Last year, I went to my first big trek, Hamtapass and Chandratal. It was
an amazing experience. Off late, I thought to push my body physically &
mentally to the new heights which I have never achieved till then.
Then I thought the Mountains are calling me again & I must go.
I started R&D to identify what will test me the most. While doing so,
somehow, I was led to the country where many adventure Summits are done -
Nepal.
Nepal, a small country which is known predominantly for the trekking.
Finally, I shortlisted to do the famous and tough “Everest base camp
trek (EBC)”. I shared this with my family, and luckily they immediately gave me
the thumbs up.
Then, I conveyed my thought or rather dream to my closed circle; my
friends, gym buddies and colleagues. I received mixed reactions from them. Some
of them reacted, “Are you mad??”, “Have you got Insane??” While some of them
took a doubt on my capacity, saying, “I doubt whether you are fit for it.” Many
people were concerned about the money which
I was going to spend on an ‘unnecessary adventure’. They expressed their
concern, saying that “how much are you spending? In this budget, you can do a
family trip to Europe.” Those who were concerned about my safety, told me to
reconsider my decision. They said, “please plan something which is not hard, we
want you. Please think again.”
While, only few of them encouraged me along with my family, expressing
their excitement, saying, “Wow! Everest??Go for it “
So, I got to see the support, excitement, care, anger, fear, belief, critics,
so many different emotions and reactions from various people who are close to
me.
I took all of it and decided to go for it.
EBC takes you from an altitude 9240 feet (Lukla airport) to 18500 feet
(Famous kala patthar). Approximately, 45,000 people per year Pan World succeeds
this trek.
So, the dates were fixed, tickets were booked.
Putting myself on the physical activity plan, adhering to the same along
with a 5 am to 10 pm strict diet and lifestyle and yoga like meditation,
pranayam was never an issue for me being a fitness freak. I enjoyed my
journey towards the fitness to the core. Yes, there was a physical torture.
Sometimes, I used to feel completely exhausted at the end of the day. But I
continued my regimen as the Everest was calling me.
By the departure date, I found myself ready for the trek. Yes, I was
physically ready. But the mental and emotional part was tricky though! During
all this process, I admit that I was never mentally fit to go. During my last
trek, I suffered a massive headache due to the high altitude and other factors.
And this time, it was even tougher than the last time. The change in the terrain
and altitudes, freezing temperatures, fear of the failure, every single thing
apart from my fit body; all these things were worrying me a lot. After couple
of sleepless nights, many of half sleep nights, finally I convinced myself that
mind will not play any part in this and I am fully fit to do whatever I have
planned. And I will do whatever it takes to successfully complete this trek. Mind
had planned something big for me at later stage which I didn’t know then.
A day prior to depart, Air India messed up with the flights. I was so
stressed out because my trek was about to cancel. I was multitasking the entire
day. I was packing for my trek and at the same time, I was arguing with the Air
India customer care people. After 4-5 hours of full squabble with their team,
and a follow up after every few minutes, I was able to successfully rebook another
flight.
On the early morning of 26th September, I bid adieu to my family
and promised them to come back to them as a winner. It was the day I left from
Mumbai to Nepal along with my friend.
When we reached at Nepal, we were greeted by a thunderstorm at the Nepal
airport. Everyone was saying “rains at this time??strange…” The rain is the last
thing you want while trekking. At that moment, a thought struck to me that this
trek is going to be eventful.
Next day, we had a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. Lukla is the world’s
dangerous airport. Its confined space, its location over a hill and most
importantly its smallest runway (700 m) which ends into a valley makes it the
world’s dangerous airport. We were up and ready and reached at the airport by
6:30 am. Not surprisingly though, we were told that since last 3 days, only 1
flight has flown to Lukla due to the bad weather. With some hope we decided to
wait. Our waiting duration was stretched to 4-5 hours hoping that weather would
clear and we will fly.
Eventually, we were told that no flights will take off this day too. So,
we decided to take a chopper to Lukla. Shedding some money (actually 25 k each)
we took this decision to go by the chopper. It was my first
experience to fly in a Helicopter. For me,
it was an awesome experience and we were rewarded with the magnificent views of
some Nepali settlements over the ranges of huge mountains.
