Time to Climb

Acclimating to the cold was actually easier than she thought it would be, but the trek would be the problem, she was not as physically fit as her tour mates. Still she had been working out and was ready to do what she could. She wanted to push herself as hard as possible. Making the impossible a reality was her enjoyment.

As everyone readied their packs, the burly tour guide, Jack, asked them to meet him by the matching green posts about 100 yards away in 20 minutes. Be ready for the hike of their lives! “This is no joke. There is a great deal of risk involved here at Everest. You must remain vigilant and dedicated. If you aren’t prepared, you can easily perish! Now get ready for some fun!”

The speech was sobering and exciting at the same time. She was finally ready, but first she had to pray and make peace with God. She never knew when her last day on Earth would come and this was as good a day as any. Thanking God for all her blessings was top priority.

They started trekking up the mountain as partners. Jaimee felt lucky that her partner was Jack, the guide, himself. If anything happened she had the expert himself. Her calf muscles were already starting to burn as they ascended the mountain, but further along, her adrenaline made the burn go away. She started walking faster, building up speed but Jack gave her a warning, “Don’t burn yourself out too quickly, Jaimee, we still have a long way to go before sunset. Get plenty of fluids too. But you’re all doing great, let keep going a little further before we stop to eat lunch.”

The wind was treacherous. Her nose felt like it might fall off even under the masked protection. By the time they stopped, 2 hours later, it felt like an eternity. Her lungs were burning and she was grateful to be resting. The group huddled together and got out their lunches. They talked about how they were feeling and the beauty of the mountain. Jaimee couldn’t deny the majestic scenery was amazing, but her thoughts kept going back to her family.

She came to the realization that she had already climbed several mountains in her life. Battling drug addiction is a mountain she would never stop climbing, but being in recovery was a feeling that no one could take from her. She claimed that victory and rejoiced in it one day at a time.

Battling low self-esteem was a huge mountain as well. Never knowing her own worth until Sean taught her to love herself meant years of sadness and self-loathing. That hurdle was ferocious and still crept up on her sometimes, but she remembered that God created her and she was worthy and she kept going.

“What are you deep in thought about, Jaimee?” Jack said, handing her a thermos of coffee to warm up with.

“Life, climbing mountains, my family. They are my world and yet here I am thousands of miles away. What am I doing?”

"Proving something to yourself. I see hundreds of people a year. I see doubt and determination. I know who’s going to stop and who will persevere and you are going to go all the way! Don’t doubt yourself!”

The climbers faced a more treacherous slope the second half of their journey and were grateful to buckle down for nightfall. For warmth, they all slept in the same tent. Jack reminded them this was the end of his part of the journey. In the morning he would descend the mountain and anyone who wanted to go with him was welcome. He sent positive thoughts and well wishes to those who were continuing their journey. Jaimee drifted off to sleep quickly. The days journey had tired her beyond comprehension.

She still was able to wake before daybreak, feeling decent. Muscles were sore in places she didn’t realize there were muscles, but she felt it. Everywhere really, but it was a good pain.

"First one up,” Jack said. “Ready to get your day started?”

"Not quite, but I will be once I look at my pictures.” Jaimee brought out photographs of her family. Sean, his beautiful girls and her handsome sons were all smiling up at her, though AJ only kind of smirked. He never did smile in a photograph and it made her chuckle a little. “This is my family she said and handed the pictures to Jack. They are what motivates me to keep going.”

Jack took them and shuffled slowly through them. “Beautiful family! I hope you have grand stories to tell when you make it back to them. Make sure not to leave me out!” He laughed loud enough to make the others start stirring in their sleeping bags. Now it was time to start the day.

"How could I leave you out, Jack!” You’ll be the center of the story!”

Most of the climbers decided to go back with Jack. Two other men were ready to keep going on with Jaimee as they said their goodbyes and kept onward with their individual journeys.

Though the three were all trying to get to the top, they each saw different paths as the best way to reach their destination. “Good luck!” Jaimee said, “See you at the top!” They gave the same sentiment and each set off on their own path.

Jaimee climbed for hours. When the slope was almost straight up, she wanted to give up but she held strong, keeping faith that the path would eventually ease up on her. Exhausted, she stopped earlier for lunch than they had the previous day. Having company was great and there was a loneliness in the group being gone, but there was also a sense of peace she now knew since her self reliance had become so much stronger.

After warming up and changing her socks and gloves for drier apparel, she set off again to make it as far as she could before nightfall.

