A Real Warrior

When there's no where else to run...

My first real summit was at Huacapune (A Place I kept very deep in my heart), it showed me so much and it also provided something that I was missing for a while; Core Friendship.
Back in 2006, I was very involved into the sailing ocean thing. The mountains were there, but not as close as they all are now. It took me more than few months of listening to Christian and more to get me into exiting the waters and rapidly get uncomfortable at the highest altitude soroche hills.

... as I sat today in the waiting room to donate my blood, I started to recall all those events, all those glorious mountains and places I have gone with that crazy kid. Always powerful, so much gifted and stronger than me, so calibrated happy to push on the cold weather circumstances; anything can happen above 5000 meters.

Another headaches, another heartbreaks

"We made it JC - we made it... and nobody can take it away from us."

That was the phrase, the one that remains when I climbed Meiggs, El Misti, Neveria and my 2012 Cagua. It was Christian that first said it, it was not me - like so many think I did and read in this blog.

... It was time today to give back a little for so much he has provided through out the years since I know him. No doubt in my mind that obscure passages are approaching for him, but I know very deep inside that he will fight this battle as the once we did when the coldnest hit - minus cero... somewhere in the Andes.

I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier

"We made it JC - we made it...

I know brother, and there are many more mountains to go, I promise...

While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done.

Crossfit @ The Blue Room

It has been a little while since I post something.

As you all know (or not), I am very involve into an outstanding training program: Crossfit.

In my humble opinion, it is more than just the grueling mechanics, olympic lifting, aerobic exercises, physical and mental challenge. It goes beyond that. When I walk into this place call the "Sala Azul", and instant magic arise in me.

Just happy to be there... Period.

Today, after I finish the intense training, from the other side of the gym comes a man and he wanted to talk to me... and said:

"You look like you were overloaded in there, ready to get hurt or break..."

I almost answer to this man some unnecessary phrase or some incoherent sarcastic line. But, I decided to simplify everything:

"It is about the spirit of competition and the man/woman next to me"

He laugh... he kept laughing... I know he is - still - right now... I do not care.

OHS, Squat Clean, Scotty Bob, Fight Gone Bad, Chuck Norris, Fran... are the names that I either try to survive doing or live up to the challenge for the past 5 months. I can argue with anyone about it... but Crossfit has help put an attitude in me to reach and summit 5825 meters "El Misti"; when many honestly - really - could not believe - I made it.

I do not want to forget or let go - the characters of the Blue Room.

Everyone Queens and Kings of their own destiny, Maniac of their bodies, Brothers and Sisters in Arms, unconditional souls, partners in crime.

From the Amazon Beauties, the incandescent ladies of the 8 a.m., to the uncontrollable firebreathers of the last hour of the night - I totally dig them all.

For so many years, I thought I was nuts by living in my own wagon train, crossing oceans, climbing mountains, Freeway busting, Crazy Combis, walking the distance - but now I know... I am not alone.

I am not alone anymore.

Off in the night, while you live it up,
I'm off to sleep Waging wars to shape the poet and the beat
I hope it's gonna make you notice... King of Leon.

Criollo

Real Academia Española:

CRIOLLO:
(Del port. crioulo, y este de criar).

Autóctono, propio, distintivo de un país hispanoamericano.

Yachting is a privilege for the common individual

Lomas de Lachay

Location: Huaura
Surface: 5070 hectares

This has to be - out of all the places I have been - in my TOP 10.

By far, an awesome and totally natural element site.

If you wonder why you are so cluster incorporated in front of a TV Set - get out and travel north of Lima to KM 105 to the "Reserva Nacional Lachay"

I assure you... you will not regret.

Arequipa - El Misti: 5825 m.s.n.m. (09.09.09)

Date: 09 09 09
Location:
16° 17′ 40″ S
71° 24′ 32″ W
Weather: Windy, Chilly, Sunny, Cold, Gusty
Quote: The Sum of All Fears

Como empieza todo esto?...

Exactamente el día 08 08 08
Día que recuerdo muy bien, como si fuera ayer (mejor ante-ayer), me hice una promesa que días como este tan maravillosos solo hay uno y esa antorcha que una vez se encendió; no se apagaría.

Con eso en mente y perturbado por emprender una experiencia mas; escogí ese lugar al sur de Perú.Ese lugar se llama Arequipa.

Esplendida ciudad, con sus fallas tectonicas, caballos de paso, lanudos camélidos, extensos valles, mujeres bellas, playas extensas, sol radiante, luna llena; la cual esta rodeada de volcanes...
Uno de ellos es EL MISTI.

Esta ciudad hermosa construida casi totalmente en sillar, una clase de piedra volcánica blanca - Esta es la razón porque Arequipa se llama la Ciudad Blanca.

