9th August, 10 pm is when we leave for our summit push, hoping that the hot bowl of porridge we had just before leaving serves us both in energy and good luck. First few hours passed on as expected- trying to maneuver steep slopes in pitch dark, assisted by our last-minute assembled head torches. From hills to moraines to glaciers to the notorious shoulder- the knife edge ridge to the summit. Ropes tied to harness were safeguarding us, should we slip. Plodding with tired legs and almost wasted body, we hoped to catch sight of the summit with our every next step. It was not to be. Crossing one hump from another, summit seemed a distant dream while we continued to bargain with our body for an additional dose of energy to sustain us for another few minutes. Not so soon, the summit revealed itself on our horizon. So near, yet so far- merely a few vertical meters away, still we take ages to ascend. Slow yet unsteady, finally at 7:08 am, we step our feet on the 20100 ft. high summit. Views around the summit were a sight to behold. Mighty mountains surrounding Leh appear in the backdrop as small hillocks. If not for the mist, we could also have had a glimpse of K2, the second highest mountain in the world. The knife-edge ridge we treaded on seemed even narrower, mysteriously suspended in thousands of feet deep valley. A brief moment of silence to come to terms with our surreal surroundings gave way to chants of victories, customary poses with tricolor and group photographs. Never had I been so happy in such harsh weather conditions. Gung-ho with the satisfaction of summiting, our guides bring us back to reality- ‘We also have to descend this giant mountain’. Oops!
