“In Nepal, we only talk about mountain-climbing at 5,000 meters above sea level and higher. That’s when we also give the mountains names. Everything else is strolling.”
— a loosely translated Sherpa proverb
Editor’s Note: There is a range of journeys that people experience throughout their lifetimes, some beautiful, some powerful, some that challenge every part of you, and some that we never want to experience again. In an ode to recognizing this spectrum, we want to share experiences from both poles (and everywhere in between). After all, every footstep, struggle, and achievement is so very personal.
So, we invite our readers to share the stories of their quests for summits, both literally and metaphorically, their stories from the trail, and the impacts a big trek has had on their spirits and their lives: curious@pilgrimmag.com. (We’ll be writing a few of our own summit stories, too!)
This story represents one end of that spectrum. Martin’s words are powerful, as was his experience, but there was also a looming darkness along his quest to reach Thorang La, the beacon pass along the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal’s Himalaya Mountains. His struggles—both internal and physical—were a relentless challenge, and unlike the stories of trekkers who find a deeper sense of purpose in their journeys, did not result in a sense of fulfillment or answers to the questions he perhaps didn’t know he had. Still, he summited and he survived after 18 days on the circuit. This is his story.
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