I had the opportunity to test both my mental and physical ability recently to see if one can influence the other. I had accompanied a group of students up Mount Kinabalu. I am writing this from my own personal experience.
View and climate on the mountain was really breath taking. At the beginning, both mental and physical ability seemed to work very well together. The journey to the rest house is 6 km with the many level of steps. Soon after my knapsack was not doing any justice for me. I wondered what I had packed that is giving me so much struggle in carrying it. Not much exactly - a change of clothes, a raincoat, personal toiletries, first aid kit, video cam and....hmmmmm. I had wondered. At the 4km, I had to give up my knapsack to a mountain guide who happened to be escorting another two female climbers. It had taken a toll on my back. Although the major weight issue was solved, the next feat to climb to the resthouse was not over. Because of the weight I had carried earlier, most of my energy was drained. It is here that the mental ability started to challenge the physical ability.
It took about 6 hours for all of us to reach the resthouse. What a relief it was when we arrived, there was still daylight. I had chewed almost 5 chewing gum to help with the minor altitude sickness I was having. Immediately after dinner (very early dinner!) I went to my bed to rest. It was not easy to fall asleep though as there were many other guest walking up and down like a cow over the wooden floors of Laban Rata resthouse. And they also pretended that it is like home for them...by talking so loud! While trying to doze off, I told myself, 'Bev, you are one mad woman!'
The ascend to the summit started at 2.40am the following day. I saw many climbers with torchlight walking slowly in a line in a pitched dark trail. It was another form of trail that I realized it is better to be experience in the dark. This is because if you see how the trail is when there is sun light, you would definitely change your mind.
The climb was another 2.7km which I thought was the most painful physical journey I have ever had. It was through steep path with ropes, less oxygen and not forgetting 60% sore muscles already from previous day's climb. I was literally crawling for the last 1.5km to the summit. The other funny thing was I felt so sleepy. At the summit, the ultimatum was seeing the majestic sunrise from the highest peak between the Himalayas and New Guinea. Every climbers was estatic when they reached the top. Weather was perfect.
Descending down has a different effect. The legs became so weak. Every step I take, I had some hesitation because I wasn't sure if the steps I take, my feet is strong enough to hold my weight. However I had appreciated my VERY LOCAL adidas brand rubber shoe (adidas kampung!) If it wasn't for the shoe, I would have already slip a few times with the weak legs. Because of making sure my steps are safe, I had forgotten all about my altitude sickness.
I was so hungry when we returned to Laban Rata resthouse. But I could not even eat a full breakfast meal because I was so tired already. After packing all my stuffs, I managed to steal a 10 minute nap on oe of the dining tables while waiting for the students to be ready themselves. I've decided to carry my knapsack on my own, as I figured that going down will not be as bad as climbing. Just as we walked out of the Laban Rata resthouse to continue our descending to the park headquarters, it RAINED!
It rained all the way. Because I only had the top half of a raincoat, my pants was totally wet when we reached the headquaters. With the weight of my knapsack and heavy wet pants, my legs was giving signs of 'STOP WALKING!' My walking style was like a person who was on crutches. We had a quick change into dry clothes and a quick lunch before we board our transport to continue our expedition.
So how did the mind over matter test go? I must admit that as much as we want to think the our own mind can influence our physical ability to push forward, in some situations it may not be possible. I am very close to giving up in reaching the summit. It was the last 200 meters that I told the mountain guides I will no longer move. But they pushed me to reach that very Summit of Mt. Kinabalu. My mental ability cannot influence my physical ability or vice versa. In other words, we do need someone else to tell us we can do it other than we tell ourselves we can do it.
Would I go through the test again? Yes I would, but maybe on a different scale.
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