April 12, 2026
On Peru’s Rainbow Mountain (5036m) and Indonesia’s Mount Batur (1717m) which I also really enjoyed but they took only half a day, so stories for another time, perhaps!
This is a hobby I never thought I’d get into. Every time I am on the mountain, I feel like I’m gonna die and question my life decisions and tell myself enough, but then I do it again. And again. And again.
Never got round to writing about any of my trips but thought I’d just share a quick recap!
Everest Base Camp (5364m), Nepal, April 2019:
– 14 days: 1 week up, 1 week down
– After so many climbs, this is actually quite leisurely in hindsight???
– Some parts were just walking and walking on flat ground
– Some days were quite short and just for acclimatisation
– It IS tiring but I think being young helped a lot 😂
– Hardest part was the cold despite sleeping in lodges
– Slept in the clothes I hiked in + skipped showers some days
– Food was sometimes good, sometimes meh
– Stunning alps!!! Best scenery out of all 3 🏆
– You never forget your first
– This really kickstarted a love for the mountains
– That rush and sense of accomplishment = intoxicating
– Realised just how little we need… city life = consumerism
– OH YOU SWEET SUMMER CHILD… is how I’d sum this up 🤣
– Also I was such a noob, all my packing and clothes were whack
– I brought like 4 or 5 power banks lmao… you won’t need them
Favourite comments from my guide:
Because of his words, I have been determined to climb as many mountains as possible to not waste this special ability 🥹
(I did feel slightly unwell with a headache on the 3rd night or something cos by then the altitude was getting high and it was my first time after all, so I went to bed early and bounced back better than before)
Kilimanjaro (5895m), Tanzania, August 2023
– 8 days: 7 days up (but we did it in 6)
– Definitely the most physically challenging thing I have done
– Really pushed both body and mind (esp the mind) so so much
– Hands down the hardest out of all 3 🏆
– Made me realise what I am capable of 🥹
– Really varied terrains and climates and views
– EBC was already bloody cold even though we slept indoors
– So I was prepared for the freezing cold in tents but it was still fking cold
– I made sure to have no need to leave my tent for the night once I went in
– Camping for 7 days omggggg how did I go a week without showering??!
– So much dirt and dust everywhere, my comb and nails were always filled with dirt
– I have fond memories of reading before bed in my tent each night
– We paid extra for a portable toilet
– Food was terrible to be honest
– Crazy tipping system
– I declined starting at wee hours for a sunrise summit cos so cold + wanna sleep
– Started at 5am instead, saw sunrise on the way, reached summit at 2pm
– So not like I’d have been in time if I woke up early anyway
– I remember wanting to KO at 5400m and lying flat out on the ground
– Was sooo emotional when I reached the summit
– Best guide ever who went above and beyond
– Insisted on carrying all my things on summit day, even my 2-litre bottle
– Also held my hand the entire way down and told me where to step so I wouldn’t fall
Favourite comment from my guide:
“Cherlynn! The higher we go, the more energy you have, I don’t know why!”
Kinabalu (4095m), Sabah, March 2026:
– Only 2D1N, how hard can it be… right?
– Hard! Short = everything packed together = very intensive
– Has cut-off times at various points so you can’t be too slow
– There are parts where you have to pull yourself up using ropes
– But it’s the descent that’s especially tough
– I was so tired that I fell down multiple times cos couldn’t focus
– Couldn’t sleep early (like 7pm?!) so barely slept, then got up at 1am to prepare for summit push
– Surprisingly I felt ok cos for Mount Batur in Bali, I did sleep and then woke up at 2am to start hiking but felt like dying the first few hours
– Same terrain and climate throughout (not a bad thing)
– Kinda boring in comparison, same route up and down
– Not as cold as I’d thought, didn’t even use my down jacket
– Actually the most comfortable out of all 3 🏆
– E.g. toilets at every stop point
– Food was awesome! And buffet-style
– Summit was really crowded and had to queue for your turn to take pics
– My guide took 4 pics for me and only 1 was usable (my eyes were closed for the rest)
– Reaching base after 4pm requires a late fee, I reached at 3.56pm lol
Why couldn’t I have picked an easier hobby? 😂
Notes:
– I didn’t take Diamox cos I don’t experience AMS symptoms
– Electricity is scarce but I didn’t use my phone much except for pics & vids
– You won’t have the energy, mood or reception to go online anyway
– Nothing more important than a trusty jacket and good shoes
– Less-than-stellar accommodations overseas no longer faze me
– As long as it’s clean with running water and electricity, it’s a luxury
– So proud of the certificates I got for all 3 climbs 😊
– 10/10 recommend cos it trains you to be resilient and unfazed in every sense
– When the haters are it, I think: “You can say what you want lol… but can you climb a mountain?”
