Day 2 began with a 5am wake up so I could join a hike to the local Kunjapuri temple (lord Shiva). I have been missing the mountains and the beautiful scenery I enjoyed during the earlier trekking portion of my trip. When I signed up yesterday, they were very insistent on explaining this was a TREK not a HIKE, so to be prepared. I thought, yeah, right. Compared to "Nepali Flat" I'm sure this will be a breeze! I won't even be last to finish!! Famous last words.
We left the resort property and began our trek on a semi-decent road going up. When we broke from the road to a small trail in the forest, I started to worry. It was pretty much straight up with switchbacks, and although only about 7am, it was already hot at over 30 degrees. I quickly fell behind, as usual, and my guide Dinesh stayed with me to ensure I was OK. This has been a wonderful theme in all the hiking I've done. Not the falling behind bit, but the having a guide with me most of the time when I have fallen behind has been great. Today, in particular, as I suddenly felt very ill. We only gained about 500m in altitude and are below 3000m so I didn't think this was altitude sickness again, but, you know, with my advanced medical degree and all....
Anyways, I quickly transitioned from not feeling all that hot to extremely dizzy and so sweaty I was completely drenched; pants, shirt, hair and all. I started to feel like I was going to black out so told Dinesh I had to sit down before I fell down. This didn't help much but was better than scanning the ground for the best place to collapse without hurting myself too much! I really didn't want to repeat my broken wrist again so soon!! Now I've fallen really behind. I have no idea how far the rest of the group has gotten ahead, I just know I have to keep stopping and sitting so I don't black out. Thank God for technology! Dinesh whipped out his mobile, which thankfully worked and called the hotel to send the car early so it could pick me up and take me the remainder of the way up to the temple to join the group. As s***ty as I felt, I found it extremely difficult to "give up" and accept the drive up. You think I'd be able to let go of this by now!!! I know if Pat were here he would tell me to stop being "macho." A frequent criticism of his of me that I don't really understand, but think I get his point. It's more that I don't want to admit to myself or anyone else that there are things I cannot do. I CAN DO ANYTHING!! Have you MET me??
Anyways, my Mom & Pat will be happy to know that my better sense prevailed and I pulled the pin on the hike. I enjoyed the temple and returned as, after all, I have a tough day of spa'ing ahead of me!!! ;)
Dinesh suggested I try again on Thursday, which will be the next and only other time they offer the hike during my stay. We'll see!
The one thing I found interesting about how horrible I felt this morning was how I felt like my heart rate was sky high and I felt like my pulse was about to hammer out of my skull. What makes that interesting is that when I arrived and had my consult with the Ayurvedic Dr. he commented that my pulse is fairly slow; certainly for me, it's slow. It was around 60 and I think I'm normally around 90 or higher. Yes, Mom, making a note to discuss with Doc when I get home...