my new favorite thing

it's called a piolet. and it's kind of amazing.

this sunday, i went on an unofficial mountaineering excursion. however, considering there were about 70 kids from the different mountaineering classes + our instructor + some assistants, it was about as official as it could be. but we´re keeping that on the down low...

we met up around 8AM, drove about 15 minutes and prepared to ascend Cerro La Cruz. it´s pretty incredible having such ridiculous mountains at arms´distance. at any point in a day, you can say to yourself you know what, i feel like climbing a mountain today and then poof you´re climbing a mountain. and then you go back home at the end of the day and you look out your window and you can say to yourself i climbed that mountain today!

i love this country.

so anyways, back to my new favorite thing:

Piolet is just the French word for ice axe. (But doesn´t piolet sound so much cooler?) However, the tool is so much more than just an axe.

It is also:

• a climbing aid


• an excrement-hole-digging device


• a walking cane


• an avalanche rescue tool


• a lifesaver, and


• a fancy schmancy-hey-look-i´m-a-mountaineer-accessory

Since we weren´t in an icy area, we only used the piolet a little as we climbed the mountain. We used it like a cane to help keep our balance, and occasionally we dug the spike into the ground to climb up areas with slippery rocks and little traction. The rest of the time, we stuck the piolet diagonally in between our backs and our backpacks (definitely makes you look like a hardcore mountaineer)

But then the real piolet fun came on our trek down the mountain. While we thought it was tricky climbing UP steep hills with loose rocks abounding, the climb down was much more technically challenging. First you have to take tiny baby steps so that you don´t slip on loose rocks and go crashing down the mountain into the cacti. Next, you have to pop a squat like you´re doing wall sits (hence my super sore quads, still feeling the stretch when i walk down stairs). Finally, you have to hold your piolet to your side, with one hand on the head (where the axe is) and one hand towards the bottown, securing the tool as a brace that you must dig into the dirt if you start to slide.

At first, this series of movements is really awkward. Think about it-- models stand tall and take long graceful steps not because they like it but because squatting and shuffling feet doesn´t make anyone look attractive. However, the only appearances we were focused on were the next few feet of ground in front of us. Because the minute you stop paying attention to where you´re walking is the minute you take a spill.

Once you get used to using the piolet as a brace, the slippery hills become the best part of the descent. Though the ground tells you that you´re out of control, your firm grip on the piolet assures you that you are safe and sound.

Perhaps my next poem will be an ode to the piolet.

Piolet, piolet- me salvaste en la montaña
Como podría agradecerte?
Pensaré en este mañana

(piolet piolet, you saved me on the mountain/how will i ever thank you?/i´ll think about it tomorrow)

When I become famous and have my own TV show, I´m most definitely going to have a ¨favorite things¨episode and I will most definitely provide free piolets for all. Watch out Oprah.