The Solo Trekking Trip

 Climbing Meera Peak at Nepal 

Last year around mid March, I went on a mission to conquer Meera Peak.The Peak is 6200m.

The ambitious attempt was hatched a year back, as every three years once I will try clambering at least one high altitude mountain.As we know most of high altitude mountains are stacked in Himalaya range in most Nepal.

Beside Nepal is a very conducive place for trekking.

As my previous attempt was done to Base camp Everest and Kalapatar solo too around April 2013 and in September Kilimanjaro in Tanzania which I was able to complete my climb.

So my next attempt was to achieve more than 6000m.Thus Meera Peak appeared falls in my purview.

So I organised that trekking trip with the help of my adopted daughter by name Puspa in Kathmandu.As I was busy with my work and life here.Puspa was shocked I am going to attempt this Peak as it is not a well frequented peak and the treks are not well formed.

She try to dissuade me from attempting it but I assuming the climb will be like base camp Everest with lots of rest small villages to rest the day.

So the day came in mid March,I  landed at Kathmandu two days prior for altitude adaptation.Then I got a glimpse of my attempt of this peak that it is not a well used trek, heavily snow laden trek, no proper village, extreme weathers, need to camp most of stops,cook our own meal and no shops which was told by my adopted daughter!!!

I still didn’t believe but when the next day I met the trekking agent, it was confirmed and he was shocked an old man trying a difficult peak by all alone.

He introduced to the guide , one assistant and a porter to me.They explained to me the dos and don’t, things to bring and wear during this attempt.

The things which I don’t have were snow boots and crampons by the way I haven’t used in previous trekking.So I am a bit be mused and worried, which the guide assured me it will be taught prior to attempting the peak.

So the day of flying to Lukla was next day early morning flight.Thus as Nepali culture to have ritual prayer which my daughter conducted and by 5am the van picked us up to the airport.

We were lucky the weather was good , so once the airport door opened all rushed in to check and dump all the hiking apparatus and went through the routine airport check into the waiting room.

By the time we board the small engine 20 seater flight, the weather turn bad.So we made to wait more than 3 hrs.

So at the small gap of good weather our flight took to sky and passing many snow covered mountains with scattered villages.

The Lukla airport which is very small with single hardly 50meter run away with strong cross wind at an altitude of 2869m.It takes an expert pilot to land safely.It is mind boggling to watch the landing by this pilots.

Once we landed  the assistance and porter collected our hiking baggages and headed to the hotel.There at the hotel we had our lunch and once all the food for 25 days and tent preparation and proper tie up done by the porter to carry, our trekking starts.

We started walking though it was snowing lightly in very cold weather.According to the guide we need to walk around 5 to 6 hours to the next village Phuiyan, the path was hardly one foot width and covered with sandy pebbles.

By the time we reached the village it was late evening and getting dark, there were hardly two houses and due to the year before earthquake, the house is damaged .

So we camped at the open area nearby the house and we got the food from the house.I slept out of exhaustion and cold.

The next days I have to trek up and down the trek which is hardly got any one other than us, no villages, at certain place no trek at all due to previous destruction by earthquake,that my guide have reroute our path.

After four days in this journey of wilderness all alone, we were a heading to Thamakolah water fall which is 5 to 6 hrs trekking in deep snow most of the way.It was very challenging and my in experience in deep snow wading made it further slow down.

By the time we reached the picturesque waterfall it was again late evening and the altitude of 3300m.I as usually sat at a rock as I watched team setting up the tent and getting the fire started by collecting the woods around.

After meal with my sore leg I crawl into the  single tent and went into deep and disturbed sleep due to uneven ground.

On 8th day my climb reached to 4500m which snow covered trek most of the way with the weather of -5 at night.I got to rest a day at a small village with few guest house at Kotai.Here I got a chance to make a little hike of 3 hours get a glimpse Yanknak lake which one of the highest lake with all around it is walked by snow covered mountain.

By 10th day of my trekking finally I reached the base camp of Meera Peak which is 4800m which is fully snow covered and hardly can see any resident outside , other then the trekkers which was me and lucky enough I met few Italians too going to attempt the peak on the same day with me.

It was extremely cold with minimal basic facilities and place of rest.So today I was given a training of using snow boots and crampons on a small molehill.The guide a rope to the top of it, by bully system expect me to reach the top and slight back.It was most toughest experience in the climb, as the weather was very cold, strong wind, snowing and at times very hot due to piercing sun rays.It sap my energy with two attempts but I had a thrill of walking with crampons.

So next day was my walk to the 5000m basically waking on blocks of ice and may need to use the crampons to walk.By then I had slight difficulties to breath and tightness in chest.I felt very short of air at each step I take.I told the guide and the assistance about my condition.They deliberation between themselves and advise me to abundant the climb as I am having mountain sickness and there is no help in this track if any thing happen to me.

So we descended back to the base camp guest house, got our apparatus packed started our descend of 4 hours.My breathing and tightness improved.

So me and the supporting team got to Kotai the next day.

After few days of trekking down heavy snow laden trek.Finally on 16th day reached Lukla.

Luckily I got an early flight back to Kathmandu.It was a memorable unprepared mountain climbing experience in wilderness all alone.