Mont Blanc Simulation

 Telegraph Hill Walks

Day 1: 

We walked up and down 12 times on our first day. To make it feel like we were climbing up with heavy weights, we filled our backpacks with water bottles and other weights. It felt exciting to start walking up, however we were all pretty tired in the end and happy to go home. 

Day 2: 

The second day we started in the morning. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. We were a little sore from the day before, but just like mountaineers, we powered through.  Like the first day, we climbed up and down twelve times. Now we only had 120 more times to go. 

Day 3: 

Day number 3 of walking started at 11 am. Personally I (Anna) had woken up just 15 minutes before we were going to start walking towards Telegraph hill to make it more like mountaineers having to quickly eat their breakfast and directly leaving camp to continue their climb.

The third day was easier for us, and we even decided to walk longer than the two first times: 15 times up and down. Now we "only" have 105 more times to go! 

We all did an automatic writing at the beginning and end of our walk, which you can read about here: 

Sayuri: 

Before: 

Today it's so cold. I felt a little depressed when I left home, but now I'm arriving at the park I got motivated. I'm going to record data on how much I'm looking at the scenery on my way up and down the hill. Also, I plan to walk with the mask on to create a situation of high altitude. Anyway, it's so cold.

After: 

My body is very warm. I was suffocating because I was wearing a mask, but it wasn't unbearable. I'm tired. I enjoyed the conversation with others. The wind feels very good. 

Karen: 

Before

I am feeling a little tired. My nose is runny because of the cold I kind of feel pain in my shoulders and I'm starting to fell my backpack filled with water getting heavier and heavier. The weather is not encouraging lite the other days we walked. 

After: 

Walking 15 times today felt like an accomplishment, even though I feel like I want to walk one more time to have finished 40 times in total. I really enjoyed today's walk although I was really tired but the sun started shining in the middle of our walk and I felt happy. 

Gal: 

16.11.2020

Before:

Today is our third day. I am really cold. I am looking forward to getting warmer throughout the climb and I am kind of bummed out that I didn’t wear hats and gloves. I am also a bit tired.

After:

Today was surprisingly easier than I expected, we talked and the weather was actually really perfect once I warmed up. We did more than we did before so it was harder towards the end and I felt out of breath but overall I feel good about today and am confident that we can progress even more in time.

Anna 

Before: 

I woke up fifteen minutes before we were going to meet up. I was already hungry when I woke up so I knew I had to take the time to make some breakfast: I needed the fuel for the walk. After having put on my heavy backpack I noticed my back hurting. I must've slept in a strange position or something. I feel ready for the walk even though I'm half a sleep. 

After: 

We've now just finished our walk. We had planned to walk up and down 12 times but we were feeling good so we decided to push a little harder today and add three more times. It's a bit windy, which adds more accuracy to the simulation. I feel good even though my back is hurting a little. 

Day 4: 

Automatic writings (before and after walk):

Gal: 

17.11.20

Before

I didn’t sleep well last night so I’m very tired and feel like I haven’t fully woken up yet. I am wearing heavy boots today to feel like I’m wearing mountain boot and even on the way here it was much harder to walk so I’m nervous I won’t be able to finish today.

After 

Today was the day I felt the most like I was climbing a mountain. The heavy shoes really made me feel tired from the beginning and made my feet hurt. There was a strong wind at the top of the hill so that made it feel like we reached the summit. We went up and down 16 times today and I’m proud of myself for pushing myself even though it was hard.

Anna:

17.11.2020

Before
Today is going to be more challenging than the other times. I’ve added my flat mates ankle weights and I’m excited to see how it feels to walk with them. I’m probably not gonna be as excited in a few minutes but right now I am. The weather is not the best, it’s quite windy and the clouds are blocking the sun. We’re going to listen to mountain sounds while walking. 

After
We pushed ourselves a little harder once again by adding one more time up and down. The ankle weights seemed ok at first, but by the 10th time I really started to get tired and feel the weight and gravity pulling me down. The wind was pretty strong today but we were approaching the summit of Mont Blanc so it makes sense. 

Karen:

Before:
My nose is runny because of the cold weather and the walk to Telegraph hill and all I can think about is that I don’t have tissues. I’m feeling pretty motivated for today’s walk and I’m really looking forward to it because I had a very good breakfast. 

After:
The music added so much drama to the walk I felt like I was in a movie scene where the mountaineer was lost on a snowy mountain all alone. The music was kind of synchronized with my pace in walking and I would go faster or slower according to the dramatic music.

Sayuri:

Before

Today, it's warmer than yesterday. I'm feeling bad because of the lack of sleep but it would be better.  I will still be positive. I will climb while listening to dramatic music. The wind makes me comfortable. 

After

Well, we've finished at last. I'm so tired. I was repeating the same song, so it was good at the beginning but boring at the end. Also, listening to the Pirates of the Caribbean insert song made me think of the ocean, even though we were simulating the mountains. I will change the song or choose the sounds of nature such as wind next time.

Day 5: 

Anna: 

Before: 

We walked out this morning and the rain was pouring down. We all just wanted to stay inside. The wind is so cold. Bit there we are, ready to start walking. I've put on my ankle wights and I've closed my rain coat to protect me the the rain and the wind. 

After: 

Finally, we finished today's walk. We're all pretty wet from the rain and the cold from the wind. I listened to some dramatic music and it really felt like I was in the Lord of the Rings. My muscles have started to get used to climb now and my ankle weights aren't too heavy. They do make my ankles hurt but that's because I have to tie them hard so that they don't fall off. 

