As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had been exercising with a training mask for two months now. My travel doc had suggested getting a little altitude the month before my trip to start preparing my body.

It was the perfect chance to get out to Albuquerque and visit family and see thier new house. The “guys” took on the La Luz trail while the girls did thier thing. We started in the desert, and somewhere above 8000 ft we turned a corner and found ourselves in snow and ice. That, coupled with the altitude, slowed us down pretty well. We did get passed up by a group of young-uns from the local Air Force Base. But it’s not a race.

All in all, it was a successful hike up. I was slightly winded from 9k to 10.3k feet, but I expected worse. No headaches, nauseau, or anything else indicating altitude issues. I think we were all ready to take the trail over to the Sandia Tram rather than go on to Sandia Crest. I do want to go back and do the whole thing someday. But if it is in March, I’ll be sure and have some micro-spikes to strap on our feet.

The next day I did 4 miles on the treadmill at 15% grade at the hotel in Roswell. Didn’t hurt at all. 7 hours later I woke up and did 1 hour on the elliptical crosstrainer. At that moment I figured I was as ready as I’m going to be, knowing I’m still at a amateur fitness level.

When we land at Lukla, I’ll be around 9k feet altitude. Then the real test of my readiness begins.