Setting Out for Kala Patthar: A Challenging Trek Awaits
Beginning our journey toward the powerful Kala Patthar. The day was June 13, 2023. The previous day, which was June 12, we reached the Everest Base Camp (5364m ~ 17,600ft) after crossing the world’s highest Kumbhu Glacier. In the early morning, at around 3:30 AM, we started our journey from Gorakshep (5200m) towards our goal, Kalapatthar (5700m ~ 18,400ft). It’s worth mentioning that we are not professional mountaineers but trekking enthusiasts. We found this a challenging opportunity, and as non-professionals, reaching this summit without any special training is possible.
Weather Woes and Determined Spirits
We were very excited to reach the Kala Patthar summit, but we have no control over nature. When we arrived at the Everest Base Camp, Nepal was already experiencing the onset of the monsoon season. Thick clouds surrounded us, and sometimes there was rain, while other times, the temperature dropped low enough to cause snowfall. On the previous day, when we crossed the glacier, we met others who had to turn back due to the adverse weather conditions. Even with these conditions, we decided to pursue our goal of reaching the Kalapatthar summit.
The altitude was increasing, and the weather was extremely harsh, with diminishing oxygen levels. Some fellow trekkers we encountered on the journey shared their concerns that only a few people had managed to reach the Kalapatthar summit due to the harsh weather. Nevertheless, we decided to continue our ascent.
Triumph on the Summit, But Not Without Trials
Despite the monsoon season and the challenging conditions, we finally reached the Kala Patthar summit. We couldn’t see much because of the weather, but we had a sense of achievement. The experience was far from ideal. We faced intense thunderstorms, snowfall, and challenging terrain. However, we were determined to reach the summit.
After a while, we decided to descend, but there was another obstacle in our path. The water we carried with us had frozen, and the thirst was severe. We had to break the ice off some stones, melt it, and drink to satisfy our thirst. Moreover, snowfall was relentless. We were sliding on icy rocks, and snowfall was increasing.
Despite all these challenges, we didn’t turn back. We were motivated to achieve our goal of reaching Kala Patthar. But at some point, we faced another dilemma. Our water supply was running low. In these extreme conditions, a group of trekkers who had come with us decided to turn back, deciding that continuing was unsafe.
Facing Downhill Obstacles and the Crucial Choice
This was a difficult decision, and we were feeling a bit disheartened. Yet, one of our team members reminded us of the significance of reaching the summit. He said, “Just remember, reaching the summit is a big achievement. We’ve already conquered Gokyo Ri and Chola Pass. We crossed the formidable Ngozumpa and Kumbhu Glaciers and finally reached the Everest Base Camp. If we let this mission remain unaccomplished after coming so far, we’ll regret it for life. Let’s move on slowly and steadily, with the blessings of Allah.”
We got back into the zone and kept going. We did not come this far to conquer glaciers and mountains. In this brief existence of ours, we have accomplished far more. We were in this together, having overcome prior obstacles.
A little further, we encountered another difficulty. The water we had with us was running out, and thirst was getting severe. On the other hand, snowfall was still ongoing. We collected some snow, filled our bottles, put them inside our jackets, and allowed our body heat to melt the snow into the water. This allowed us to quench our thirst.
A Lesson Learned: Beyond the Kala Patthar Summit
Eventually, at around 7 AM, we reached our goal. However, upon reaching the summit, we discovered something interesting. Before embarking on this trip, we had done extensive research and watched numerous videos on YouTube. But for some reason, we couldn’t recall seeing anyone mention that we should take precautions while ascending. So, to be safe, we turned on our GPS, which helped us ensure we were on the correct path to the summit. Since there was some light around due to the surrounding glaciers, we did not mistake the midpoint on Kalapatthar’s route for the actual summit. However, many other trekkers were misjudging the summit, thinking they had reached the summit halfway to Kala Patthar.
Our journey in Kala Patthar was a challenging and rewarding adventure, filled with various obstacles, but it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Ultimately, we reached our goal, and that sense of achievement was worth all the hardships and doubts along the way.
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I’m feeling motivated after reading this.❤️
My pleasure, Thank you so much