Made it to 4

Omg i can't believe i made it to 4,?

4000 metres that's how high we climbed

The view from here is insane and makes me want to climb higher, only if there was a way up from here.

I feel a little breathless joy, when i look back and realise that i climbed up to a point where a lot couldn't make it

I also feel a little anxious, seeing some climb way faster than me. They could have easily reached double the heights in the same time. Am i not good enough?

Tbh, I got a few lucky shortcuts that made it a tad bit easier

But other days, it was difficult as hell. Don't feel like giving up yet, but fear that one day I might.

The weather's really testing, apart from the first day, there has been no comfort, only chaos

Met amazing people on the route, everyone with different destinations, but they do care to stop and help, wherever our independent journeys aligned

Divyam has been my 1 constant, we have pushed each other and also pulled each other to where we are, can't imagine doing this without him.

I climb with my own baggage though, whereas others took an easy route to get a mule carry it for them. I'd rather call it smart, but i really wanted to test myself, ig

I just remind myself at every step what my guide said -?

"It is harder than you think,

It is farther than you think,

It is taller than you think."

"The only way to move forward is taking baby steps, not running"

"It's not a sprint, it's a Marathon"

Am I still talking about the mountain?

What if i should have taken the mule? Would that have taken me higher, would that have made this journey easier, would i reach to the top faster??

Tbh, while beginning this journey, i didn't anticipate it'd be this difficult, but if i have to start all over again, i might still not end up taking the mule.

One decision i made and i want to stand by - all i want i to do is truly climb for the joy of climbing, and for accomplishing it doing it the right way, rather than easy way.

It's more about the journey -?

taking an exhausted nap in the tent after a very straining day

Enjoying the half cooked pasta, and appreciating the same for being done at such an altitude

Having your eyes shine gazing at the star bed, even though you are shivering in cold

Making new friends on the mountain, sharing stories, food, and warmth where all needed some

Doing all of this with a sense of pride that you deserve to be here, and that you deserved to enjoy this

All this was so much more rather than the barely enjoyed 20 minutes at the peak

Having reached here, we have realised that this might not be the way forward, we might have to go down all over again and find a new path that goes higher.

Climbing another peak? I think I'd do it the way i did my first. No matter how many times i have to climb again. It was all worth it!?

Without the mule

with Divyam Amit Goenka?by my side

Climbing for the journey rather than the peak

Smiling at all the discomfort life has to offer

I know I will make it if i take baby steps and pause for a while to look back time and again

Remembering to pull people up where i can,?

And get pushed higher by people where i deserve to be

Only thing that changes is now there'd be no fear of giving up, coz i know i'd be accomplishing everyday what i set out to achieve