SEPTEMBER 2020 - TOUR MONT BLANC ALPINE
'BIVOUAC AREA'
day 11 of 11
Sunday, Sept. 20
Ended up at a campsite in Chamonix yesterday, today the last day 😥
The video below was made with the realization that it will be a while before you’re allowed to walk up from the ground floor, step by step, through the tree line. I’m not trying to record a literary treatise on that feeling here, but I did try to capture the insignificant, almost submissive feeling I had during the walk, in relation to the depth of the valley (though that’s not exactly literary either).
By the way, I’m going to do this again for my next book, because it it would be wonderful if I could manage to put my thoughts and experiences down on paper. Over the past few days, I’ve once again had the wonderful opportunity to reflect, but also to unwind and simply be present in the here and now. My next book will, of course, be about (especially under the current, challenging circumstances) putting my “Prioritijd!” motto into practice: “making choices, setting goals, and then devising a strategy to achieve them,” but also:
Big (the overall journey) v.s. small (the next step).
Stagnation v.s. movement (looking at what you can do instead of getting stuck in the negative).
Acceptance ("walking conditions" like the weather, exertion and navigation as a metaphor for "reinventing yourself" and getting used to "the, new, life").
The wealth of being allowed, as well as still being able, to make such a hike v.s. the reason for it.
My daily'struggle' to function 'as normal as possible' (which by the way is a lot easier under 'these' (hiking) conditions') v.s. the regular lack of understanding about 'my situation'
(which I understand very well because I try so hard to 'act normal' but where you always have to 'rise above').
The fact that I understand from myself that I do have to rise above it, otherwise I go crazy, but that this, again, can come across as arrogant; the distance you create towards people who might, well, be genuinely interested.
I now often say 'I don't want to talk about that' when, in some cases, this could actually help.
The realization (just like during my previous trip to Scotland) that at home I need to plan the few appointments I make carefully and then take time to recover afterward (even if it’s just a simple coffee date or dinner with the family), whereas now I’m not planning anything at all, I walk, rest wherever and whenever I want, pitch my tent wherever it’s convenient, and just get stronger every day. The fact that you used to (in my case, literally 😉) just be running, whereas now, again literally, you’re taking small steps but still reaching your goals and covering distances (a metaphor for the difficult path to acceptance);
I'm going to include it in my book but not here and now!
(Am already chuckling at the reactions if you guys read this, otherwise I'm fine but consider this "italicized" in advance as a preview of the book!)
While “climbing,” I usually take a short break every 100 steps (strategy, mindfulness; I’ll keep going for a bit longer 😀 ); partly to enjoy the surroundings (to take a moment to appreciate them), but mainly to recover! Consciously taking a moment to catch my breath—not just mentally, but so that my whole body can “keep going”—which might sound a bit vague, but actually fits perfectly under my current circumstances and serves as an ideal substitute for triathlons and marathons, as well as for the sense of fulfillment I miss from work.
On that day, during those breaks, I deliberatelypicked up the GoPro (too) often and captured my surroundings.
The realization that one moment you’re still walking amid the city’s sounds (even on an early Sunday morning), while during the hike it grows quieter with every step—and in the forest, you can still hear birds singing— . That same landscape becomes increasingly beautiful and impressive, and during this hike, you see that not only in relation to the city in the distance but also because of the mountains on the other side of the valley.
Precisely this day, when, like yesterday when I walked the last part through Chamonix, you are part of that city tolook out on it afterwards from above where you, literally, distance yourself more and more, was therefore (after all those days lovely, alone, in nature) a nice transitional (goodbye?) day.
Nice? Ridiculously nice!
I'll work on my video skills—specifically the transitions between shots—I promise!
Just a practical note: by the way, a train runs on that track very frequently!
(You can actually hear it in the valley in one of the videos.)
The best part of this adventure was that I walked right up to my hotel.
There, we raised a toast to this wonderful trip.
It’s wonderful to be home again, but also to look forward to the next one!
At first, I tried to fit the entire report onto a single page. Of course, because of the many photos and videos, this ultimately wasn’t feasible. Since it ended up spanning multiple pages, a password wasn’t an option either.
I’ve shared the link to this report with a small group of people, but since there’s no password, it’s always possible that someone who isn’t aware of “my situation” might stumble upon these pages.
To understand the italicized section above, it’s a good idea in that case to read this page .
