What I learned about Performance Under Difficult Conditions on my climb to Pico Bolívar (16K feet mountain in the Andes)

In February 2024, my husband and I celebrated our 20-year wedding anniversary, by climbing Pico Bolívar, a 16,330-feet mountain in Venezuela, South America.

Little did I know that this trip would not only be an adventurous way to celebrate our partnership but also a journey of self-discovery. I learned a lot about performing under difficult conditions and here is the recount:

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Day 0: Getting ready!

We arrived at Merida, Venezuela, from Toronto, which is at sea level. ?Merida, at 5,350 feet, was a good elevation to start acclimatizing. That evening, a mix of fear and excitement filled me. I reflected on my expectations and attitude for the trip, I wanted to be the first to summit, maintain a positive demeanor thought the entire trip, help the team, and enjoy every evening.

However, I had never done high-altitude hiking before. I had done many 15 km day hikes at sea level but never walked more than 5 km above 10,000 feet. ?Despite this, I believed my expectations were achievable.

I was SO WRONG but, in that moment, I didn’t know it….

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Day 1: Acclimatizing!

The next morning, we enjoyed a traditional Venezuelan breakfast and embarked on a five-hour ride to Los Nevados, the highest town in Venezuela at 8,900 feet. The adventurous ride was filled with laughter and good conversations. At Los Nevados, we settled in and did a 5km acclimatization hike, my heart was pounding a bit more than usual, however overall, it went well. That night, fear crept in, making it hard to fall sleep, but I managed with some meditation.

This day was mostly filled with joy, pleasure and excitement for what was coming. The journey was very enjoyable so far!

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Day 2: The Real Challenge Begins

Day 2 started with wonderful weather, but at that point I was a bundle of nerves, hiding behind an enthusiastic first-time climber, pretending everything was GREAT!?? I had a hearty breakfast, not realizing it would be my last full meal for the next few days.

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We began our hike at 8am, brimming with energy and positivity. Two mules carried most of our equipment, leaving me with a backpack of essentials for the day.

Eight kilometers later, by 2 pm, I started to NOT feel great, my pace was slower than I expected. The hike felt like climbing an endless staircase. ?Our guide (Toto) advised us to maintain a steady pace and avoid stopping; the goal was to keep moving, only resting during the few, less steep ascents. Starting at 10,000 feet altitude, my stomach started to act up, making lunch unappealing, but I didn't think much of it then. During the lunch break, I mustered enough energy to continue. We still had 8 km to reach our campsite for the night.

The afternoon dragged on and we finally got at our campsite (at about 12,000 feet altitude) by 7pm. By then, it hit me—this hike was incredibly demanding, and we still had three more days ahead.

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That evening, I was so exhausted I crashed into the tent. Our guide, Toto called us for dinner, but my unsettled stomach could only handle some soup. He explained that this was normal at high altitude; my digestive system was struggling as my body diverted blood flow to my heart and brain. My oxygen levels were at the low limit of 90%, which didn't worry Toto, so he sent me to sleep.

?I fell asleep instantly but woke up three hours later (the night had just begun). After an hour of trying to sleep again, I heard noises outside and went to check. Toto was still up, preparing for the next day. ?When I asked why I couldn't fall back asleep, he said it was normal; my body was prioritizing blood flow to the brain, making sleep difficult at high altitude.

?The night felt endless. Physically exhausted, I lay awake in the tent for hours. My mind raced with doubts. Who on earth would choose this kind of trip to celebrate a wedding anniversary?!

?I questioned whether I could keep up for the next three days. The expectations I had set seemed unachievable. Getting myself to the summit in good spirits felt impossible.

?At one point, I just wanted to be home, hugging my children. I cried and questioned myself for a while, until I realized this was the worst moment to doubt and judge myself.? I needed to lean on my strengths, make a new plan, identify the help I needed, communicate with the team, and manage expectations one step at a time.? After mentally mapping a new strategy, I finally fell asleep for another hour before dawn.

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That day, I learned:

1. Underestimating challenges and overestimating expectations is costly.

2. Self-doubt is not a solution under any circumstance.

3. I must consciously choose to lean on my strengths to perform under any conditions.

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Day 3: Trust and Determination

At dawn, the morning of Day 3 was simply beautiful. ?We had excellent weather, and the scenery was incredible. Important to note: This hike is internationally unpopular due to its remoteness, difficulty, and the dangers associated with Venezuela. Experiencing these mountains and valleys felt extraordinary, knowing that not many people in the world have done so. Each breath felt like a gift, grounding me in gratitude for being present in such a remarkable place.

