I am back at my home in Salmon Arm reflecting on the incredible opportunity that I was given when I was offered the chance to be part of the Sole 2 Soul for MPN™ hike in Waterton National Park. There was so much anticipation and preparation that I am disappointed that is over but ecstatic that I have the memories and new friendships that will be with me forever.

As a 61-year-old patient with an MPN who is terrified of heights, I was wondering if I was physically or mentally prepared for the hike. I felt that I would be able to handle the distance and the elevation gain but as the event loomed closer and I researched where we would be going, I became nervous about the ledges and ridges that were a part of the one trail. Oh well, suck it up and worry about that later. In the meantime, I was excited to meet up with everyone who had been at the training hike in Colorado, and to meet the others who had not been there.

Day one was no problem. We arrived in Waterton from Calgary around noon, stopped for lunch enroute to the trailhead and then started out for our most “leisurely” hike to Wall Lake. I was surprised to see a sign on the trail welcoming us into Akimina-Kishenina Provincial Park at the British Columbia border. I had lived near this area for 25 years and had a feeling like I was home. Wall Lake was spectacular, and we spotted mountain goats on the wall across the lake.

Our Day two hike to Summit Lake and up to Carthew Summit led to the most beautiful views that I have ever experienced. It truly was breathtaking. The steep trail on the loose shale during the switchbacks was almost more than I could do but with the support of the photographer and a guide, I made it. I am so glad that I had the encouragement and support that I needed to reach the summit, as I would have denied myself an incredible opportunity.

The Crypt Lake trail, accessed by a boat ride, was going to prove too much for my fears though. This was the hike that I had researched, and the wording was “not for the faint of heart,” with the cables, narrow ledges, tunnels and steep drop offs. The tunnel didn’t scare me as I wouldn’t be able to fall off the ledge from inside the tunnel. Fortunately for me, there was one other hiker who had developed a very sore knee and was forced to turn around, along with a guide, just before the final ascent into the scary part. I was relieved that I could place the blame on someone else for our early descent. I truly enjoyed our walk back down with just the three of us. We were refreshed when we went to meet the boat that brought the others back across the lake. I must admit I did feel like I had missed out as we listened to the others recap their experiences. I hope, someday, I will have the opportunity to try the Crypt Lake trail again.

Before this experience, I never felt a reason to overcome my fear of heights but now I want to put those fears behind me. Somehow, I am going to work on this. I still feel proud of what I did accomplish. It wasn’t just the miles that I walked but it was also the money that I raised and the awareness that was created for MPNs.

This was an amazing group of people, and I can’t put into words what it means to me to have shared this experience with them. I will be forever grateful to have met them and to call them my friends.