So the night after I almost fainted on a trail & accidentally tried to break into someone else’s car (read part one here!), I knew I had to be more hydrated to adjust better to the altitude and drank almost two liters of water and a large gatorade. I was planning on doing the hike to Sky Pond the following morning, which, according to my app, was an eight mile out and back hike. I knew I wouldn’t have cell service and I was alone, so getting medical help if I ended up with altitude sickness would be a challenge.

When I finished my dinner and gatorade, I climbed into bed and set my alarm for just before sunrise. All night I tossed and turned, which made me even more paranoid — “Am I not sleeping because I have altitude sickness? Or am I just nervous for the long hike that I didn’t train at all for? Or is it because I just chugged two liters of water and have to pee EVERY HOUR?” And then it was back to the altitude sickness and the cycle repeated itself. Part of me wondered if I should even do the hike at all, but I decided I would just walk as slow as possible so as to not overexert myself.

I set off at sunrise and there wasn’t a soul on the trail that I could see, except for one older man who casually jogged past me like it was nothing. “Well, he must live here & be more well-adjusted,” I reassured myself.

“This is great until you get hurt and need help,” the little voice in the back of my head reminded me. I shushed the voice and proceeded up the trail. At this point I was feeling pretty good - I wasn’t struggling for air, had no lightheadedness, and had quite a bit of energy.

The snow was getting heavier and slick, so I stopped to put on crampons, then continued on my way. I came upon a cute little bridge (pictured below) - a great place for a photo! Except - wait a minute - my camera wasn’t in my hands. I never hike without my camera in my hands at all times!

“OH NO. I must’ve left it on the bench where I put my crampons on!” I ran as fast as I could back to the bench and my camera was nowhere to be found. But I hadn’t passed anyone on the trail, so obviously an animal ran off with it (again, very logical thinker when I panic)! I really start to pout before realizing my backpack felt a little heavier than usual and then it hit me.

“Remember when you took your crampons out of your backpack and put your camera INTO your backpack for the exact reason of NOT leaving it on the bench?” Sigh. So, I got my picture on the cute little bridge and my day continued, slightly more out of breath than before.

Unfortunately, it was one of those days that were hot in the sun and chilly in the shade, so as the tree cover over the trail and the amount of snow on the trail changed. I had to keep adjusting my layers - taking my jacket & the waterproof pants on and off.

A few miles in, my stomach rumbled. A wave of relief that washed over me! The research I had done on altitude sickness said that if you get it, you’ll lose your appetite, and people can get into big trouble because they aren’t consuming the amount of water or food they need to. “If I’m hungry, that’s a great sign!” I thought. So I pulled out a snack bar and continued on & picked up my pace.

Not much longer after that, the older running man passed me going the opposite direction. I hadn’t even made it halfway up yet and he was already more than halfway down! Major props to that guy, but I am still a little bitter about it.

Eventually the snow banks were so big it was too dangerous to continue or you’d risk falling into a lake, and after the incidents the day before, I wasn’t going to take my chances, so I turned around and headed back down the trail.

After about 6 or 7 miles I was really starting to get uncomfortable - In some places the trail was still covered in about 5 feet of snow, and as it got warmer, the snow got softer. In the really steep spots, I had to slide down on my butt and in other spots, my legs would push all the way down through the snow to the dirt when I took a step, resulting in snow in my boots and in my pants.

I kept adjusting my pants to try to stay as comfortable as possible, but as I got closer and closer to the end of the trail I was pretty fed up with them and had to pee so bad from the amount of water I had drank the last two days - to the point where I almost had to run the whole final mile, but being much later in the day, the trail was filling up with people getting in my way!

Finally, I was back at the trailhead and ran to the bathroom. Ah, sweet relief. But when I looked down I noticed a tag sticking out. It turns out my pants were not just uncomfortable from getting wet from the snow — I had just hiked ten miles with my underwear on backwards!!

They say changing your shoes after a hike is the best feeling in the world, but now I might have to argue that a fresh pair of underwear is even better. Thanks a lot, altitude!

Adventures with Altitude, Part Two