sports

A Moment That Changed Me: I Was Desperate to Get Off the Mountain

From the moment I started climbing the 7,000-metre peaks of the Pamir mountains in Tajikistan, something felt off. What followed will stay with me for ever

A Moment That Changed Me: I Was Desperate to Get Off the Mountain

TL;DR

  • The author felt an unexplained sense of dread from the start of her independent climbing expedition in Tajikistan's Pamir mountains.
  • The climbing route was more technical and dangerous than anticipated, with unstable conditions and unreliable safety equipment.
  • Despite the dangers, the author's unease was not related to the climbing itself but a deeper intuition.
  • She and her partner were unexpectedly able to leave the mountain earlier than planned.
  • The helicopter they were booked to take on a later flight crashed, killing five people.
  • The author learned to distinguish between fear and gut instinct, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to the latter.