### Echoes of Adventure on the Majestic Trail of Langtang

“Firsts” are always special. You always remember your first love, your first bike, and your first day in college. My first trek too was bound to be something special. It might not be worthy of a blockbuster movie script but it definitely was surreal enough for me to be writing a piece about.
On March 3, 2023, me with my friends Sameep and Subodh, decided to embark on a trek to Langtang Valley during our fourth-year , Health System Management (HSM) field. We were posted at Trishuli Hospital in Nuwakot, the gateway to Langtang. And, we could feel the mountains calling to us. We knew, there would never be a better time to do this. Three of our seniors—consultants in ophthalmology, orthopedics, and psychiatry —were also thrilled to join us. We quickly planned a four-day trek from Trishuli Bazaar to Langtang Valley and back, and the adventure was set!

## Day 1: The Journey Begins
We started our journey from Trishuli Bazaar on March 4, 2023, taking a local bus at 9 am toward Syafrubesi. The gravel road twisted and turned, passing through Dhunche—a checkpoint and gateway to both Langtang Valley and Gosainkunda. We finally reached Syafrubesi by 2 pm, where the road ended, and the trekking trail began. Following the Langtang River, we walked through a beautiful forested path, the sounds of rushing water, chirping birds, and buzzing insects our only companions. The trail varied from flat and easy to steep and challenging, with occasional rickety suspension bridges adding a thrill. As dusk approached, clouds gathered, and rain threatened, but we managed to reach “Bamboo” in time to avoid the storm. We stayed in simple bamboo cottages, aptly named after the area. With no internet or phone signal, we bonded over a hearty dinner of dal, bhat, and tarkari. The night ended with laughter and a round of Call-Break around a cozy fire—an experience I’ll always treasure.

## Day 2: Pushing Limits to Reach Langtang Valley
We woke at 5 a.m. and set off for Lama Hotel, arriving after a two-hour trek. There, we enjoyed a quick snack of tea and hot, spicy wai-wai soup. The climb was steep, and halfway up, Sameep remembered he’d left my thermos back at the hotel. Frustrated but left with no choice, I trekked down and back again, an exhausting extra effort that drained my energy.
After four more hours of hiking, snow-capped mountains began to appear, filling us with joy and inspiring us to keep going. We took breaks at small houses along the trail, snacking on hot coffee and wai-wai noodles, filling our water bottles, and pressing on. Around noon, we reached Ghodatabela and stopped for lunch, letting the refreshing mountain breeze wash away our exhaustion. Locals there assured us that Kyanjin Gompa was reachable with another seven hours of steady walking.
We were filled with excitement and determination, walking with a shared goal of reaching Kyanjin Gompa. However, as we continued to climb, exhaustion set in. By 5:00 pm, we finally glimpsed the Langtang Valley in the distance, just a 45-minute walk away. Pushing on, we arrived around 6:00 pm. Though we were three young, energetic trekkers, we were still somewhat naive. We decided to push further towards Kyanjin Gompa, while our seniors, more experienced, chose to stay in Langtang Valley, pointing out the fading daylight. Locals assured us that Kyanjin Gompa was only an hour away, so we took a leap of faith and pressed on.
As we pressed forward, the sky darkened, and the sun dipped below the horizon. Moonlight reflected off the snow-capped peaks, casting a dim glow, while the soothing sounds of the Langtang River guided our steps. By 6:45 pm, we found ourselves alone in the wilderness, with no signs of shelter. At 7:00 pm, we finally spotted a few small Gumbas, where local Lamas worship, which gave us a momentary sense of relief.
Hoping to find a place to stay, we reached the Gumbas, only to realize they were empty. At this point, we were physically and mentally drained, and a bit desperate. Our seniors’ advice to stay in Langtang Valley echoed in our minds. We’d already covered a staggering 26 kilometers that day, walking from 5:00 am to 7:00 pm, and now felt close to tears. Finally, we called the hotel owner in Kyanjin Gompa, admitting we were completely lost and exhausted. He reassured us that it was only an hour away and that he’d send someone to guide us.
With renewed determination, we mustered the strength for one more push. Our legs felt like lead, every step heavier than the last, as hunger, fatigue, and a sense of hopelessness began to creep in. After about 45 minutes, we reached a suspension bridge and saw a light coming towards us—it was our guide. Our spirits lifted instantly, knowing that our journey was almost over.
After crossing the bridge and navigating a small rocky trail, we finally saw the lights of Kyanjin Gompa, nestled under the moonlit Kyajin Ri mountain. We reached the guesthouse, dropped our bags, and sat around the fire for dinner. Snow was gently falling outside, adding to the surreal atmosphere. That day, we had covered 27 kilometers and climbed from 2,200m to 3,860m. Exhausted beyond words, we tried to sleep. My friend Sameep was experiencing a headache, which concerned us all, as we feared it might be altitude sickness. Sameep and I took 250 mg of acetazolamide, hoping it would help, and drifted o to sleep, ending one of the most challenging and rewarding days of our lives.

## Day 3: Reaching the Summit of Kyajin Ri
In the dusky dawn, we set off for the Kyajin Ri viewpoint at 4,400 meters. The path was steep, narrow, and crowded even at this early hour. Every step was a struggle against the biting cold, thin air, and persistent headaches, but we were motivated by the sight of the Langtang Valley bathed in the first light of morning. The climb to the summit was demanding, with a mix of rocky and snow-laden paths. Cautiously maneuvering past loose stones and narrow edges, we finally reached the viewpoint, where a breathtaking panorama of snow-capped peaks greeted us. It was surreal—standing at the summit, we felt like we were truly part of the mountains. We celebrated with photos and shared a special moment as Sameep, also a talented singer, serenaded us with Timilai Dekhera Himalai Haseko… song. Subodh attempted to video-call his family and girlfriend, while I also wrote pANCA in the snow as a memory of someone! . For a moment, we were just absorbed in the stillness and beauty of the mountains, forgetting all the exhaustion.

## Day 4 : Descending Back with Memories to Last a Lifetime
After savoring the incredible views from the summit, we made our way back down and met up with our seniors, who had already reached Kyanjin Gompa and were waiting to have lunch with us. On our descent, we even ran into Bishal Gautam, a rising comedian in Nepal. We shared some laughs, and he managed to work slang into almost every sentence, making our encounter all the more memorable.
Once back in Kyanjin Gompa, we enjoyed dinner surrounded by the majestic mountains, right at the source of the Langtang River. Sameep and I even had a playful snowball fight—though I’d like to think I won, truthfully, Sameep came out victorious!
We also wanted to buy some of Langtang’s famous cheese, but when we saw the prices, we realized it was a luxury a bit out of reach. Still, we left Kyanjin Gompa with warm memories of the landscape, the people, and the laughter. As we descended back to Ghodetabela, we felt the calm satisfaction of completing something challenging and unforgettable.
That night, gathered in the cozy shelter, we had deep talks about our trek, our future, and career plans with our seniors. For a while, we were all lost in thought, but then we picked up our deck of cards and launched into yet another fun round of Call Break.
The next morning, we rose early, grabbed some quick snacks, and started our final descent to Syabrubesi. On the way down, we passed many eager climbers, answering their questions about how far it was to various spots. By around 3:00 pm, we finally reached Syabrubesi, where we caught a local bus back to Trishuli Hospital.

Those four days will remain etched in our minds—a blend of breathtaking landscapes, camaraderie, and a deep sense of accomplishment. We often look back on it and smile, thinking, *Did we really do that?*

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