Article February 2, 2004 Issue

Angels at 14,410 feet

By Jonatha Wey

AT THE END OF LAST SUMMER I flew to Seattle, Washington, to climb Mount Rainier (elevation 14,410 feet). I'd never trekked through really high altitudes before, but had spent much of the summer training in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and felt excited as our team assembled in Seattle for glacier instruction.

We spent a whole day on the mountain being evaluated and getting practical hints, after which we were expected to be ready to go. We began hiking the next day at 5,500 feet, and spent that evening waiting in tents at 10,000 feet. At midnight our guide told us to get ready. By the time we had packed, found something hot to drink, and got harnessed, roped, etc., it was 2:00 a.m. We were cold and tired. The winds were blowing hard. Nothing more than a headlamp illuminated our steps. The ascent began.

The next hour for me was miserable. I suffered fatigue more serious than I had ever felt before. Each step took so much effort, and it was in such contrast to the day before, when I had felt physically prepared. During our first break at 3:00 a.m., I told myself that I either needed to get my head in the game or else get off the rope. When you are roped together, you have to work as a team, or you become a liability to the others. And that was the last thing I wanted.