SA - spinal muscular atrophy. At first glance, just using the term SA doesn't tell anyone anything. It is only when you get to know the subject, explain things, and meet someone with this condition that you begin to understand what it is all about. We would like to present to you the amazing story of two guys who are active bloggers writing about mountains and travel. Łukasz Kocewiak and Szymon Żoczek decided to climb the highest mountain in North America - Denali - dedicating the ascent to the children of SA. Someone will ask, but why SA, why did they make such an effort and why did they climb this mountain in particular? - you will find all the answers in the interview conducted with Łukasz and Szymon by our editorial colleague (privately also a mountain and travel blogger) Katarzyna Irzeńska. Have a cup of tea and read on :)
Why did you focus on spreading the word about SA (spinal muscular atrophy) during this expedition. It is a very complicated condition. Usually people choose to take part in mass-scale events where the idea is to help people with cancer, for example. The two of you approached it quite individually.
Szymon: Yes. A few months before the expedition, I had the opportunity to give a talk at one of the schools where there was a fair and various performances. All the money was raised for Igorek. That's when I found out about him, about his illness. Łukasz had also spread the word about SA on his earlier trip. We thought it would be a good idea if the Denali expedition continued to support the fight against SA.
Lukasz: We dedicate the whole endeavour to Inga, Igorek and other SA children. We would like to spread awareness of the disease, as we hope to make the recently approved drugs available to everyone. Treatment, unfortunately, is a luxury that only a few can afford. It started even before the expedition to Noszak(www.kartkazpodrozy.pl/wyprawa-na-noszak-noshaq-expedition). Our geographer friend Inga's daughter fell ill with SA and we wanted to help somehow, to publicise the cause.
You were not alone on Denali. Tell us more about the mascots you took with you, and also about Inga and Igorek, the SA children to whom you dedicated, among other things, this ascent.
Szymon: Igor is a nine-year-old clever, and smiling boy. Even though he is a very slim person, you can see a lot of strength and tenacity in him. For the expedition he gave me his plush Lamb - Dusia :) During the summit attack I had him with me all the time. He was strapped to the front of my rucksack. Sometimes I even talked to him :). Lamb was equipped with a cap, scarf and gloves that my Auntie had made for him. Unfortunately, one glove was lost somewhere during the summit climb. Fortunately, no frostbite occurred. Duś the Lamb is safe and sound in Igorek's hands.
photo: A page from the journey
Luke: The third member of the Denali expedition was Peppa Pig, Inga's favourite fairy tale character, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, so that her motor development has been virtually stunted. Peppa climbed Denali with us on behalf of Inga, who is currently unable to move independently on her own strength.
During the expedition you had to climb the mountain gradually because of the acclimatisation process you have to go through. What was it like, setting up camps at different altitudes? How did you feel during the expedition and how long did the summit attack last?
Luke: When I was on Denali, I had to transport all the equipment myself. No porters or mules. It was much more tiring to haul a few dozen kilos on a sled, but a mountain experience, from my point of view, more worthwhile. Given the lack of acclimatisation at the start of the expedition, I could not afford to overtire my body, so we covered the altitude quite strenuously. We spread out the camps evenly and gained altitude successively. We set up the main base camp at 14 (camp at 14200 feet), from where the actual acclimatisation and mountain action began.
photo: Travel sheet
Simon: We assumed that it might take us about 15-20 days to climb to the summit and descend. We managed to do it in 11. Mainly thanks to the good conditions, the reasonably nice weather (unfortunately nothing was visible on the summit), and our good mood. Because of this, we did not have to set up camp higher up and descend lower. It was possible to do this gradually, so that the expedition time was significantly reduced. The summit attack lasted about 12 h (I'm not quite sure but something around that - Luke may remember better :)). However, I think it was already a reward for how much we had to work hard before to get the camps below. We had to carry a lot of stuff up to the last camp at around 5300m, which involved a lot more effort. Fortunately, for the summit attack the rucksack already weighed only a few kilos which was immediately felt by my back.
