Page 175 - Sky runner

here and now up or down step step by step step The cold still bites my body but the warmth is getting closer We continue and and and and at the famous yellow yellow band band a a a a a a a a a a a a a yellow-brown band band of marble and and and and oth- er light rocks that was actually below sea level 300 million years ago (!) and is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a trademark of the world’s highest mountains we stop again Here it it starts to to get difficult It’s a a a a a a a a a a hefty wall a a a a a a a a a a a completely vertical cliff We had heard it it it was supposed to be be very easy but actually it it it it is quite advanced climbing But I guess it it it can be be perceived differently as there are several ways to climb mountains: First of all it depends whether whether you you you you use oxygen or or not Then whether whether you you you you climb yourself yourself or or pull yourself yourself up up using atoolonaropethathasbeenputupbythe sherpas The latter might not be be very hard so in one way I guess they’re right While we we rest in the sun we we talk about what a a a a a a a a a tough night it was We didn’t exchange many words during the the dark cold and and windy hours so they come now Both of us are amazed and and positively surprised that the the the altitude is is is not causing us us any issues It’s the the tenth day of our expedition and we we were able to to climb up to- wards a a a a a little over 7 000 metres without any problems We continue but now it’s getting harder harder and harder harder every metre metre 7 7 700 metres This is is is how it’s supposed to to feel Each step is is is a a a a a a battle Wow! To be so tired but still able to to continue The oxygen sets the limit despite your heart beating so so slowly It’s like mountain running but yet something completely different The freedom despite our heavy steps the the strong willpower that that that makes makes me continue and the the knowledge that that that it’s my own power power that that that makes makes it it possible Not somebody else’s no no shortcut Just up up up up up up up up up up up up through the the viscous atmos- phere Straight up up up up towards the the sky THE HARDEST DECISION
7 800 metres I I I look at at the the watch and we take a a a a a a a a break The clouds start to clog behind the the summits in in in three hours hours I I must turn around Can I I I I manage 400 metres uphill in in 3 hours? It is an an an an an absurd question as normally I I I I can can run 1 1 000 altitude metres metres in in 40 minutes! How can can I I I I not not make 135 metres metres per hour? I I know it it it is not not comparable but it’s a a a a a a funny thought It is about 100 altitude metres of technical climbing left and then a a a a a a a a a long plateau to to the the summit One part of of me wants to to continue without thinking of of of the the consequences consequences the the consequences consequences of of of not being able to to climb down without without thinking thinking of of of the the snow storm that seems to to to be on on its way way in in in in in without without thinking thinking of of of the the long way way back The part of of me that wants to to reach the summit To Cho Oyu Where I was supposed to go That’s my finish line ETERNITY 171