There are a few good reasons to climb to the top of Adams Peak, for the majority of tourists it is to see the Adams Peak sunrise.
Reason to climb.
What were my reasons? Sure, the promise of a beautiful view and a breathtaking sunrise contributed to the decision making process but for me it was all about the challenge of those 5000 steps.
It seems that the majority of people decide to climb with no training and almost on a whim. The result, extreme muscle pain post climb and a robotic gait for a few days.
Preparation
To overcome this challenge, I employed my physiotherapeutic skills and devised a strength training programme to prepare my legs in advance. More on this in a future blog.
However, nothing prepares you mentally for that 2:20am alarm clock (because every extra minute of sleep counts) and the knowledge that you are about to voluntarily climb over 5000 steps in the dark.
Our hotel owner suggested a 2:30am start from the hotel in order to reach the top by 5:15 am. It is peak (mind the pun) season and late arrival will mean fighting the crowds for the Adams Peak sunrise view.
First steps.
Perhaps it is lack of sleep but we have big smiles and are extremely chatty at the start. This doesn’t feel like a challenge at all but I set my pace and stick with it.
The monks have set up shop at the base handing out white strings and expecting donations. The climb is free so in principle I pass them by but not without receiving a few dirty looks. I rename them the scowling monks of Sri Pada.
About 15 minutes in, my first layer has to come off as the temperature in my core rises and our jovial conversations begin to fade.
Along the path, shop keepers try to entice you with cups of warm sweet tea. The path is well lit at this time of year and a faint chanting floats out of a few ramshackle structures along the way. Much of the chanting is off key, so to avoid the insult to my ears, I take it as encouragement to continue.
Just keep going.
You pass red faced sweaty climbers along the way and at some point, you become the red faced sweaty one that others get to pass. The burn in the thighs is a real thing and yet you are only half way.
I tried to keep my eyes on the few steps ahead of me but occasionally they wandered upwards to see the snake of lights curling up to the peak. The lights looked so pretty from the hotel. In their midst they epitomise pure evil, mocking your feeble attempt by clearly demarcating the milestones still to reach.
At the very top, the stairs throw their final insult at you as the ascent becomes sharper and steeper. By this stage, your butt feels like it has done a 24 hour marathon bootcamp. The wind starts swirling cold mountain air at the very location you are expected to remove your shoes. Now is when you ask yourself why did I climb?!
You made it, now what?
My frozen feet are met by crowds of tourists already wandering around barefoot and waiting… for the sun to rise so we can once again torture our quads muscles on the climb down.
First light appears as climbers ring the bell to mark the victory of their first ascent of Adams Peak. Soon though they stop and all are mesmerised by the awakening of the day around us.
Besides the early start, death stares from monks and the 5000 steps, the greatest obstacle to seeing the sunrise turns out to be the hoards of bodies pressed up against the eastern end also trying to get their glimpse of the Adams Peak sunrise.
Much patience and tiptoes get my eyes in line with the beauty that is unfolding. A sliver of golden light pulling the clouds apart to reach the new day. There it is, the reason we have all tortured our knees and it is worth it.
Even the view facing West, where hills roll on in a never-ending cascade, helps sooth aching quads. The dull blue light bouncing off the peaks in textured depth bring warmth to my sole(s). Breath in, breath out. Savour the moment .
Carmen 1; Adam 0.
But cold feet and ravenous stomachs win. Soon we plummet down the steps at a dangerous pace (it is easier to run than walk), stopping only for the occasional photographic opportunity.
In the days to follow the climb, I watch with glee as my travel companions struggled with delayed muscle pain. They stood up like old women and became crabs whenever a flight of stairs presented themselves.
I was remarkably pain free. My training worked and the challenge was met. Carmen 1; Adam 0.
Follow the blog to see how I trained for this challenge and how you can manage it comfortably too.
Any thoughts or opinions? Please leave a comment.