THE SUN WAS scorching hot, yet the breeze felt cool and comforting. The land below lay parched and yellow. One step at a time, one breath at a time, we followed the trails of Grandpa Norbu, a Ladakhi elder, who led us toward a hidden high pasture land in the Ladakh range. “Breathe in long and full,” I reminded myself. My heart drummed, and my lungs gasped for more oxygen. I paused, took a mouthful of water, and gazed into the horizon. The vast landscape quietly opened my heart, calming me inside. I’m doing okay, I thought. It was day three of my acclimation.
Over the past 10 years, I have made at least six trips to the Himalayas and led eight expeditions for participants ranging from high school students to senior citizens. At 4,000m above sea level, I felt at ease, at peace and at home.
