Climbing Mountains, Creators handiwork and Community
Day 1 - Grateful for the Journey
I am grateful for today’s journey from Pokhara to Pritam Deurali.
The journey from Pokhara to Kande by jeep and the journey of the first day was a journey of gratitude.
Gratitude for the fellowship of the trek, a trans-generational community. From the Alpha generation to Baby boomers, with Alpha Gen and Gen Z leading the pack. Stopping every now and then to allow everyone to catch up and journey together. Accomplished trekkers, novices, and children whose energy was infectious.
Encouraging each other to see beyond the clouds that covered the mountains. A journey of faith, reminding each other that we will see mountains soon when rain clears the clouds. Hope that gives faith and courage to take the next step.
Stopping in between to see the big picture map, to recapture the long journey we have embarked on. A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. One day at a time, we will keep moving towards the Mardi viewpoint over the next five days. Grateful for those reminders.
At the same time, not forgetting to live in the present. See the beauty around, the age-old trees, misty mountains, and just the paths and trails themselves. Experience the cool breeze that refreshed our tired bodies. Grateful for the creator’s handiwork.
Grateful for the many whose hands and efforts made this day possible. The paths cut out by people who have toiled hard over generations. The tea houses and restaurants, the cozy accommodations, and many hands that work behind the scenes. Not to forget the porters who carry our luggage.
And the day ending with stimulating conversations, torrential rains, and the promise of day 2. Promises of such and more gratifying experiences tomorrow.
Day 2 - A Day of Awe and Wonder
The day started with a beautiful sunrise and snow-capped mountains all around at a hotel called 360 degrees at Deurali.
Filled with awe and wonder at the most innovative camera that gives us the ability to see this. One million lenses capturing the light rays, sending them to a processing center, processed within milliseconds, and sending them back to the recognition screen. The retina, optic nerve, occipital, and frontal lobes!
And then the walk commenced. Mardi Mountain View point at 4500 Meters as our destination.
Nineteen thousand steps, 11 kilometers, and 2600 meters. A walk in the shadow of the mighty mountains. Towering high above the clouds, bearing silent witness to empires and emperors, nations and nation-states, who have come and gone, the good things and atrocities they have done. They will remain long after I am gone too…
The 5-hour walk through the pristine forests. Thousands of varieties of trees, plants, and many birds around. Trees, hundreds of years old, young saplings, unusual plant species, and common ones. Can one leave all these to chance and evolutionary forces? Each species following its path, the wonder of it all!
The wonder of resilience, especially for the not-so-fit baby boomers, willing to keep on walking, one step at a time, encouraged and supported by others who are much more fit. The wonder of a caring community that journeys together.
The unseen people that went ahead and put blue and white paint and pink ribbons on trees to guide the sojourners amid the complex and confusing trails. Why they should care for the unknown travelers who will come tomorrow? The wonder of the desire to care, direct, and encourage the travellers.
And the wonder and awe at the Creator who holds all these together with His unseen hand…
Leading us to The Forest camp at 2600 meters…
Day 3 - A Day of Restful Restraints…
Every journey needs a restful, restrained day or season in between. We were told that the journey to 2950 meters, 'Low Camp,' should be easy. A restful journey.
But the trip was through high, tortuous routes again. The question was, how do you journey with restful restraints?
One - Be part of a community that enjoys a lifestyle of restful restraints. Two of our community members had mastered this art. The art of Stopping, Submerging in the scenery around, Sipping ORS, and Starting again. On a regular basis - every 5 minutes or so. The journey was to be relished, and not just the destination. And they consistently reminded me to stop.
There is another discipline for a journey of restful restraints. Give up all the unnecessary baggage you carry. These baggage prevent you from traveling well. But remember that what you shed, someone will have to carry for you! I was privileged to have friends who provided their shoulders and back.
The other discipline was walking through well-trodden paths. I have the habit of looking for the roads less traveled. But well-trodden paths have systems to rest, refresh, and be renewed. The untrodden paths, at times, take you away, as I happened to experience, and then I had to reroute again.
Finally, such a restful journey gives you a new perspective. That you and your trek are not at the center of the universe. The world does not revolve around you. The creation is not given to serve us. The created world is given to us to declare the glory of the creator along with the creation….
And another 10,000-plus steps brought us to Low Camp at 2950 meters.
Day 4 - Journey in the Shadows
Day 4 started with a short spell of a clear sky, the beautiful peaks, but soon to be covered by clouds. The walk from Low Camp to High Camp was through the shadow side of the mountain covered by clouds. The hardly visible peaks had a mystic look with clouds covering them.
But this journey in the shadow of the mystic mountains was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is in the shadow side that Rhododendrons grow. The canopy of Rhododendrons covering overhead, the papyrus trees giving additional protection, was an unforgettable experience.
The journey with mist and clouds covering has an eerie and mystical effect on you. A sense that we are amid something greater and bigger, realigns one’s perspectives. Who am I that I should have the privilege to experience this wonderful creation?
All around, there were prayer flags, prayer stones put up. People who have gone before from various religions sensing the mystical aspects of their journey trying to reach out to the gods they believe in. Something that no one can ignore is that there is a creator that holds this universe together.
Finally reaching the clouded High Camp at 3600 meters. Cold, misty, and clouded.
But the story didn’t end there. Within a few minutes after reaching, heavy hailstorms with hail almost the size of golf balls began. In half an hour, clear skies and sun shining out - we had reached the bright side of the mountains! But mountains still covered with clouds. In another few minutes, the whole Mardi Machapucharae, Annapurna ranges revealed themselves, declaring the majesty of its Creator by clouds moving on and making themselves visible.
The journey in the shadows was worth the cold, clouds, and confused (hypoxic) brains to reach High Camp.
Day 5 - Darkness to Light
The final upward stretch started at 4.00 AM. Walking in the dark was an unsettling experience. The road ahead unclear, my own preparation inadequate - my headlight batteries were not charged - (I felt like one of the 5 virgins in Jesus’ parable whose lamp had no oil) and uneven and slushy paths.
But then there were the pace-setters who were going ahead - lights moving ahead of you. Then people like me - the rate-limiting ones, who were going slow. But others in the community staying back to support the slower ones. A community to journey with!
As we walked up and the sun started coming up, the beauty was all around. The majestic mountains towering over us.
Walking to the view point was tough and tiring. The desire to see the majesty of the mountains in all its fullness kept us trudging along. Previous day's experiences had taught u. The majesty of nature will invite us into another realm - one of worship.
Walking back was tough. The downward paths were much more challenging than the upward ones. The ‘top of the world’ experience behind us, getting back into valleys through the slushy paths was not what we had signed up for. But then every good thing has an end to it.
But in the midst of these varied experiences, the fellowship of the trek, the community of the trek was always there. Going ahead and showing the way, slowing down to journey with the slow-paced ones, guarding the rear, and encouraging the challenged ones on! Walking up to 4500 meters and covering 22000 steps.
Thank you, friends, for being there…
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