After the breathtaking wake up moment, I shared my feelings from the previous night with my husband and our guide, Toto. I shared the plan I had created the previous night for leaning on my strengths, assuming my performance going forward without judging myself and promised I was giving my best effort, focusing on taking it one step at a time. They were very supportive—the perfect allies I needed at that moment.

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When breakfast came, my stomach wasn't capable of handling solids. I managed two or three bites before my body rejected the rest and then the hike for the day started!

For the next 10 kilometres and 3,280 feet ascent, I hiked on an empty stomach and little sleep, relying on strong trust in myself, my husband and Toto (we made a wonderful team!). ?I used a technique I developed during the sleepless night, taking steady steps and only pausing for five seconds to take deep breaths every 25 steps. I called it the "25-5 formula" and it worked VERY WELL!? We got to “Campamento Albornoz” Base Camp for the Pico Bolivar at 15,000 feet altitude by 4pm on Day 3.

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By the time we arrived at Base Camp, the tents and equipment were already set up. We were greeted by Cesar, a member of Toto’s guiding team, who had arrived via a different route. He joined us to assist with the climbing and rope systems for our ascent to the summit the following day.

At the Base Camp that evening, my stomach again could only handle soup. The view was incredible—we had a direct sight of Pico Bolivar. It looked like an immense wall towering over us, as if saying, "How dare you be here?".? Standing at the base of this 1,800-feet wall, I felt so small and scared. The wall seemed to challenge me, asking, "Are you really here? Who are you to be here? Are you really going to climb me tomorrow?"

I decided not to stare at the wall anymore, recalling the lessons learned the previous night and that same day. I trusted our climbing plan for the next day and decided to ignore the intimidating wall for the evening.

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That night, I couldn’t sleep for more than four hours again. During my wakeful moments, I would step out of the tent to walk a bit.? The Pico Bolivar wall looked even scarier at night. The mountain silhouette was pitch black, casting the Base Camp in shadows, with the dark blue sky above us. Despite the darkness, the night was alive with colors, and a million stars were visible.

My husband and I joked, "Five-star hotels for anniversaries are overrated. Why choose a five-star hotel when you can have a one-million-star hotel to celebrate our 20-year wedding anniversary?"

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That day, I learned:

1. The power of discipline and focus (25-5 formula) for achieving daunting goals.

2. The resilience of the mind over the limitations of the body.

3. That love and commitment to your partner/team can take you as far as you desire.

4. That fear is real, but on a good day, it shouldn't be enough to stop you.

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Day 4: Summit Day

Summit day arrived with perfect weather—a sunny day, a clear blue sky without a single cloud. The day also brought with it five spoonful of oatmeal that I forced myself to swallow. It literally took me 30 minutes to get them down without throwing up...

We geared up early in the morning, dressed appropriately for the occasion—harness, helmet, a heart full of excitement, a mind full of fear, a very strong team, and an even stronger plan.

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My 25-5 methodology didn’t work as effectively at this altitude. I found myself out of breath after just five steps. “The higher the altitude, the tougher the conditions,” I reminded myself. So, I adjusted to a 15-5 rhythm, which allowed me to maintain a steady performance.

After a 1km hike, we faced nine climbing pitches (a pitch is typically 200 feet long, the length of a rope).? The climbing pitches were incredibly fun for me! This day was different, as we had plenty of time to rest while the guides set up the climbing ropes. We climbed one at a time, resting after each 200-feet ascent, which gave us ample time to recover for the next climb. The complexity of pitches 1-5 wasn’t too challenging; the difficulty was primarily due to the altitude.

Pitch 6 was a challenge for me. This pitch required more climbing technique, involving a split rock that looked anything but welcoming. I doubted myself and stood staring at my feet for 10 minutes before finally getting started. Once I began, I completed the climb in a matter of minutes, though my heart felt like it was about to burst out of my chest. At that point, we were at around 15,700 feet altitude!

Pitch 7 was more manageable, and Pitch 8 was another tough one for me. This pitch was completely exposed to the north face of Pico Bolívar. Turning around, I could see the entire city of Mérida, and looking down, I saw a 1,000-feet drop. While it looked scary, it was safe—our guides were taking great care of us—but it still felt terrifying. Once I finished, I sat down to soak in the once-in-a-lifetime view, realizing that only one pitch stood between us and Pico Bolívar.

From where we were at that point, the summit remained hidden, it was a mystery even though we were minutes away. ?Surprisingly, I felt calm, perhaps too tired to feel anything else, but I was fully present in the moment. When it was time to proceed, Toto insisted that my husband go first. ?He would wait for me at the summit. I accepted his decision, despite my expectation of being the first to summit, and wished Rafael well while I continued to enjoy the view. Twenty minutes later, a call came over the radio—Rafael had reached the summit safely, and it was my turn to ascend.

