Immersed in the mountains...again

It was late in the 'season' when we began the Everest trek, which means the clear days are waning...and snow and rain become a regular part of your days. While it was trying at times, when the snow was blasting us in the face or the rain would not let up....our clear days were so spectacular. The Himalayas are a land of superlatives, every day of hiking revealing dramatic waterfalls or peaks, glaciers or endless terraces. Everyday you feel the immensity of the place you awake to find yourself in. Just when I thought we had experienced the most amazing views and nothing else could possibly live up to that experiece...a few days later we would find ourselves immersed in the most humbling and breathtaking setting. Sunrise became my most savored moment of the day. We would force ourselves out of our sleeping bags into the crisp, cold morning air knowing what magical views were awaiting us. If we made it out early enough, we would huddle in the stillness of the valley in anticipation of the first rays of sunshine that would set the highest peaks ablaze in a golden burst. The sun works quickly bathing the frozen valley and us in its warm rays before rising high up into the sky. The solitude and stillness of the early morning hours were always a treasure and simply the best way to start out your day. Inevitably after a day of snow, we would have a perfectly clear day with a dusting (or more!) of snow turning the drab landscape a brilliant white sparkling in the sun. And after two months of trekking in this magnificent landscape, I still haven't gotten my fill because every valley beckons with everchanging views and soaring peaks that tug at your heart and make you feel so alive!