Over the last four months, I have been training 20 people to go up Mt. Whitney (a 14,505 mountain and the highest in the Continental United States) . In less than two weeks, they will climb to the peak and down in one-day. They will have to overcome the altitude, tired legs, monitor their nutrition and hydration, and deal with blisters.
My experience of training this group to hike to the peak of Mt. Whitney is a type of training that is quite different from my normal day to day clients and from the previous two groups. I acted more like a trainer on the first groups - staying focused on the goal than the experience. The hikes moved fast - staying with the fastest people, I didn't wait for the final hikers and i didn't pack extra reinforcements. Looking back, I shake my head and feel ashamed on how I didn't give more of myself.
Over this past year, I have slowly ameliorated into a new kind of guide..a gentler, patient, and smarter guide with experience not just in training the body, but in the outdoors. My goal isn't just to get clients to their destination, but gain some experience through the process and let the process bring life to their life.
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| Having a party at the top of San Jacinto (10,834') |
Enjoy the journey & the people
During my recent trip to Chile, I was fortunate to meet two guides (Fernardo and Mickael) who taught me more than they probably know. They were hired by groups to take them through Torres de Paine in Patagonia, Chile - they were guides, not trainers. I met them on a hike up to the Torres and during that time I noticed a quality in them that was different. They weren't in a hurry...they weren't stressed....they smiled, they took the pace of the client, and guided them up the mountain while talking, laughing, and enjoying nature and the people. It could be the culture too, Chileans are very warm and happy people but these two guides were French and Argentinean so can't say it's just culture. At the end of the hike, they would go back to the nearest bar and share a bottle of wine and enjoy each others company. It was genuine.
Learn as much as you can about nature
After that initial meeting, we quickly became friends and talked at length about hiking, 'guiding', their home town, and their lifestyle. One morning, Fernarndo - the Argentinean, took me on a run. I thought we were going to run for an hour but we ended up running for over 3 hours! All we had was an orange which was hidden under a rock in the ice cold glacier water. During the run, I soaked up the beautiful terrain, the Torres reaching the sky, and the feeling of being free. He showed me that the water coming straight for the glaciers was pure and clean, taught me how the rocks and Torres de Paine were created over millions of years. And I'm sure it was only a fraction of what he knew. I left that day inspired and motivated to learn more about the land, terrain, animals, floral of places that I frequented.
A guide has no ego
As I have slowly started to cultivate these two traits, I find myself more compassionate with my group and each persons' struggles and challenges. I walk with the slower group because I know that they need me more. I always carry extra food, water, electrolytes, etc just in case someone runs out. And I wait till the last person comes down. I bring cold beers for all the hikers and we all share a drink; for that moment, we celebrate our achievements and drink up life.
Having a different perspective on guiding and training (yes, I still want to be sure they are prepared for the big 22 mile hike they have to face in two weeks), I am better able to handle difficult and potentially dangerous situations. In a group setting, it is not about me or one person, it is about the group and making sure everyone is safe. Sure, if i was in an adventure race, my perspective and mindset would be totally different; I'm more willing to risk to achieve a goal. But in guiding, you don't to take any risks. Your gut, not your ego, is your compass.
Hike this way please and enjoy your journey!
Your guide, Chi
