Gokyo: Mirror that reflects you is beyond 5000 meters altitude

The mystery of mountains have always cast its magic on mankind that manifests a myriad of dreams every moment, gravitating multitude of hikers around the world into its terrain. For some its about that stroke on their bucket list…for some it is photography…for some its adventure…for some its about vanquishing the massif…for some its a break from the rumbles of city life…and the rationale why one yields to the mountain’s magnetism is inestimable.

For me it was simply the way to welcome myself into the forties. A milestone for a milestone year of my life! The milestone came with a tall order of preparation… The Herculean fitness regime for a sedentary damsel in me , the “pack-light” ordinance that was a summit I had to climb before the actual summit of Gokyo Ri and the mental audacity to endure nearly 2 weeks of outdoors in Khumbu Valley that is home to Mount Everest. The one dream that kept me awake and the year flew by in preparation and in anticipation of the hike.

The D Day finally arrives and as I started trekking I did see initially it was as expected, the test for my fitness, the pronouncement of my photography, the celebration of my landmark into the forties, in the magnificent vista of Khumbu region that kept unraveling the captivating sierra. I thought I knew what happiness, contentment or fulfillment was until I stood corrected when happy tears started flowing involuntarily when I arrived at picturesque Gokyo. I had come to see that my experience had hit a new pinnacle at that altitude. I gasped for breath, huffed and puffed to reach here and in one magical moment, the emerald lake of Gokyo had kissed my weariness.

It was the day of hike to the summit of Gokyo Ri and I did not make it to the summit. With only downhill trek ahead of me, I chose to sit on a rock somewhere just over 5000 meters on the inselberg of Gokyo Ri to take a pause and simply live in the moment. With tears in my eyes I tried to see the reflection of my crestfallen self in emerald lake of Gokyo. I saw NOTHINGNESS! Ironically in that nothingness, I have never felt so full, so genuine, so light, so complete, so blissful to have finally been in front of a mirror that reflected ME and the REAL ME!

The veil of my ignorance, my arrogance, my bloated ego, my addictions, my conditioning, my facade was shred and I had come to touch the quintessence of my life! My suffering ended when the mountain mojo transmuted it all into a perennial river of gratitude flowing within me.

The mountains had taught me the true meaning of austerity. Not only did it fill me with a flowing river of gratitude but it had given me the strength and courage to endure the extreme conditions all through the trek that lasted nearly 2 weeks of being outdoors. It had torn my ego apart, revealed my addictions, broken my heart and showed me all that has caged me! Shattering the walls of the cage I lived in, the mountains had brought in new light that shines and flows as gratitude within me!

Today all I feel is gratitude…

……for the sun that shines filling us with warmth and energy ….bringing us alive every morning…

……for the air we breathe that fills our lungs with oxygen keeping us alive and kicking…

……for the water that isn’t freezing when I open the tap in my home…that quenches my thirst…

……for the love of people in my life …for the diversity of food on my plate… for the comforts of the civilized world, for a engaging career that is my currency to realize my dreams…

I have finally come to say “Thanks for everything…” with humility and integrity in my heart and soul…

I promise to return next year to the Annapurna range to measure distance in time for those are the days, I don’t count but weigh…

Before getting into some practical details of the trek and photo story, a shout out with applause to the crew of Whitemagic Adventure, for a state-of-the-art trek marshaling. Big thanks to Whitemagic crew for being the wind beneath my wings for successfully completing the trek and return with an experience beyond measure. It wasn’t easy with mountains bushwhacking us with weather challenging the crew, but Whitemagic handled it impeccably keeping us positive, strong, courageous to keep moving forward without compromising our safety.

Practical details:

Day-1: Reach Kathmandu.

Day-2: Drive to Ramechapp(4-5 hours), Fly to Lukla and trek to Phakding(4 hours) – 2610 mts

Day-3: Trek to Namche Bazaar( 8 Hours)- 3440 mts

Day-4: Rest day and acclimatization walk in Namche Bazaar – 3440 mts

Day-5: Trek to Mong La – 3975 mts

Day-6: Trek to Dole – 4110 mts

Day-7: Trek to Machhermo – 4470 mts

Day-8: Trek to Gokyo – 4790 mts

Day-9: Sunrise trek to Gokyo Ri(optional – 5357 mts) and trek back to Machhermo

Day-10: Trek down to Namche Bazaar

Day-11: Trek down to Lukla

Day-12: Fly back to Ramechapp and drive to Kathmandu

Day-13: Fly back home.

Photo Story

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It is said: When the snows fall and white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives… Here is to my pack…great team of fellow trekkers…

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I am filled with gratitude for experience…a crossover well worth!

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