An unusual experience
OfflineI was member of an expedition on Aconcagua in January 2009 with Aventuras Patagonicas. We were carrying a cache from Camp II (5400m) to High Camp (5960m) and somewhere around 5750m altitude I felt something never happened to me before into the mountains. Actually I am reading your book and I decide to share my experience. So, I was climbing steady and kept the same pace. Suddenly I felt like I was flying above the ground like floating and another Catalin ( actually me) was climbing beside me, on my right. I kept going like this following the boots of the climber in front of me like guidance. I knew where I was, what I was doing but I was in that stage of being "above" the ground and actually the second "me" was climbing for real doing the same steps like me. After 100m of climbing we stop for a rest and the sensation started to disappear. By the time I was arriving at the High Camp everything was almost gone. I felt in a way strange, but eliberated by something, somehow....but still confuse and dizzy after this whole experience. Possible all what was happening to me it is related to the lack of oxigen but the sensation of second me and seeing that second "me" on my right was something never experienced before in my life. I just wanted to post it and maybe somebody with similar encounters will show up and we can learn more from each experience...
Regards
Catalin Tapardel
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Dear Caitlin, Your experience is especially interesting; Itoccured in a unique manner and you have reported it quite well. Most members of this blog have been very erudite in theirdescriptions. Though all of this is anecdotal, I think there isreason to investigate this subject in greater detail and under morestringent standards as befits a true scientific study. Theseexperiences, whether induced by the extreme circumstances the bodyand mind must endure or a unique condition of awareness which isreceptive to these phenomena, they seem to be much more than rareand detailed reporting such as yours (and mine) are essential forthis study to continue and possibly bear fruit. Shortly, my ownexperience occured at an Early Warning radar base at the top ofGreenland and was under extreme weather and physical conditions,the physical results of which I had to be hospitalized for. Thankfully, I lived to tell, as they say, the tale. I am savingall such reports I come across for study in conjunction with otherswhich have been done; there have been many. Thank you so much foryour report.