Confessions from 6189 Meters, My Laughably Honest Island Peak Diary
Sofiajackson I still remember standing at the edge of my hotel room in Kathmandu and thinking, “Yep, I’m really doing this.” That was the start of my journey into Island Peak climbing and yes, the words “Island Peak Climbing” were on the brochure in big letters, so I knew what I signed up for.
Day 1: Arrival & Nerves
I landed in Lukla, my heart doing the tango at 2,860 m. The air felt a bit thinner than Kathmandu, and I already felt a weird thrill. My guide said we’d be walking to our camp. I nodded. Inside: “What did I get myself into?”
Day 5: Crampons & Doubts
We hit higher altitudes and I finally clipped on crampons for the first time. My boots looked like tiny tools of torture. My legs were complaining. My head kept whispering: “Are you sure about this?” According to the guide, the summit day pushes from ~5,087 m to 6,189 m—over 1,100 m of climb in one go.
Day 8: Noodles & Laughs
Somewhere at 4,700 m I asked my porter, “Do they serve pizza up here?” He laughed and said, “Noodles and dal-bhat!” At tea-house height things were cozy. At 5,000m? Less cozy, more “Hey, I’m eating noodles while freezing.” Food is more expensive and limited at high altitude.
Summit Day: 2 a.m. Wake-Up & Blurry Vision
At midnight I woke. My brain felt hungover, but it was just altitude. We started climbing in the dark, glacier ahead. The air was thin, the guide told us at 6,189 m there’s about half the oxygen of sea-level. Crampons locked in. Ice axe ready. My inner voice: “Please let there be coffee at the top.”
6,189 m: Tears, Laughter, Victory
When I finally stood at the summit, I cried a little from joy, from relief, maybe from the cold. The ridge was narrow, the exposure real, but the view? Unbelievable. Mt Everest was hidden behind someone else, but mountains for days glittered. I high-fived my guide with gloved hands. I jumped. I cried. I told my boots they’re awesome.
The Human Side of the Mountain
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I got scared. The steep headwall section (~45–50° incline) made my knees buckle.
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I ate noodles in the dark and laughed at how ridiculous I looked in a big down jacket.
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I made new friends who shared their chocolate bars when I forgot mine in my pack.
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I felt small. Very small. But that was perfect.
Why You Should Try It
If you’ve only ever taken easy treks, Island Peak is your “first big mountain date.” It’s tough, yes. You’ll use ropes and ice gear. “Moderate-to-challenging” is how the guides describe it. But you don’t need to be a pro mountaineer. Just ready to move, breathe, laugh at yourself, and keep going.
Final Thoughts
So if you’re thinking: “Should I go?”. I say yes. Bring your boots, bring your noodle cravings, bring your fear and your laughter. At 6,189 m you’ll find something that changes your story. I did. And I still grin thinking back.