I eagerly began the final pitch, though the summit remained out of sight, and there was no sign of Rafael. Then, suddenly, behind a large rock, I saw two things simultaneously: the Bolívar bust at the summit, looking enormous, and Rafael, wearing a tuxedo shirt and bow tie, hanging onto the bust. My mind raced—how had he managed to change into a tuxedo at the top of the mountain? Where had he hidden the shirt?

It took me a few more minutes to reach him and ask, but before I could say anything, he asked, "Would you marry me again?" and handed me a veil.? With a melted heart full of love, I answered yes, and we renewed our vows at the summit of Pico Bolívar at 16,332ft.

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We spent time at the summit, filled with gratitude and humility. As I closely studied the Bolívar bust, it struck me that until this moment, I had only seen this view in pictures. Then it hit me—just like this mountain and summit, my relationship with Rafael and every stage of our journey together has been unique, each with its own challenges and opportunities. What a wonderful marriage we’ve had so far.

I felt incredibly grateful. I had summited Pico Bolívar despite very little sleep and food, barely any energy, and limited oxygen (holding steady at 90%, nothing dangerous). HOWEVER, I had also summited Pico Bolívar with an excellent team and the best life partner, friend, and husband I could ever wish for.?

Suddenly, reality set in, and Toto let us know the weather was changing and we needed to start the descend. "The summit is only halfway there," he reminded us.

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To return to Base Camp, we rappelled down for the next two hours. I deeply enjoyed the rappel, allowing myself to trust the rope system, our guides, and what felt like an effortless descent—this was the closest thing to rest I had experienced in the past four days!

We arrived back at Base Camp around 6 pm. That evening, I gazed at the wall with pride. I could stare at it for minutes on end, feeling thankful. My feelings for the wall had shifted from fear to respect. I watched Pico Bolívar until darkness.

At dinner, I still couldn’t process solid food, but it was no surprise. Yet, that evening, I felt so happy and accomplished that my soul and body felt fully nourished.

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That day, I learned:

1. I don’t always have to lead the way; trusting others and letting go of control is a good habit for me to practice!

2. Asking for help makes me stronger.

3. Love for myself and others can literally take me to the top of a mountain.

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Day 5: The Final Descent

Day 5 dawned with no surprises: a sleepless night, a magnificent sunrise with perfect weather, and a stomach still refusing solid food.

The adrenaline from the previous day had faded, and we still faced one more day.

The plan seemed straightforward: a 3 km hike from Base Camp to Pico Espejo, where we would take the cable car down to the city of Mérida.

However, the conditions were demanding. We had to ascend from 15,000 feet at Base Camp to 15,630 feet at Pico Espejo, additionally, the terrain was so steep and difficult that mules couldn’t traverse it. This meant the four of us—Rafael, Toto, Cesar, and I—had to carry all our gear, tents, leftover food, and personal items on our backs. Although I carried the least weight and our guides managed with two backpacks each, my load still felt heavy, and the next four hours of hiking were far from fun like the day before.

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Despite the challenge, there was beauty along the way. Every 15 steps, I would take a 5-second break to catch my breath and take in the stunning views of the mountains in the Venezuelan Andes.? We were all exhausted, and I noticed it was discipline, rather than motivation, what kept us going.

By noon, we arrived at Pico Espejo and boarded the cable car. At the station, we attracted curious looks—probably due to the five days without a shower and our exhausted yet triumphant expressions.

For the next couple of hours, we rode the cable car back to the city of Mérida. ?Returning to civilization, surrounded by people and buildings, was a sensation that’s hard to put into words and it wasn’t until two nights later that I could finally sleep through the night and eat properly again.

Looking back at the videos and pictures from Pico Bolívar, I cherish those days as a precious part of my life. What began as an adventure for a couple celebrating their 20-year anniversary turned out to be one of the most demanding and rewarding experiences I’ve ever had. I will always treasure it with gratitude, joy, and respect.

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Throughout this trip I learned many things about Performance Under Difficult Conditions, and here are my top 3:

1.??????? Trust your strengths; they can help you accomplish anything.

2.??????? Stay out of judgment. Don't judge yourself, your team, or the conditions.

3.??????? Never underestimate the power of love. Love makes you strong, asking for help makes you strong, and when love is the foundation of all feelings, good things happen.

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This journey taught me that with trust, discipline, and love, we can accomplish extraordinary things even in the most challenging conditions.