Altitude Hiking: The “Real” Photos

Expedition photos always look incredible don’t they? Stunning panoramic views, trekkers grinning from ear-to-ear, looking snug as a bug in their tents. There is definitely many truths to those photos, but with social media these days it can be easy to look at these and think that’s exactly what expedition life is like. 

I always love sharing the photos where I look the happiest or that reminds me of a wonderful moment, as does everyone else. Sometimes we need a little reality check though. It can be refreshing, informative and enjoyable to share the struggles too. After all, it’s the struggles that make completing a challenge all the more satisfying, isn’t it?

Here are a few photos from my trips that show the difficult sides to expeditions. Feel free to laugh – I certainly did (though maybe not at the time!). These are photos that I try and hide from the world as they are not the most flattering or fun. But I also think showing them is important. It helps others to realise “Hey, it wasn’t just me who felt like that!”

Sunburn, Everest Base Camp 2015

Believe it or not I had applied factor 50 suncream every single day, specifically designed for protection against strong rays and snow reflection, and I still came out looking like this. I think I had a bad batch of cream, but it shows you just how strong the sun can be when you’re at high altitude. And I’ve had issues with sunburn scars around my lips ever since. GET LATHERING UP!

Wha…ha…out…of…breath…, Stok Kangri 2018

Dodgy camera work aside, have a listen to my breathing. And we’re on a flat walk at this point. At high altitude, behind every perfectly-timed-team-jumping-photo, is a photo taken a few seconds later with people bent over their knees catching their breath. The photo that never gets shared. You get used to the feeling of being breathlessness – it becomes standard from your very first big ascent day. But with each climb it gets a little harder, until your body starts to adjust. Over and over again. It’s actually quite an enjoyable battle (hence the smiles). And it’s an amazing feeling of elation when you can finally see those yellow tents in your view. But until you watch a video and hear the panting, you’d never guess people were that out of breath!

At The End, Everest Base Camp, 2015

This is both one of my least and most favourite photos. I look absolutely horrific. Few people have seen this photo (UNTIL NOW). I’m bloated (altitude symptom), exhausted, sunburnt, haven’t showered for two weeks, hair is knotted to f**k. But man did that beer and pizza-flavoured pringles (out of date by a year) taste fantastic. I was delighted to have made it to the end of our Everest Base Camp trek and celebrate with my team. (And man did we celebrate. Turns out Lukla has a cracking Irish bar that stayed open until we decided to leave. Queue a very hungover bunch on one hours sleep, on a rickety propeller flight back to Kathmandu in the morning.)

Sleepless Nights, Everest Base Camp 2015

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It was bloody freezing. I don’t remember what night it was, but I remember being cold and unable to sleep (another joyous altitude symptom). I snapped this sleeping bag selfie of my grumpy face, burried under my pink-lined Osprey sleeping bag. Mental strength is tested big time on nights like this!

The Perfect Shot, Stok Kangri 2018

Some trekkers photos are freaking awesome. I’m always like “how did they get that shot so perfect?!”. I try hard, but I’m no photographer. Maybe one day. But for now, enjoy this video of me attempting to point at Stok Kangri behind me for a “cool” photo….

The Story Behind the Smile, Everest Base Camp 2015

This was an incredible moment for me. I had been fundraising and training for two and a half years. It was my first high altitude trek and I was doing it in memory of my two grandfathers. I was in tears of joy, delight and exhaustion. What happened before this was less enjoyable. The altitude really got me this day. I barely ate, nibbling on a tablespoon of rice at lunch and forcing down a Cadbury’s brunch bar on the trail. Our amazing sherpas had taken my backpack, along with about half of our teams’ packs, to make sure we made it. I hung near the very back with a couple of other trekkers who were ill. It was a hot, long and hard slog but it was totally worth it.

The smile above is undeniably real. But just remember that there are struggles behind the smiles you see on Instagram and Facebook. And that goes for both adventurers and otherwise. These trips aren’t meant to be easy. They challenge you, test your mental strength and push you to your limits. But that is exactly why we do it. That sense of achievement and elation at the end is worth the hard graft to get there. It makes you feel alive.

Anyone got a funny photo or story from a hike? Drop me a comment! And if you wish to support my writing, please visit my Kofi page to buy me a wee coffee!