What a truly wonderful way to celebrate being alive after a pretty grim few months over the winter, where I was diagnosed with and then received chemotherapy for an advanced form of blood cancer (follicular lymphoma).
The West Face Direct of Eichorn Pinnacle involves a 2 hour hike-in along a section of the John Muir Trail, followed by 4 pitches of climbing up to 5.10b in difficulty (British E2, 5c) on lovely clean granite, with a magnificent pointy summit and an airy abseil back down. Views from the top almost made me dizzy with excitement gazing at the endless alpine meadows, glittering sapphire-coloured lakes and the high peaks of the Sierras stretching off into the horizon in every direction, all framed by encroaching thunder storms.
My last chemo treatment finished 3.5 months ago and it utterly recalibrated my endurance and fortitude levels. There were times where I never imagined I’d get back to any meaningful form of exercise, and already I’m experiencing stuff like this again, how very lucky I am.
Thanks to my American pal and climbing partner Tom Roberts for the pic and helping make it happen. And special thanks to the many friends in Carnethy for all your love and support throughout my illness, it made a big difference and was much appreciated.
Lessons? Seize every moment and make the most of being alive. Moral? I think I prefer climbing to chemo.
Olly Stephenson