After several hikes at altitude, I wanted to try my first snow mountain. I chose Haba. It ended up keeping quite a few of my firsts: my first night in a tent, my first summit attempt in deep snow, and my first time deciding that I needed to go down.
The first attempt
The walk from Haba village to base camp was the part I could simply enjoy. There were alpine meadows and rhododendrons in bloom, and I met people I got along with so easily. Sleeping in a tent for the first time felt like an adventure on its own.
Then came the summit attempt. It was snowing, the wind was blowing, and in places the snow had built up to my knees. Our guide broke the trail, but moving forward was still hard.
At about 4900 m, my socks were wet. I was hungry, and had no energy left, so I went down, unfortunately.
Of course I wanted to reach the summit. But I also knew how my body felt, and that mattered more. I love going outside; I’d also quite like to stay alive. A mountain isn’t somewhere I want to gamble with that.
Reaching the summit is optional.
Getting home isn’t.
I still thought I’d done pretty well. Turning back didn’t cancel the walk, the friendships, or the fact that I’d tried something new. Before we left, my friend and I made a plan: we would come back. With better weather, hopefully, and more training.
Coming back — a promise we kept
Before the next trip, we paid more attention to the forecast, especially the wind. I trained more too. On the treadmill, I started using an incline instead of always running on the flat.
The second time went much more smoothly. From the light rain in Haba village to the snow at base camp, it felt good just to be back.
At base camp, my phone lost its signal completely. For two days, there was no scrolling and no checking messages. We sat around the fire, chatting and making fun of each other. For once, I put my phone down because there was nothing to do with it. I could listen to the snow falling and let my mind go quiet. Time seemed slower there.
After resting, we began to climb at dawn. It was still tiring. There were moments when I had to grit my teeth and keep going, but this time I had prepared, and I knew a little more about what to expect. Our guide helped me adjust my pace. My friend and I kept moving, and we made it to the summit together.
I’d been carrying that unfinished feeling since the first attempt. Standing at the top finally settled it. Mostly, though, I was just happy that we had actually kept our promise.
Back to ordinary life
Those four days felt a little like a very good dream. I was close to nature, away from studying and all the things I usually had to think about. I felt free.
Going back to my normal routine was stranger than I expected. I’d done the thing I’d been looking forward to, and suddenly there was a small, empty space where that anticipation had been.
I don’t think everyday life has to compete with the summit. Most days are ordinary. There is still happiness in them, and studying and improving at things are part of the life I want too.
But I like having the next trip somewhere in the back of my mind. A short-term thing to look forward to, alongside the longer-term ones. When school gets difficult, knowing there will be another holiday, another trail, and another set of memories helps me keep going.
For now, I’m back at my desk. I’m also looking forward to the next mountain.
Things I’d pass on
Notes from a beginner, to another beginner.
These are the things I took away from my own trips. For an actual climb, I’d work through the route, conditions, and equipment with a qualified local guide.
01. Leave yourself the option to go down.
Don’t let “anyone with legs can do it” posts make the decisions for you. Think about your preparation and listen to your body. Going home safely is the part that has to happen.
02. Check the weather. Pack for it changing.
We used Mountain Forecast ↗ when planning our return, with particular attention to wind. A forecast helped us choose our timing; it couldn’t promise the conditions we would get. I’d still bring warm layers and weather protection even with a good forecast.
03. Wear layers you can adjust.
A moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating mid-layer such as fleece, and a weather-protective shell gave me a useful way to think about clothing. Extra insulation depends on the cold and the plan. Check the full kit with your guide, and adjust layers before you become too hot or cold.
04. Train for walking uphill.
For my second attempt, I used an incline on the treadmill and did more running.
