Read with me: mountain edition
Hi everyone,
I’m not so great at sending these on any sort of normal cadence. Maybe it’s because this newsletter isn’t quite read with me anymore. I guess it’s travel with me? Sorry to anyone who signed up for this wanting links and book recommendations. Truthfully, I haven’t been reading much stuff on the internet or books that aren’t 1,000 pages. It turns out you spend less time scrolling the internet when you don’t have a job.
I’m writing this from Indonesia where it’s 88 degrees but because of the humidity, it feels like 95. So, I’m melting, alone, and a little aimless before my yoga teacher training starts on Monday.
When I texted my family a photo of me and Alex at 17,000 feet at the top of a mountain pass in the Himalayas, my mom responded, “I didn’t appreciate what your trip entailed until now.” Well, mom… same.
Everything I want to write about this adventure sounds trite, so instead, here’s a list of things I learned to survive this journey.
When you arrive at the bus that’s going to take you three hours on winding cliff side roads and see it’s painted with the words “Jesus Saves” and “Road King,” and you ask your guide “is this going to take us there?” And he responds “let’s hope,” know this means it will in fact break down on the way and you will be waiting on a cliff for hours for another car to pick you up.
Don’t be scared when you have to get out of the new car multiple times so it can make the tight turns without tumbling down the mountain. IT’S FINE. You’ll arrive safely.
Do make friends with the amazing Canadian women who are sitting next to you on said treacherous bus ride. They will share ibuprofen, hand warmers, podcast recommendations, water, candy, and so many laughs along the trail. You’ll be glad you have them when you’re huddled together giggling in a storage container at 15,000 feet before you climb the big pass.
When you see a bunch of really cute looking donkeys walking on the trail, don’t try to go take a video of them. They will start stampeding and try to knock you off the mountain. “Get mountainside,” will be a phrase you quickly become familiar with.
Same with all of the cute looking cows… or buffalo walking on the trail….. No photos.
Fried Tibetan bread is the best breakfast. And Dal Bhat is the best dinner. “Dal Bhat power” will quickly become your mantra.
Actually try on your pack before leaving for the trip. Hiking for two straight weeks in humid jungle and arctic mountains is actually different from backpacking in California. Accept when your guide offers to carry your sleeping bag because of a blister festering on your shoulder and don’t get mad when he calls you “the small child.” That’s the price you pay.
Those suspension bridges that seem scary when you cross them the first time? They have nothing on altitude sickness. Nothing.
All of those card games you played when you were a kid at camp… spoons, presidents, BS, crazy 8s… they’ll come in handy when you’re sitting in a tea house after hiking all day with nothing to do but shoot the shit with other hikers and guides.
Showering once in 7 days because it’s too cold to get your hair wet? You won’t even care.
When you get to the top of the mountain pass and you’re so high that the birds are passing you at eye level you’ll stand there thinking, “how the hell did I get so lucky to see and witness this beauty?” That’s the moment that will stay with you. This place. It’s so massive, and wondrous, and dangerous, and powerful. You will be humbled. You will feel so grateful.
Sending everyone so much love,
Julia
