I’ll be honest, I signed up for the 10-day Annapurna Circuit trek as a post-college “congrats, you survived” present to myself. What I got was so much more than just bragging rights and sore calves. Those three weeks became this perfect blend of personal challenge and unexpected connections early mornings watching the sun hit the peaks, swapping stories with fellow trekkers from eight different countries over dal bhat, and moments alone with my thoughts that actually stuck with me.
Crossing Thorong La Pass at 5,416m wasn’t just about the altitude (though holy oxygen deprivation, Batman!). It became this powerful metaphor literally the high point where I realized how much I was capable of when I stopped overthinking and just kept putting one foot in front of the other. Our guide, Raj, had this sixth sense for when we needed encouragement or when to quietly let us soak in the majesty around us.
By the time we descended into lush valleys after the pass, something had shifted. The rhythm of trekking life waking with the light, the simple pleasure of a hot meal after hours on the trail, the way complete strangers become family got under my skin in the best way. This wasn’t just a vacation; it recalibrated how I approach challenges back home. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Just maybe with more altitude meds next time.
