I squinted my eyes to see the farthest peak in Karakoram range. With my palm facing downwards, I placed my hand on forehead, to shed the bright sunlight away. The intense sun and cold winds created an unforgiving combination. At a height of 20,187 feet, cold breeze created a swooshing sound under my skullcap. But, my heart was overwhelmed, excited by this physical and mental feat of conquering the Stok Kangri peak. We spent one day in the local sightseeing, which you can find as a part of various Ladakh tour packages and the next day visiting Tso Moriri lake. We were taken to the Stok village which lays around 15 KM away from Leh town.

The grandeur of Stok Kangri peak loomed over the glacier valley and we couldn’t help but imagine how would the peak summit be! 

Stok Kangri peak appeared to have vanished in thin air as dark clouds surrounded the mighty mountain.

From 14,200 at Maokarma camp, we were scheduled to reach Stok Kangri trek base camp at 16,300 feet. The last 300 meters had slightly steep slopes.

We checked our crampons and adjusted our headlamps to embark upon a 14 KM trek which would leave us overwhelmed by the might of nature, precarious terrain, unforgiving cold and nerve-wracking altitude. We were now en route Stok kangri peak!

The first stretch of the summit day trek was same as our acclimatization walk. The winds were stronger thereafter, slowing us down. The clear night sky sparkles with stars and we kept walking with our heads bowed.

Eventually, we reached the main glacier that would be the chief villain of Stok Kangri trek.

Every step threw my mind in oscillations. I was struck with a major dilemma. Should I continue the trek by facing the adverse conditions and unfavorable landscape or return to the warmth of sleeping bag which laid unfolded in our base camp tent.

I started leaning more towards the option of quitting. But, I saw a shred of dim light in the sky. In distant horizon, a symphony of light had began, setting up the stage for the Sun. It was still very dark and our headlamps were still on. But, those subtle shades gave me hope, hope to complete the mission.

The view from Stok Kangri peak was mesmerizing. We could see the Karakoram range in Pakistan and a wide, wide stretch of Leh Ladakh valley adorned the other side of our view. The 3 KM long glacier which made people quit and asked the best of us looked beautiful from top. How can a glacier so stunning be dreadful! But, that’s nature for you.

We returned to the base camp at around 1 pm. I hadn’t slept for 24 hours now! With a smirk on my face, I congratulated myself and awarded an uninterrupted sleep! 

After the successful summit of Stok Kangri peak, this last leg of our Stok Kangri trek didn’t seem daunting at all. 

I looked back at the massive mountains dominating the landscape. You don’t conquer the mountains, the mountains conquer you!

Stok Kangri trek will be my best experience till date. It’s more than just an adventure. It’s about defeating your inner demons, taking up a challenge and putting your best foot in front. It’s about staying motivated despite all odds.

It’s about life!