The Last Day of Freedom

The story about the last hike before they took our freedom

We did get the news yesterday. Germany is going back into lockdown. I don’t even want to go into my feelings about that. How I feel that someone is stealing my freedom. Again.

I much rather talk about our last day in the alps. A day filled with sunshine, stunning views, exhaustion, and slippery rocks. We choose for today’s hike a seven-hour trip which should take us a bit more than eight hours due to a small accident.

The hike started rough. Straight up the mountain, the trail leads us along a breathtaking waterfall. Through autumns colorful forest we take one step after another while catching a breath.

Lots of people overtake us. I assume they all want to take that last breath of fresh air before getting locked in again for nobody knows how long. We take it slow. We have the whole day and no rush at all.

I want my mom to be able to stop for every bird she hears. Because I know how much joy these feather-covered animals bring to her. I want my dad to be able to take as many pictures of us as he wants to. Because I know how much these captured memories mean to him.

And I want my partner to go as slow as he needs to so that he too can enjoy this experience. I do know that all of this is still overwhelming for him. Coming from Africa this scenery is unknown. These heights are scary but exciting.

Taking all those breaks I get my happiness too. In photography. I get the chance to capture all those small things along the path. I get the chance to see the beauty in my life out here.

I smile. I relax. My mind starts to write stories which I will later bring onto paper. Because that is what I love doing. Experiencing nature and writing my thoughts down. I love to share my vision of the world with my audience.

And here we go. Only fifteen minutes away from the peak and the views get only better. My heart starts to beat faster by the minute and my lungs are pumping at full volume.

How lucky are we being able to experience this? Not many people in the world are able to travel. In general. Not many can effort it. At all. Not a lot of them have the physical condition to conquer a mountain. A fact. In addition to that, we are doing it with the family. The people we’re the closest to.

I do know how privileged I am. At least I try to remind myself of it now and then. Because I am. Privileged.

After the strenuous climb of the peak, we took step by step one layer after the other one off. Being left with one thin sleeve I do feel the wind now. It’s chilly up here. Especially after sitting for a few minutes at the edge of the mountain.

We eat some nuts and dried fruits while taking in these breathtaking views. On the one side, we look at the green mountains of the North of the Alps. The German side. On the other side, we look at snow-covered peaks in Austria and far on the horizon also Switzerland.

Yes, the views are endless.

Before cooling down too much we get ready to move again. Since we don’t like to walk the same path twice we choose a round trip. We’re heading down on the other side of the peak.

Being the North facing slope it is still covered in snow. Using our hiking sticks for help we slowly move over the sometimes icy sometimes slippery slushy trail. On one side, the mountain protects us. On the other side, the slope goes pretty steep. Down.

Just as we pass what we assumed the worst part. Or what was the snow-covered trail. I hear the scream. I turn around and see him lying on the trail holding his ankle.

My first thought. This is not good timing. I drop my bag, turn to him, and ask him how I can help. Stupid question. Not at all. We’re right between two mountain peaks on 2000 meters above sea level or 6500ft and my partner twisted or sprained his ankle. There is no way of getting off this mountain but on foot.

I don’t even take his foot out of the shoe. I loosen the shoelaces only to tighten the shoe more. He won’t be able to keep it for long, but then we can at least get somewhere. His adrenaline will be still pumping and he won’t feel the pain for a while.

So let’s move on. Slowly but surely. Climb this rocky trail ahead of us as long as he can. Sounds tough. That’s the world up here.

We’re moving slow, but we are moving. I am stopping now and then forcing him to lift his head from the trail and enjoying the view. Despite all the anger about himself and the pain in the body, there is no reason not to look at the skyline.

My parents walk a bit ahead of us. Halfway down to the valley they choose a spot for the lunch break. Time to take off these shoes and cool down the foot in the snow. Let’s see the damage.

Surprisingly his ankle isn’t swollen. Yet. He seems to be able to turn it slowly. We use more snow as a cooling device and eat sandwiches to strengthen our body for the rest of the descent.

Anyone else up on the mountain has overtaken us by now. But we don’t feel rushed at all. So far we can all still walk and that way we will get off the mountain. Eventually. My knees do feel the steepness of this last descent. I wonder how his ankle is feeling.

I do know that feeling. When something is pumping. I once pulled my ligaments in a handball game. It was the final of a tournament. I stepped on the ball being the goalie. Ten more minutes were to play. I slowly got up again and gave my coach the thumbs-up sign.

I continued to play and we won the game. As time was out I fell on my knees. My ankle wouldn’t hold anymore. As soon as the adrenaline was out of my body the pain kicked in. They had to carry me off the field.

The power of the human body. It’s amazing what it can achieve.

And here we are. With the last sun rays disappearing the parking lot is insight. We made it back down safely. He made it back down. With a sprained ankle. But that will go away.

What will stay are the memories of this day. The memories of the trail we took. The views we had. Those snow-covered peaks and slippery slopes. The fall and the pain. The fight to get back down while still trying to enjoy the whole experience.

That is what will stay of the last day of freedom.

“Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far they can go.” — T.S. Eliot