Climbing Mountains in Ecuador
Many of you know that I’ve been away most of February in Ecuador. I was climbing in the Andes on a trip called “The Three Volcanoes” with 6 other biotech/climbing friends.
Our goal was to summit Cotopaxi, an active volcano and Ecuador’s second highest mountain (19,347 feet).
We hiked multiple days through beautiful, scenic areas as part of the acclimatization process. Pasochoa and Ruminahui were the other two mountains we climbed during the trip.
Waterfalls, condors, hummingbirds, rabbits, llama, orchids and bromeliads were all a part of the fauna and flora.
Summit day/night was a one-hour hike to the Jose Rivas refuge on Cotopaxi (~15,700 ft) from the car park, dinner and rest from about 7pm to 11pm. We awoke and prepared ourselves for a midnight start to the summit with headlamps lighting our way. Immediately upon exiting the refuge, the cold and wind hit me hard. I was 100% ready to make this summit; physically and mentally prepared.
As we progressed, the minus degree wind chill began to chill my fingers, toes and core. Despite multiple layers, hand and foot warmers, I was COLD. Looking up the mountain and seeing very little to shield the wind or cold to the top I had an honest conversation with myself.
I did not want to continue.
There was a brief period where I considered what my teammates would think about me and what my friends at home that had been following my journey would think.
Was I a quitter?
On the climb down, back to the refuge, I became more confident that I was making the right decision for me.
AND
That was all that mattered…
My decision was one based in strength and courage and what was true to me in that moment.
Sometimes the decisions we must make are difficult ones.
Making a decision about your career can come with concerns about what others will think.
We must learn, and continue to practice, honoring our own wants and needs.
Being courageous on that mountain may have meant continuing to the summit AND it could have also meant deciding that the summit wasn’t my goal.
Despite not summiting, I gained major confidence on my descent of mountains – something that I have been working on over the last six months. That was a win for me and the trip is a success in my mind!
Celebrate and honor your own needs and wants.
Celebrate small wins and large wins.
Celebrate opportunities.
Ready to make a career transition to pharma/biotech… want to explore a way to use your medical training and knowledge in a fulfilling way without nights and weekends call or charting. Watch this webinar on Getting Past the Three Major Hurdles to a Career in the Pharma Industry HERE.