The Mountain Madness

Mountain Madness has struck us. It’s been three months since we reached Everest Base Camp, yet our fellow hikers’ warm embrace and camaraderie fill our hearts.

When I first proposed the trek last October, Kanishk was all in, asking, “When do we go?” Vaishali reacted, “Pagalpan hai, with Arjun just 10!” Mom doubled down, “We’re Gujarati​s – Kakras and Doklas are better!”

A portrait of us together at Everest Base Camp, spending precious time with Kanishk before he ventures into his world, shifted the conversation from talk to deliberation. In the end, abiding by the motto “Happy Life, Happy Wife,” I settled on just us three, with Arjun being tasked to stay back with my mom for homemade ​Teplas and ​Gathiyas.

After intense preparation over 40 weekends – snow-covered climbs, rain-drenched hikes, heat-basked treks, all fuelled by masala chai – 50KM and 100KM ultra challenges powered by salt and Co​ke – we transformed from amateur hikers into having a shot at reaching Base Camp. Buoyed by acquaintances turned friends, bound by the goal of supporting each other.

“Chalein!” As we bid goodbye, promising to take Arjun to Base Camp when he turns 16 and keep friends posted, we embarked on the arduous trek. ​Our fellow hikers supported each other with mint candies, gels, and chocolate bars throughout the day. On day 3,  we even found​ piping hot samosas served in a tea house, 20 minutes from Namche.  We broke into Bollywood dance numbers during steep climbs, which entertained fellow hikers, and the joy uplifted our spirits. Though blisters, chest infections, freezing conditions and altitude sickness plagued many, each evening, our fist bumps to acknowledge we made it through the day, laughs over dinner’s warmth and enjoying a cuppa of lemon tea – the divine nectar for a couple hours before returning to noisy, snore-filled rooms separated by thin plasterboard, made the challenges seem minuscule.

The scenes of rescue helicopters airlifting fellow hikers, the icy chill of frigid water, pre-dawn wake-up calls, and freezing nights in our sleeping bags, the cramping of dining halls and lack of basic facilities in the tea houses and the grumbling of the empty stomach after long 8-10 arduous hours of everyday hikes didn’t deter all of us to reach Base Camp on day 9. This achievement would not have been possible without the smiling Sherpas’ support and their motivational Everest stories.

Though we started with a vision of Base Camp, the destination felt secondary. The time spent with Kanishk, the camaraderie with fellow hikers in our group, and reflecting on those who couldn’t join, felt more vital.  ​ The time spent with people matters the most, not the destination and the journey. ​ The incredible views – Lhotse, Nuptse, Ama Dablam Kangtega and Thamserku peaks- the changing Khumbu Valley terrains, glaciers, Dudhkoshi tributaries, Dingboche and Pangboche monasteries and cultural immersion left a gratifying emotion, inspiring Kanishk to one day summit with his newly found Sherp​a friends while thinking of mother nature and giving it back to society.

​ The unforgettable moments from our hike were made possible not just by our fellow hikers, but by the encouragement of friends who couldn’t join us on the trek, the support of friends in Reading​ while we were away, and those who fuelled Kanishk’s drive to give back to others by motivating and supporting him to raise funds for an orphanage in Nepal supported by Sewa UK.

 ​ ​​​Though we’re home, this trip continues in our hearts, with memories and stories to tell. A journey starts and ends in the mind.