In short, it has been a journey from gasping to grinning!
Two years ago, when I first restarted my hiking journey after a few years was to hike Makalidurga, every step felt like a monumental challenge. I was struggling to catch my breath, stopping frequently to regroup and muster the energy to move on. It was tough, and reaching the peak felt like a distant, almost impossible dream. Fast forward to last Saturday, and I decided to revisit that same trail, with a newfound swagger and a heart full of excitement. Below is the summit picture from March 2023.
This time, something was different. As I made my way up the familiar path, each step felt lighter, like I was dancing up the mountain rather than slogging through it. My breaths were deep and confident, and the peak, once shrouded in a fog of doubt, now felt like a cake walk. I am not sure if it was all the other hikes and treks I’ve embraced or the hours I’ve put into the gym and a healthier lifestyle, I couldn’t help but feel immensely grateful for the entire journey. Below is the summit picture from Feb 2025.
Revisiting this hike was more than just a physical challenge. I realised that every moment of struggle, every pause to catch my breath, wasn’t a necessity but a luxury that I chose to enjoy. I was not just pausing to catch on beauty around me that I didn’t even know existed the first time I was there but also was ensuring to push the team forward and empathise with the ones who were struggling just like me when I came first. Yes, I was that person occasionally shouting, “Let’s go, let’s go!” when breaks stretched on a bit too long.
So here’s to the climb, to the unexpected laughs, the hard-earned breaths, and the pure joy of realising that the summit isn’t just a point on a map but it’s a celebration of how far we can go when we keep pushing forward.
Happy hiking!