I found inspiration all around me:
- in the Japanese elderly gentleman that had trekked up to ABC all by himself (he has climbed 260 out of Japan’s 300+ mountains!), I had found inspiration to age with the strength and agility he has
- in the 2 ladies that were doing the same trek without a limb and with hardly the same pain that I thought was evident on my face, I found the inspiration to propel myself further
- in the laughter and smiles of the young children, I found the inspiration that nature is all that you need to be happy
- in the fellow trekkers that we met and conversed with, I found the inspiration to further seek out such amazing souls with the thirst for adventure
Trekking to ABC was more than just reaching the base camp, it turned out to be an adventure for the mind, body and soul.