To our utter dismay we landed to a small place called Surke which is 400
m below Lukla as weather was so bad that even a helicopter couldn’t fly through
it.
We took all this in a positive way and decided not to lose the
hope.
After a refreshing lunch, our guide and porter joined us and finally our
trek started to Lukla where we were supposed to land by flight on first place
without any hassle.
We began to feel the dropping temperatures already as that day Lukla
recorded a minimum of 3 degree centigrade.
Next day onwards, our actual trekking commenced and we travelled from
Lukla to Phakding, Phakding to Namche, Namche to Debuche. We were heavily sweating
while walking and drenching in the rain. During Namche to Debuche journey,
strangely weather got clear, the sun was shining, clouds disappeared and we
were fortunate to see in front of us which we dreamt to see when we first
decided to go for the trek.
It was THE MOUNT EVEREST. It’s first view was so beautiful that I was completely
overwhelmed to see the gorgeous snow filled tallest mountain in the world in
front of my eyes. I am not an emotional person and I rarely get carried away in
the heat of the moment, but this time it was something different. I could feel
my cheeks wet. This time it was not with the sweat or the rains but my eyes
were brimmed with the tears. The mount
Everest is like the God for any trekker. And at that moment, I was seeing my
God standing tall and magnificent in front my naked eyes. It was a moment I
would never forget in my entire life.
So, after sighting the mount Everest itself, we reached Debuche with 10
times more energy in our bodies and then to Dingboche and from Dingboche to
Lobuche. During our journey, we were greeted by the magnificent ranges of
Himalayan snow filled mountains like Ama Dabmam, Nupche, Lotche, Pumori, grass
filled savannahs, huge Himalayan Yaks, beautiful colourful flowers, deep valleys,
clouds and long man-made bridges. We stayed at some fantastic Tea Houses
throughout the trek and our food was predominantly Soup and Nepali Dal bhat
which was delicious.
As our trek was progressing, the temperature was dropping below the
zero, altitude was gaining steep. But still, my determination kept me strong
and focused to reach destination.
We were at Lobuche @ 4950 m high and our next destination was the
EVEREST BASE CAMP @ 5364 m altitude. My body was fit and fine by now. I was
accustomed to the altitude and the freezing cold weather. But the excitement of
reaching so close to my dream kept me awake most of that night. When my watch
ticked 5 Am, I woke up from my bed with an acute headache and running nose. The
vomiting sensation added more discomfort and I was feeling completely down. Somehow,
I packed my baggage, ate something to be able to carry forward and walk and
then left for my destination.
As I anticipated, just within 20 minutes, I was completely down and
thought it was over. I thought I was going to fail. My ‘so called fit body’ gave up and I could
sense EBC faraway. I couldn’t even drink water by then. I just couldn’t
understand what was happening to me as till this point, even on steep ascends,
I was so comfortable to walk.
At the same time, all the reactions, fear, belief, critics and support
flashed in front of my eyes and surprisingly I started walking. I was walking very
slowly but steadily. I would like to mention something very important here. My
mind had kept quiet until this time, but when my body gave up, my mind took a
complete control over my body and it was forcing me to walk towards my
destination. My dream…The Everest…
Eventually, when I reached Everest Base Camp @5364 m, I was completely
fresh and it felt satisfying. The view before my eyes was so satisfying
that I felt that all the longing, the anticipation, the wait, the efforts has
paid off.
By this time, I was so confident that next day I actually climbed the famous
Kala Patthar @ 5500 m. I got up at 5 Am to get there and temperature recorded
at top was minus 13 Degree centigrade at that time.
After kala patthar, the journey was to the downwards and it was much
easier.
This time we flew from Lukla airport towards Kathmandu. That experience
was more thrilling than the trek itself. Haha.
Eventually, after reaching from where we started, I checked the stats of
my trek. I had walked more than 130 km in 12 days. The most satisfying part of
the trek was to reach the destination and see Mount Everest many times in the
trek trail.
I want to mention one most important thing which I experienced
thoroughly during this trek. Our mind has more power than our body. It can make
impossible things possible for us. That power is insanely captivating if used
correctly.
Healthy mind leads to the healthy body. So, be confident and have strong
willpower too. Last and the important thing which this trek has taught me is
that, never lose hope and keep trying and believe in the destiny.
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