The Doctor Weighs In

By Pat Salber, MD

While Dov is wandering through the Pyrenees thinking about Neanderthals, Homo sapiens, and Fox2P, my thoughts on this vacation are somewhat more basic. This is our second big time hiking trip with Walking Softly, a hiking company out of Oregon.

Last year’s trip, 10 days of hiking in Bulgaria was just about at the limit of my physical endurance (or at least my desire for physical endurance).  This one, in the Pyrenees, promises to be equally challenging.   The second hike of the trip is described as a very long day (the first being a mere 5 miles straight up 2,100 feet to Lac d’Ilheou at 4100 feet).  

I worry a lot about the fact that “very” was both bolded and in italics in the trip book.  Dov says, “No big deal, you can do it.”  But that is not the real question…it is whether I want to do it.

There are always two options on each hiking day.  Option One is for the wimps, like me.  Option Two is for the real hikers, the ones who think a 3,000 foot climb is like the proverbial “walk in the woods.”

I decide to keep my options open until the very last minute when the Ones split off from the Twos.   And, voila, there I was, climbing from Pont d’Espagne (4,787 feet) to Lac Nere at almost 8,000 feet.  Oh, no!  There’s more to worry about…not only it is a lot of uphill, but the destination is really high.  And, the loop is really long – 12 miles.

So, I let myself think about the important things as I slogged away on the trail.  First, I thought, I am pretty sure I am going to get my 10,000 steps in today….maybe my 10,000 steps/day for the whole week…or month…who knows maybe for the whole year.  

Hmmm.  Then that means I can eat whatever I want for lunch.  Of course, I packed the usual good stuff (tomatoes and green peppers), but I also packed candy bars.  French candy bars…filled with hazelnut cream and covered in dark chocolate.  

I think about this as we ascend.  At every turn, I believe we have reached the top, but, then, we round a corner and another part of the mountain appears in front of me.  We pass by two lakes—the guide told me we would be almost done climbing when we passed the first two lakes.  But he lied.  There were two more lakes before we reach the tippy top of this magnificent mountain and collapse in the prickly grass surrounding Lac Nere. 

My feet hurt.  So does my back.  But I am elated.  I made it to the top!  Then, out comes the lunch -- creamy cheeses, crispy apples, and…the candy bars.  We hang out at the lake for an hour and then it is time to go.

I have extracted a promise from the guide that the rest of the hike is all down hill.  It can’t be that bad, right?  Six hours later, we finally reach the end of the trail.  I am exhausted.  I am not sure I can even climb the stairs on the bus.

Hey, no question, tomorrow, I am doing Option One (with the wimps). I earned it.