11. A Long Way Home

[Note: this is the last of an 11-part post the chronicles our expedition.  If you're just coming across this for the first time, I would suggest starting with #1 so the events go in chronological order.  Enjoy, Mike]

The reunion was short but sweet, stories flying in both directions. Chris, Matt, and I stayed up all night with Dan, helping him get his luggage into the airport-bound taxi at 4:00 a.m. We then promptly crashed, but couldn’t sleep for too long as we had business to take care of with ITMC in the morning.

Matt and I got up early, checking the internet and grabbing a delicious breakfast before heading to ITMC where Asel was happy to see us. We settled our debts, having to pay for the horse and ITMC’s equipment that we had to leave behind. We ran a bit over our budget thanks to all the money we spent on horses, but at the end of the day, we had an incredible trip. We can’t thank our sponsors enough for making it possible.

Returning to civilization is a blessing and a curse, and I think we all had somewhat different feelings. Personally, at times I felt like I’d never left Bishkek – the rest of the trip just seemed like a blur. At others, the lingering aches and pains were stark reminders of the experience while the little irritants of society made me want to run away again.

We spent the afternoon souvenir shopping then shared a fabulous dinner with Arianna and her sister, learning of some upcoming changes to the Alpine Fund. We hope it will remain a strong organization and pledged to continue supporting their efforts.

Chris and I left the next day, August 4. My return trip would take 43 hours, the worst of which would be 15 hours in the oppressively hot Moscow airport. I finally made it to my apartment at 11:00 p.m. EST on August 5. The scale in my bathroom only confirmed what I could see in the mirror: 139 pounds, 15 less than when I left on June 28.

The questions you get when you return from an expedition always seem so mundane. ‘Did you have a good time?’ ‘What was it like?’ There’s really no way to fully explain what it’s like to people who weren’t there. Only Matt, Dan, and I really know what it was like to toil in the unforgiving, indiscriminate mountains of the Djangart. The experience is uniquely ours.

I’ve been asked several times, ‘Would you do it again?’ I think it’s a rather frivolous question, but I always get the impression people expect me to say no. I’ll admit that on the surface climbing is a rather frivolous sport. We travelled half way around the world to thrash our bodies, risking our lives to climb to the top of a chunk of rock. Oftentimes, those who don’t climb can’t see past this. They can’t see the personal growth that comes from testing physical and mental limits. They can’t see the bonds built between ropemates. They can’t see the essence of distilling life to a singular focus amidst an awe-inspiring landscape. I’m alright with that though, for I can see the value of these things. It’s what keeps me going back again and again.

Mike