Kanda La Pass - Markha Valley Day 2

(Kanda La Pass, 4973m) When we rose from our tightly wrapped, sleepy stupor we were not fully aware that our looming climb to Kanda La pass would be 800 meters in a matter of hours. Our slow albeit steady progress was only impeded by our malfunctional lungs and a herd of yaks, scoffing their way through our path to the pass. The wind steadily increased as our anticipation grew and, once we reached the pass, we rewarded ourselves with shared exhaustion and Snickers. Mostly Snickers. The views of Stok Kangri (6153m) were clear and the weather cooperated with our cameras' limited capacities to encapsulate the many viewpoints. Polina asserted that the day was "death", I prefer to call it purgatory given the lack of air and sufficient physical fitness consistently wearing at our physical and emotional stamina.Read more