As the slope got easier to walk, she relaxed a little. Her vigilance must not have been what Jack had warned her about, because suddenly she found herself plummeting through a hole under her feet. Apparently the snow had drifted and left a space underneath, trapping her underground. Perhaps she chose the wrong path.

She hit her head and was pretty sure she had broken her arm when she hit the ground. Too confused to assess the situation, she started getting very drowsy. Though she yelled, “Help!” 3 or 4 times, she realized her efforts were futile.

She began to give in to her bodies fatigue. In moments she started picturing herself on the Starship Enterprise. She was Captain Kirk. She was ready to ‘boldly go where no man (or woman) had gone before.’

They were being chased by some intergalactic space pirates and the only way out was to hit warp speed and get away before anymore damage was done to the ship.

“Ahead warp factor one!” Jaimee shouted as they began the charge into warp speed. Bright colorful lights started shining around the outside of the ship, the hair on the back of her neck stood up as her body was pushed hard into the back of the seat. Her lungs felt tight and filled with fluid, like she couldn’t breathe, but only for a second. Immediately afterward it felt like her body was floating, though she was still safely in her chair. As the vessel slowed to regular speed she felt nauseous and was sure she would throw up. She started violently coughing.

She woke up and felt an intense stinging in her chest. She was no longer with Spock. Instead she was freezing in a hole in Mount Everest. Add broken ribs to the list of injuries. How was she going to get out of this?

She looked up and was at least 14 feet underground. She tried to stand and though her legs were not hurt, thank God, she could not brace herself with her horribly mangled arm. Climbing out would be impossible.

She needed water. Fear was setting in and she wasn’t sure how to cope. She unscrewed the thermos and drank only a little, not wanting to throw up.

She thought back to her whitewater rafting trip where she told everyone to get a grip and get in survival mode. She was hyping herself up to do the same now, but she had no way to get out of this and the others had gone completely different directions. She was already too tired and parched to scream for help, but she didn’t want to die. She had far too much to live for. Opening her pack, she noticed the things Jack had given her at the base camp. She finally had a plan.

She used her good arm and attached the red flag to the 18 foot, white pole Jack stuck in her bag. Unfolding each section was difficult with one arm but not impossible and she was determined. With a red flag sticking out the top of the whole maybe she would be found. She just had to hold out and pray for no storms to cover her or the flag.

Now she waited. This would be the hard part. She thought back to her childhood and how loved she was, and how it felt today and the love she felt with her family. She remembered the years that love was missing and it made her even more grateful of her present life.

God had helped her through so many things. She was going to make it again! Was this almost as reckless as her years on drugs? Was this just as selfish, the possibility of leaving her loved ones? It made the thrill-seeking less admirable in this light.

“God, if You help me make it back to my family, I won’t need all this anymore, I’ll just need them. I’ll be content. Please help me.” She prayed.

Time started blending together. She barely got any light where she was so when night hit she closed her eyes and drifted off. With no more changes of dry clothing, frostbite was starting to get her fingers and toes. Each day started to feel like a nightmare. The pain was unbearable until she could no longer feel anything. She fell into a deep sleep, not sure she was going to wake up.

In her sleep, she finally realized that death could be physically painful, but emotionally freeing and spiritually loving. Her father smiled and reached out his hand to hold hers. It felt so warm and safe and yet she had so much she still wanted to experience. She wanted to see grandbabies and grow old with Sean. She wanted to give love to all her children as long as she could. Still the beauty she felt surrounding her dad was mesmerizing and drew her in. Death was beautiful! Maybe she should follow him!

“Anyone there!”

She heard yelling from another realm. It was hypnotic and drawing her back to Earth.

Jack had jumped out of the helicopter, seeing his red flag coming from an opening in the ground. “Jaimee! Are you down there? Are you alright?

She awakened and felt pain piercing her body everywhere. “I’m here! Jack I can’t move. Broken arm and ribs. Frostbite in all extremities. I need help!”

“I’m here. I’m bringing help.”

"You were wrong, Jack. I didn’t make it to the top.”

"You made it through something many wouldn’t. You are a miracle. If it makes you feel any better you’re pretty damn close. When we take you up in the helicopter you’ll be able to see it. I’m sorry you didn’t get to the peak, but you survived and that’s more than some would say in your situation. I knew I’d play a bigger role in your story! Now you HAVE to talk about me!”

"Jack?”

"What is it?"

"Shut up and get me the Hell outta here!”