Today was definitely a challenge - the experience of having my legs ready to hike, but with my lungs gasping for air, was something I've never really felt before. I found out the hard way that taking just a few too many quick steps to catch the group is a fast way to blow up your lungs!
It was totally worth it though. The hike started similarly to yesterday, with a steep incline followed by an alpine meadow, but this time we continued upward for what seemed like forever!
Dad kept calling himself slow, and leaving group breaks early to 'get ahead' - but the truth is I think he did a better job with the uphill than me... In fact, better than most of the group! I was impressed!
We finally got to the last pitch before the pass- a steep scree pile that a group of horses undertook just before us. It was hard and the air seemed very thin - but by that time I had figured out that slow walking combined with quick panting breaths would allow me to keep moving forward.
The top was narrow and the wind was howling, and prayer flags had been strung across the highest point of the pass. It reminded me of the top of a ski area... Except that the views all around were not the Rockies or Cascades but the Himalayas!
We all took turns taking each other's pictures at the top... Then quickly passed over and downward to get out of the wind. The rest, as they say, was all downhill. ;)
Coming down was an adventure, taking long steps and digging into the wind packed snow. I actually enjoyed that part... And it seemed like Dad did too. But the people who don't live in snow were very cautious!
The second half of the descent was fairly easy and really cool. We wound our way across multiple hillsides as we slowly descended, with the river below us, smaller mountains across from us, and peak-a-boo views of the icy Himalayan giants to our left.
We final made it to camp- after a steep final descent, and another little but steep uphill that made everyone groan. We are now near a new river, which we will follow up to another pass tomorrow.
Today was definitely hard- but there is no question that this trip will go into the record-books as one of the most magnificent experiences of my life. It is truly awesome.
I agree Christina, your dad was never slow. He got into his pace groove and always seemed to arrive smiling! What a guy :)
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