The Pass

The pass is when you have to cross to the other side of the range and the only way is to find the lowest part in between the two peaks. This one, Thorung La, is on the altitude of 5400m. It's the highest pass in the world.
We leave at 5am as we need to get to the pass before the wind will pick up around 10 am.
The day is at it's break. Soon the sun will lit up the peaks behind us. There is many of us climbing the steep ridge to the High Camp. One after another, everybody at his/her pace. I hear only waking up birds and a metallic sound of the walking sticks hitting against stones.  It's a tough climb. We're above 4500m - the air is thin, I gasp for some more oxygen and need to stop every so often to catch my breath. We didn't have breakfast. I start to feel horribly cold in spite of the effort. By the time I reach the High Camp I feel light headed and about to collapse. I can't warm up. A rest and a bite to eat, plus Rich's dawn mittens, help to pull myself together. We're off to the pass.
Surrounded by white rolling hills we go up and down through the snow.
The sun meanwhile is in its full glory lighting up the peaks around. The reflection in the snow is blinding - not possible to take the sun glasses off.
The path leads in the middle of a slope so we need to pat the snow to make a little terrace for the feet.
Everybody for his/her own now. We meet on the top. One step after another. In the white dessert, surrounded by white rocky giants, one by one colourful dots of people move steadily forward. I go slowly, not to loose my breath, trying to find a rhythm to carry on. The pass is at least 3 hours away. The views are spectacular! The feeling of crossing my own bodily and mental limits is even greater! I'm more than 5000m above the world! My legs are heavy, my breath is short and I can't help smiling! The beauty around is breathtaking. The beauty of my inner strength fills me up! Once again I see that I can :-)
The joy grows when i see the guys on the top. Rich prepared a big mug of hot chocolate. It's passed around from hands to hands.
Now a long walk down - descent of 1700m... Piece of cake!
All together it was a long day. We were walking for good 8h and on the way for exactly 12h. Tomorrow a rest.
This trek was one of the greatest things I've done in my life and for myself.