DIA 1 (Base Camp - 4800 m.s.n.m.)

8:00 a.m. Nuestro Guía - Gerald, llega al Hospedaje cerca de la Plaza Mayor y nos transporta en una 4x4 hasta las faldas del Volcán. El equipo se transporta dividido entre los miembros del Team y luego se empieza el ascenso al campamento base pasando primero por dos quebradas un poco angostas para luego desplegar las fuerzas vibrantes del cuerpo hasta los 4800 m.s.n.m.

Alrededor de las 4:10 p.m., llegamos al lugar indicado para armar la carpa y dividir el equipo y comida para pecnortar hasta la 1:00 a.m.La verdad que era un poco difícil tratar de dormir, primero porque era muy temprano, segundo la altura se sentía en nuestra dificultad para respirar y tercero el frío llegaba dentro de la carpa a -5°C bajo cero, no quiero ni imaginarme como estaba afuera.

DIA 2 (Summit Day - 5825 m.s.n.m.)

09 09 09

Llego el día "D", no dormí nada - una ansiedad única de cumplir un sueño y de no romperme en el camino. He leído y escuchado de muchos q el ascenso es fácil... ya pues a ver háganlo conmigo al costado. Que alguien venga y me demuestre que tan fácil es subir este volcán. Ilusos todos.

Yo estuve ahí, lo vivido nadie te lo quita y en cada persona esta saber sobrellevar el ego interno de decir algo que realmente no lo hez; ni será.

El ataque final a la cima empezó a las 2:00 a.m.
Frió intenso, vientos normales, relativos pero no violentos. Luna llena, estrellas brillando - ciudad blanca incandescente; radiante a los lejos en mi espalda titilando sus luces como abundantes luciérnagas en el espectro matutino. A mi derecha el Pishu-Pishu y a mi izquierda el Chachani.

Muchas cosas pasaron por mi mente durante las horas interminables que me tomo llegar a la cima. Preguntas directas de que porque hago esto y porque continuo estas aventuras.

Resumiendo, cada vez mis aventuras son mas complicadas, mas arriesgadas, más intercambiables, más fértiles, mucho mas del día a día. Voy a ser cruel en no explicar como fue y como no fue; porque si lo hago seria como revelar lo que realmente es y no es o de fue o no fue.
Cada persona guarda en su interior esa dicha de llegar a un objetivo.

A las 09:09 a.m. del día 09 09 09, mi llegada a la cumbre fue soberbia. La experiencia alcanzada y el camino tomado es lo que hizo de esta aventura - hasta el momento; la mejor de todas.

Team:
Gerald Anca
Jose Peña
Hobbes
JC Negri

Agradecimientos:

* Felipe Rojas - por impulsarme a seguir esos WODs three times a week. Queda pendiente unos Juanitos Caminantes totally black.

* http://crossfitperu.com/ :Where the dreams become Real. Jaime you do ROCK

* Roger Cruz - Thanks for the invaluable contact in AQP
* A mis padres, ellos siguen tratando de entender porque hago lo que hago
* A todos mis amigos/as, que de una manera u otra estaban ahi conmigo en las alturas.
* A Brian Ward, mi eterno amigo de tantas batallas. Wish You Were Here, pero no fue asi - Tu siempre estas ahi brother.

Este hike lo dedique a la Señora Ward.

Ya en el Aeropuerto, a pocos minutos de regresar a Lima - Tratando de recordar todo lo desplegado en tan intensa expulsión de energia, recordé una frase de uno de los mas grandes aventureros:

"Dichoso aquel que es capaz de reconocer sus propios límites y no tomar las nubes por el horizonte que busca"
Alexander Von Humboldt

Tech Tip # 3: Stay Focused

Stay focused over easy sections and during the descent.
At the summit, you’re only half-way done!

Like my Buddy "Pepe" always says:
"The coolest part of reaching the top is being able to come down and tell the story"

Look forward on the next 5 days. I am ready, better than before. More capable of other times. There is no turning back... Not this time.

Tech Tip # 2: Know When To Turn Back

During your journey, keep four important factors in mind:
The human element,
The conditions,
The terrain and
The timing.

At a turning point, analyzing these four factors will help you decide whether to continue or not.
For example:
Are the weather and route conditions good?
Is the terrain acceptable?
Do you have enough time?
How is the climbing party doing physically?

I have the NO happy opportunity to see individuals that have enough Petro (energy) to climb a mountain and reach the top. BUT, not sufficient energy to come down.

In about 8 days, I will measure all the above mentioned.

As I believe to be ready, I believe I am not. Still, my team and I will push hard to accomplish the goal. That goal that only few have been able to accept... until now.