Day 9 +-2pm in Samdo 3850m: Being far away from all the comforts at home one realises what comfort is and how cold feels. The hike today was only short although it took some time because Dain was struggling. The weather changed into cloudy and windy and the waterfalls changed into ice.

I see myself as a tough girl but I do have to admit that it’s hard to not moan about the warmth at home. The winter cold at home is maybe in temperature equal but the difference is that after I would be out in the cold at home, I’d return to a warm house with unlimited tea or hot chocolate milk. Here, on the other hand, the cold creeps into everything. The only lucky warmth we get is when the guesthouse owners decide to turn on the fireplace. However, this is combined with the painful knowledge of having to leave this heat to crawl into a freezing bed.

Funny thing is that this is not even the coldest place of the trek hahaha. Tomorrow we leave for Darmasalla, if it is open… To stay there one freezing night and then continue to our final challenge: the Larke pass 5160m. I’m still very much enjoying the trek but I am definitely looking forward to the heat when we descend. Also, the prices here are crazy haha they are very aware of the worth of hot tea in this cold weather.

Because of another group of trekkers from Korea, one of the owners of Dharmasalla is going to open the old hotel there tomorrow. We can go to Dharmasalla! I have mixed feelings about the place because well it is a nice spot to stay instead of a 10hour hike from Samdo to cross the pass… but it is also so freaking cold! No fire place, no blankets, cold dorm beds etc. The reason the hotels are closed are because the owners think it’s to cold to stay there themselves! Yet a 10 hour hike with 1200m ascend and 1600m descend sounds a bit above my abilities to. The French super couple have decided however that they are gonna pass tomorrow morning. We noticed that the weather is changing and they want to cross as soon as possible. They will leave the next morning around 4am. I kind of want to o this to, take the challenge and just go, push ourselves that last tough hike but Dain can’t, he is to weak. So the plan is to go to Dharmasalla tomorrow… let’s experience what cold really feels like.