Across passes and valleys on the Makalu-Barun trek

What began with a cancelled flight turned into an eleven-day trek marked by snowfall, Sherpa hospitality, and reminders of how unforgiving the mountains can be.

Just two days before our long-awaited Makalu-Barun trek, the travel agent called with some unexpected news: “ Dai (brother), the flight to Tumlingtar has been cancelled.” Our dream journey was about to fall apart before it even began.