“Come trekking,” they said…

After a sleepless night (the nerves had well and truly kicked in!), we met at 7:30 a.m. for breakfast and our final briefing. The air was buzzing with a mix of excitement and apprehension — the moment we’d been building up to for months had finally arrived.

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The Adventure Begins

We piled into jeeps that wound their way up to Satobari Village, our starting point at a lofty 1,750 metres. Here, we met our friendly guides — and the real heroes of the expedition — the donkeys who would be carrying our tents, camping gear, and food for the next five days.

The trek began gently, meandering down into a lush valley through forest paths draped with purple flowers. It was peaceful… until we discovered that the usual bridge crossing was out of action. (It had collapsed. Of course it had.) Cue a spot of impromptu bouldering as we scrambled our way across the rocks to rejoin the trail!

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Through Valleys and Villages

We wound past trickling streams, tiny hamlets, and even a local school. The sound of children laughing and waving as we passed was pure joy — a reminder of how vibrant and welcoming life is in these remote hills.

Then came the climb. Steps, steep paths, and endless switchbacks carved into the hillside — it was tough going, but the views kept us pushing upward. We stopped for a picnic lunch surrounded by chirping crickets, who provided our background music as we refuelled and caught our breath.

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Not as Easy as It Looks

Let’s be honest — it wasn’t easy. The ground was slippery, and by the end of the day, five out of six of us had taken at least one tumble on the mossy rocks (just a few scrapes, thankfully!). Poor Traysi had a wobble when her blood sugar dipped, but a quick dose of electrolytes and some calm words from our guides soon had her back on her feet.

Our support team has been nothing short of incredible — watching over us, encouraging us, and keeping us safe every step of the way.

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Landslides and Determination

Just when we thought we’d earned an easier afternoon, the mountains had other ideas. Our planned route had been destroyed by a landslide, forcing us to detour across a precarious path of mud, loose boulders, and sheer drops.

It was, in a word, terrifying. Rocks tumbled around us as we picked our way carefully across. But we did it — one cautious, determined step at a time. By the time we reached solid ground again, the relief was almost overwhelming.

It was tough. It was frightening. And it was an incredible reminder of what we’re capable of when we dig deep.

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The Final Stretch

The last stretch of the day led us past crystal-clear rock pools glinting in the afternoon sun. A few brave souls stripped off and plunged in — others (the sensible ones!) settled for dipping their toes. The icy water was the perfect jolt of energy we needed for the final climb to camp.

When the tents finally came into view, we could have cheered. We were greeted with steaming mugs of hot lemon, a view of the mountains that quite literally took our breath away, and the comforting hum of our little camp coming to life.

As we sit together now, sharing stories from the day and gazing at the peaks around us, it’s hard not to feel inspired. Exhausted, yes — but utterly in awe of this place and proud of what we’ve achieved on Day One of the trek.

Please donate at Macmillan Cancer Support and/or The British Heart Foundation.