I recently returned from an epic hiking/trekking adventure where I summited Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, an East African country. There are so many stories and lessons to impart, so bear with me as I try to put into words all the things that I have learned and brought back. For a day to day quick rundown of my trip with pictures, check out my personal Facebook or Instagram account.
Hiking is, obviously, a physical endeavor that requires stamina and muscular strength, two areas I devoted countless hours to in training for this climb. I am stronger and fitter than I have ever been in my life. But what about the bones? How are they a part of this training? Yes, strength training included exercises that focused on my knees and ankles, joints that would carry me upward, but these exercises were meant to build the musculature that supports those joints. I take a daily calcium and vitamin D supplement, but other than that, and weight bearing exercises, there is no specific training for the skeleton.
The structure of our human body depends on the skeleton. Made up of 206 individual bones, the skeleton provides support and protection for our bodies. I learned a technique that tapped into this intrinsic scaffolding that anchors our muscles while on the days long Kilimanjaro climbing trek. Called the “mountaineer’s rest step,” it relies on the strength of the skeleton to bear the weight of one’s body and not rely solely on the musculature. To do this, the climber must maintain a good, upright posture, no slumping allowed. When stepping up, the downhill leg should be straight, locked in place, bearing the weight of the body, while the uphill foot provides balance, but is not weight bearing. The straight line of the skeleton, from skull through the spine, and down to the downhill leg is the framework holding it all in place while engaging fewer muscle fibers. Waiting a microsecond in this position resets the body. The next step transfers the hiker’s weight from the previous downhill foot as it becomes the uphill one to the new downhill leg, which now locks into a straight position. Those microseconds of rest with each step will add up to provide more energy for a long, arduous ascent.
Our built-in skeletal structure is like our internal strength. When we rely on our known strengths—integrity, honesty, and resilience, for example—we don’t have to overuse or overthink peripheral constructs. Our scaffolding of inner strength will carry us forward. Otherwise, we may try to power through with a force of will, or concentrate our interior resources in obsessing about choices, going around in circles, or dithering. Taking the next right step is easier when we rely on those intrinsic qualities of soul structure.
For me, on Mount Kilimanjaro, not only did I rely on my skeleton and my physical training, but I called on my inner strengths of fortitude, a positive mental attitude, and the knowledge that I have a proven track record of overcoming difficult situations.
I also relied on the concept of “pole pole,” or “slowly slowly” . But that’s the topic for next week.