I don’t wanna go up 2 — Alone when together
This is the second in the series of blogs on the Everest Base Camp trek which I took up in April 2022. The first is here — https://lthampi.medium.com/i-dont-wanna-go-up-b81cf53ea2c1
Yes, I started my journey into this with the same understanding that I can do it. When I say I can do it, I meant I can do it without much help, my health is sorted out from a bad bout last year, and I don't have visible aches or pains as of now. More specifically, I wanted to do it. The intent was/is there. Why I wanted to do it, is a specific question that some of my loved ones asked me when they heard about my first day's experience and the most specific input came from our son, “Amma, I am not sure why you do it, I hope you are enjoying every bit of it. “ Have to tell, this gen Z is so clear and specific about their needs and wants and I try to emulate them in this department. So that statement became the guiding light on the second day of the trek.
Why do I want to do it? — bit a little explanation, as partners, I, and Vishal like to challenge ourselves in our fitness domain, but more importantly enjoy the course as well. So trekking by choice is one of those activities, which we like to do it together or alone when together as well (i would explain this in a bit).
Now that the “Why” part is cleared, coming to the element of enjoyment in it. That is something that I explored in the coming days. That is crucial in picking the walking partner you wanna be with at any moment. Let's admit it, although you are determined and charged to do it, in a long languorous walk of almost 8 to 10 hours in a day, you would need company. That partnership can be from anyone who is on the trail. The group had so many people and the coming days were when you got to be with some of them, It taught me a lot, just by walking with them. What they talk about, or what they veer your attention to when on these long walks was enticing. For instance, I was quite amused when I had muted myself from nature's sounds, or rather shall I say I had not muted into hills whispers. During a short walk with Sherpa Sardar(Pankaj), he just asked me a question, do you hear the water dripping. I hadn't noticed it, the small dripping from streams had gone unnoticed. Such a blessing it was to listen to them after that, that dripping of water trinkets and those gushing of the river, those whistling of eagles, the clucking of mule hoofs, mush-mush sound which the yaks with loads were making, where they telling me that its too much weight on me, why have you carried all the nonsense which you packed!. That's another learning, you need minimal on the hills, I had packed a lot more than needed. Then those bells which these cattle had which warned us about their arrival, so that you free the trail for them to pass and you take a breath and take support not to be toppled by them. And of course, I should say, I heard a lot of myself also during these walks, a lot of self-talk was going on, which got muted out in some time and replaced with self-instruction to breathe in and out and make it in sync with the footsteps. Such a different experience it was, no mental chatter, you are experiencing just your next step.
Then came a point when I and Vishal, my husband were in sync in our walk, and in those long days I should say we didn't talk much if you talk especially, or if you argue then your next step would be compromised. So was it a wise decision not to talk much and sort things out once back on base! I looked forward to walking with him because on those trails he could trudge along much swifter and when he stopped for me at the top of a trail with a bottle of water, it was an encouragement for me to take some steps and reach there. I used to tell him, you proceed, as usual guilty that I am holding him. But his explanation was as of now it's my choice to be with you. That was a choice that we executed during those long walks. By choice, we choose to walk all by ourselves and other times walk with each other, but while doing so there is a slight nudging which mostly he had to do for me, but not that gyan — Yes you can do it and blah blah…which I found coming from fellow trekkers and had to get into zen self and ignore most of it and sometimes shut them up by telling them I don't need it.
One stretch of the walk should say was most enjoyable was between Hillary bridge and Namche bazaar. As Sherpa Sardar said it is 600 meters gain. So how long can that walk be…. I wondered and even joked with him. But he warned it is a steep climb. But in my mind I was smirking about what is a great deal about it. I realized at the end of the walk what was it about. At the foot of the approach towards the Hillary bridge, where this incline starts, the whole team met up and Vishal indicated to me I want to do this alone and here is a bottle please do it yourself. A small pang of being abandoned did cross my mind, can't deny it. But I was determined to make it worthwhile. Should say that walk to the bridge itself was steep with how many steps….. I didn't count, innumerous which made most of us, stop sit sip look around, and proceed. The views there were beautiful, the gushing Toshi river, the twin hanging bridge which looked like two threads stuck between two hills and red, pink rhododendron flowers all over, and those Buddhist flags in many places.
When after the steps I reached the beginning of the top twin bridge the view was upgraded to be ethereal, it was like a game upgrade, since you crossed all these levels, now you are presented with a view which is the best I had in the whole trip. The flags fluttering on the bridge, the bridge swaying, the mounts of hills all around, the trees, the river, cant explain that view. That would remain with me always. To my luck, I was the only one on the other end of the bridge enjoying this view all to myself for five minutes. Walking over that longest and highest-hanging bridge was an experience.
Then 600-meter climb it was, after some snacking at the end of the bridge started that. This time I used a new tactic, music, just plugged in and walked the whole thing up for the next four kilometers, which was almost four hours of walk, can it be called a walk, no, crawl, climb, sit and move your bum, all kinds of movements were tried out. It was a delight to see the Namche bazaar at the end of it but little did I know, the whole delightful town with swanky cafes and eateries out of nowhere was also on slopes and steps. I cursed the planners of that town as the walk from the town gate to the tea house was really a trudge, as I thought my walk was over when I reached the gate. I am not sure if you know what I am talking of. One of the sherpas, Sukhra, appeared from nowhere and guided me or encouraged me from that gate to the hotel , as somehow they seem to understand us much more, they know when to nudge and when to just be silent supporters.
the first part is here — https://lthampi.medium.com/i-dont-wanna-go-up-b81cf53ea2c1
To be continued
