I have always had a penchant for travelling to mountains. it
has the serenity and peace which i need in life from time to time. My first
solo trek to Ladakh made this feeling permanent. It would be very cliched to
say that I was exploring myself. I wanted to fall back in love with myself.
This mixed love for mountains and myself took me to Everest
Base Camp. 15 days of non-stop walking, surviving on minimal amenities, not
taking bath for days (trust me that is a big deal for me), meeting new people,
eating the basic staple rice and daal (daal-bhaat power, 24 hour) and the
brutal beauty around, only made me realise that this is me. I have been trying
to explore what makes me happy and i had always found the answer in the bed of
gorgeous mountains. But this trip made me realise more than this.
I started my journey, along with my team, from Kathmandu,
took a flight to Lukla – the first point of our trek. Lukla is one of the most
dangerous airports in the world.
We began our trek after taking rest for a day. All we had to do was walk, walk and walk more. We used to walk for 12-13 hours every day, of course with breaks in between. It was tiresome but amazing. The food was so simple yet delicious. Our guide was very helpful with local knowledge. We crossed Monjo, Namchebazaar, Tengboche, Dangboche to name a few. My team and I were very happy to finally reach the final stop - Gorakshep. Everest Base Camp was few hours away from there. Our group was divided on whether we should go to base camp or scale Kala Pathar (a mountain made of black rocks which provides most accessible point to view Mt. Everest). We finally decided to go to base camp the next day.
We began our trek after taking rest for a day. All we had to do was walk, walk and walk more. We used to walk for 12-13 hours every day, of course with breaks in between. It was tiresome but amazing. The food was so simple yet delicious. Our guide was very helpful with local knowledge. We crossed Monjo, Namchebazaar, Tengboche, Dangboche to name a few. My team and I were very happy to finally reach the final stop - Gorakshep. Everest Base Camp was few hours away from there. Our group was divided on whether we should go to base camp or scale Kala Pathar (a mountain made of black rocks which provides most accessible point to view Mt. Everest). We finally decided to go to base camp the next day.
Everything was perfect and was going as planned, until the unfortunate
day when I was trekking to Everest Base Camp. 25th April, 2015 - my life
changed forever. I was at the base camp when the earthquake and the avalanche
happened and shook me. I couldn’t do anything but freeze in my place
and feel the ground beneath me shake vigorously. I held on to a huge rock
beside me, praying that it should not fall and take me with it. Before I could
overcome the emotions after the earthquake, I saw the snow topple over from Mt.
Everest, Mt. Luptse, Mt. Nuptse and Mt. Pumori. The snow started coming down on
us from all the four sides, with a speed only god knows. I sat against the rock
in a baby pose and within seconds I was covered with white all-over. The gale
made it impossible for me to even get up. This went on for 10 minutes.
I saw destruction around me. All the colourful tents buried
under white; never thought that peace could come at a price. That moment I
realised, I am nothing! People say humans are the most powerful being on this
planet, but that moment I was the most vulnerable person. The pathway was
cracked, rocks tumbling from Pumori Mountain beside me; it was nature's fury at
the best. From being stuck in the snow to walking continuously for 24 hours,
from braving the aftershocks to being rescued by the Indian Air Force - I
experienced a lot in those 72 hours. But amongst the destruction, I saw life as
well. I saw a couple getting married, which only proved one thing to me – all you
need is love and will to live.
This doesn’t mean that I am stopping here. All this has made
my passion of trekking even clearer and stronger for me. It has brought me closer to
mountains, telling me that's where I belong and I look forward to exploring
much more. Amen!
P.S - Abhijit, the trip would have not been so awesome without you and your camera and our Jab We Met sessions. Milan and Harshit, we had a great time together. Anushka and Raabi, you two are the most adorable yet strong girls. Bhushan and Amit, you guys are awesome team leaders, always guiding us. PP and Prasad, you guys have got heart of gold. Don't ever change. And the rest of team, I am so glad to meet all of you.
P.S - Abhijit, the trip would have not been so awesome without you and your camera and our Jab We Met sessions. Milan and Harshit, we had a great time together. Anushka and Raabi, you two are the most adorable yet strong girls. Bhushan and Amit, you guys are awesome team leaders, always guiding us. PP and Prasad, you guys have got heart of gold. Don't ever change. And the rest of team, I am so glad to meet all of you.
