In preparation for my Himlayan expedition in two weeks my professor gathered our group together to spend the night up at Brighton in order to help us better acclimatize for our trip. I knew we were going to hike and then find a place to spend the night, so I prepared my things to backpack up in the mountains. Our little family has been helping me prepare by taking hikes up along the Wasatch front here in Utah Valley, so I thought I was pretty prepared for what was about to happen. The group had decided to taste some Himalayan cuisine so we met first at the Himalayan Kitchen in Salt Lake and then headed up to the cabin. By the time we arrived it was well after 7:30 and my professor thought it would be best if I stayed in the cabin, but Miguel insisted we have this klondike camping experience, so we loaded up our packs in the dark and started out on the trail at about 8,000 feet of elevation. As soon as we got on the trail it was dark and Miguel was leading the group with me closely behind him. The trail was a vertical incline that headed straight up the mountain with patches of snow. That distance between Miguel and I got further and further apart because my asthma always kicks in with climbing at fast speeds uphill, and this was definitely uphill! I paused and let the members of the group pass me. I was burning up and ready to throw my pack over the cliff I was having such a hard time breathing. At that moment, all I wanted was for everyone to pretend I didn't exist and keep moving forward so I could deal with my challenges alone....all except for Miguel. I had two members of the group trying to coax me up that mountain, while I'm insisting for them to go on without me. I knew I could do it, but I needed some space and to go at my own pace and the peer pressure was so intense and I was embarrassed. All I kept thinking in my mind was "Where is Miguel! When is he going to come back for me!" Eventually he did come and it was such a relief. I didn't have to pretend, and he grabbed my hand and together we walked up that freezing cold dark mountain together. Hand in Hand! I didn't know if he felt like he was dragging me up that mountain, or what it was, but it was so much more doable hand in hand. At one point he handed me the end of a short rope and he held the other, so we were tethered together. He claims it is all psychological and that he wasn't pulling me, but whatever it was, it worked. It was in this tender moment that I was highly aware of how much I needed him. I knew that together we could do all things, including surviving the night on this mountain.
We eventually caught up with the group and that was when we decided to start finding a place to stay the night. The mountain was still at an angle so we dug around, and walked around by flashlight trying to find a flat enough spot to try to put up a tent. I stood there and froze as I watched the scoutmaster find a makeshift hoe out of a tree branch and dig us out a spot on the side of the mountain. We put that tent up, propped one end up with our backpacks and fallen trees, and burrowed down for the night. As I lay there frozen in my sleeping bag the thought came to me that if you want to see your spouse shine, put them in their element, and watch them go. He was my hero that night.
What was it that Miguel could satisfy verses the rest of my team? I think it was because I knew he wasn't thinking any ill will and that he had a genuine concern for me. It wasn't a race up the mountain, and that he wanted me to make it. He knew my challenges and was sensitive to them. I could be open and honest with him. My heart grew three sized that night, as I watched him take care of me, and we were both able to rejoice in our success the next morning. I did take comfort in the fact that he said his scouts would have cried doing what we did that night.
What can I say...I'm in love with Miguel!
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