Sayuri:

Before

It stopped raining. condition is good. But my brain is not working today. Maybe because I was thinking about meditation. What does it like? I'm sure that I would not think about such things if I'm in meditation.

After

I'm the most tired today. Perhaps fatigue is accumulating. I walked without talking too much. Then I was just thinking about what to eat.

Karen: 

Before:

I’m feeling very discouraged today because of the rain, but this is maybe better for the simulation because mountaineers walk in horrible weather conditions and they have to adapt. Maybe this is a good chance for me to get used to the London weather. I’m so tired and I’m really not looking forward to today’s walk. 

After:

Today was more tiring than everyday because we walked 20 times. Also the weather wasn’t really nice because of the rain and the wind. I’m happy that we did 20 times today because that means we have less left! And now I can go back home and finaaallyyy eat.

Day 6: 

Anna: 

Before

We have a long walk ahead of us today. We’ve reached the summit of Mont Blanc now, so we’re going down, which feels harder than going up. The goal is already reached so now we’re eager to come down. My ankle weights are on, windy and stormy sounds are in my earphones and my backpack is heavy. There’s a bit of wind and the sky is covered in clouds. Hopefully it won’t rain but it’s not looking good.y back is already hurting and my muscles are aching from my workout I did yesterday, but it will just add to the simulation which is good. 

After

We’ve just finished our longest walk yet and let’s just say that I’m so happy to be done for today. My ankles hurt from the weights, I have a stone in my shoe, my legs hurt, my back hurts and I’m just overall tired. I listened to some windy sound and it made me feel a bit dizzy because I imagined me being on the mountain and the wind made me sway a bit. I also tried to walk and lifting my feet high up, to make it feel like I was walking in deep snow. The ankle weights were really weighing me down. Every time I take them off after having walked with them, it feels like I'm flying, almost as I'm walking on the moon. 

Sayuri: 

Before

My hands are numb from the cold. I'm a little worried because my leg is injured, but I've changed my shoes so it's okay. Is there anything that can motivate me?

After

Unlike the boots I've been wearing, the sneakers were really easy to walk on! I think the equipment is really important. It was dark at night, so it was dangerous, but it was exciting.

Karen: 

Before:

Today I’m feeling energized because of the food that I ate however, I feel like the weather is so depressing even though it’s not 3 pm yet. Not really in the mood for walking today because of the weather but still have to push through ;(

After:

Doing 25 today felt like an accomplishment! I don’t even feel tired and I’m starting to think that this should be a regular workout for me. But maybe not in Telegraph hill next time. I was reading about Mount Sinai in Egypt and this project made me want to go and climb it. I feel like this excercise is preparing me to climb Mount Sinai when I go back to Egypt.

Gal: 

Before:

Today we’re going to try and go as far as we can, I wore boots again so I wonder how that will feel, they do feel heavier on my feet so I’m guessing it will make me feel more like a mountaineer. The weather is really nice, windy but not too cold.

After: 

Today was fine, the weather was nice and it was nice feeling the wind at the top. I was tired by the end because we did a lot of rounds but I can see that slowly we are getting better and are able to climb more and more every time.

Day 7: 

Sayuri: 

Before

Finally, it is the final day! I wanna start walking soon! I'm a little worried about the reactions on my Instagram. 

After

I'm proud to have completed this experiment. Today, I was looking back on what I had done many times in my mind. I'm very tired, but this fatigue is not unpleasant. Rather, it may be comfortable. It was unexpected that I, who hate exercise, would feel like this. I'm glad I didn't give up.

Karen: 

Before: 

40 times is a lot, but I’m feeling very excited for today. I’m excited for how it’s gonna feel like after climbing up and down the Mont Blanc. I hope it doesn’t rain because the weather loooks ugly. I’m a little worried about weather we will be able to do all 40 today. 

After:

We’re done!!! I feel happy because this is such an accomplishment but at the same time a little sad because I really enjoyed this challenge and I feel that I personally benefited from it a lot. I would actually like to do more mountaineering activities and pursue this hobby/ sport more. The weather was nice and sunny for a few minutes and I was thinking about the Teletubbies the whole time. Stepping in poop today made me feel more like a mountaineer because I can now imagine how dirty their shoes become afterwards.

Anna: 

Before:

Finally last day of walking! It’s going to be the longest day yet, but just like mountaineers we brought our snacks (Oreos of course) and we’re going to take breaks to make sure everyone is ok. Again, ankle weights on, heavy backpack, warm clothes because it’s so so cold and now we're off! 

After: 
We’ve finally finished the whole simulation and I feel great! I’m very proud of us for completing this and I definitely feel like I understand more the challenges of mountaineering. It’s not the same, but the social environment is there, we ate our Oreos and devoured them and our legs are on fire. It was a beautiful day and the sun showed its face which was really really nice. It was a cold day but with the exercise we heated ourselves up. 

Gal: 

Before:

Today we’re finishing the climb and climbing 42 times. I’m excited to finish but also nervous that it will be really hard to do it all at once, but I guess today will be the closest experience to real mountaineering so far.

After: 

We finished climbing and descending Mont Blanc today. It feels like such an accomplishment and I feel proud of us and like we really managed to get the essence of mountaineering. We also picked up trash today on the way because trash is a big problem on mountains and we wanted to try and do the opposite of liter in order to experience a change we would like to see in the mountaineering world.

Gal and Karen picking up trash