My Great Adventure

When asked the question, “What was the best part of your trek to Mt. Everest Base Camp”, the expected response would be the climactic moment of standing at 5545m looking straight at the black giant that is Everest. However, during my trip I found that my most elated moments occurred at points off the beaten trail. Solitude induced emotions in me so raw and gripping that I will never be able to describe what I felt looking into the night sky, feeling the rocks under the sole of my boot, or listening to the voice of a lone soldier in an empty teahouse. I went on a trek to the top of the world in search of an adventure, and discovered that adventure does not always mean adrenaline pulsing through ones veins. Sometimes nothing can top a quiet moment of sheer bliss.

Every teahouse in Lobouche was full. As a result, my guide and I spent the night sleeping in a kitchen, crowded with porters and fellow trekkers. After supper I decided I had to escape the chaotic kitchen, no matter what the temperature outside was. Bundling up in my many layers I zipped up my down jacket and stepped into the thick, cold air. What I saw immediately made the cold take a backseat in my sensory palette. Never have I seen so many stars. It was as if I was looking at New York City in the sky. They shone like little candle flames, flickering, fading away, and reemerging even brighter. I walked through the quaint little village, taking caution to keep my eyes on the ground. Looking at my surroundings, in that moment I felt so incredibly blessed to be where I was. In the darkness I could here the trickling of the creek bordering Lobouche, with the moon’s light guiding me I hopped onto some strategically placed rocks and made my way to the other side. After a short walk I stumbled across a massive boulder and decided to climb to the top. Following a few slippery steps and one stumble, I made it to the top and nestled into a crevasse that trumped the comfort of any North American lazy boy recliner. Cradled in the arms of this rock, my life felt surreal. I could hear the laughter of trekker in their tents, braving the cold night’s air, I could see the dim lights of teahouse stoves glowing in the distance, and I could feel the coolness of the stone through my jacket. I turned on my iPod, making up my mind that this moment was worth the battery power. The song “Blanket” by Diego Sandrin will forever bring me back to that perfect night, for in that quiet moment everything in the world was right. The atmosphere of the night summed up the whole trek. The pureness of this region and the crispness of its beauty cannot be captured until seen with ones own eyes.