Recklessness was the first thing when I decided to conquer this mountain. A normal healthy person is not enough to risk challenging such a "dangerous" mountain. But I still go forward, maybe because of faith, determination, desire to conquer. And youth, must be cruel!
The climbing route is quite long and the weather is complicated. The first road was difficult because it was too sunny and steep. We went through dangerous rock climbs. Walking is not simply walking on tiptoes or climbing slopes, but jumping rocks. Unfortunately, the knee hit the stone right away, painful but still had to get up and keep going. We had to overcome craggy cliffs, only swings and used our limbs to cling to the rocks and climb up. The wall was as high as a three-story building, smooth and without ledges. Right at the foot are streams and boulders, extremely dangerous.
The Nam Kang Ho Tao trekking route is long. The slopes connecting each other in the hot sun of early summer made us tired and exhausted. Uphill, steeper and steeper. The afternoon sun now pokes straight through the aisles. The feeling of trying to drag your feet up the slope, looking at the shaded road ahead and using that as motivation. Reaching the shady part, just as the sun shines, he drags his feet again.
It's getting dark. The path has many fallen trees across the cliff. I found it difficult to balance with the weak light. We passed a road full of thorns. Thorns pierced his shirt, touched his face, and scratched his gloves. Despite the thorns, we still tried to climb as fast as possible to the top of the mountain.
I remember feeling aching feet and a cold and then wheezing while walking. We kept going, as if through many roads, up the mountain and then down the mountain. I've crossed a mountain range or two, but I still haven't seen the highest mountain. Sometimes the group stopped, looked at the GPS and then scanned the map to find the way. The porters are always afraid to go on, because they themselves have never set foot on the top.
I also remember feeling rushed and scared to return right after checking the coordinates at the top of the mountain. That's when the hailstorm started. Flashing like streaks in front of me. I'm scared. But I hid that fear in my heart. I don't know what I'm worried about? Leaving the body on the top of the mountain? Surrender to the hail? Legs covered with bleeding scratches were soaked in by the hail, stinging and painful! Wet inside and out. Cold and pricey. We were exhausted, trembling, pressed against each other, picked up the hailstone and swallowed it so that we would not catch a cold because we thought yin and yang would harmonize. Then, when I saw lightning pounding overhead, I was startled to realize that I was standing under an old tree, hurrying to continue even though my legs were tired and cold and shivering.
I went through the Nam Kang Ho Tao trekking trip with 2,878 m altitude, 738 km of road, 31 km of climbing road, with enough sunshine, rain, storm, frost. I believe every trip has meaning, more or less. After the journey, I have probably grown a lot, have reduced my fears, have added strength, have enough valuable experiences for my youth baggage. Going, to see that you are not weak, to see that you are not alone, and to see that returning to nature with a young heart and brave will is a return full of enthusiasm and meaning.
