The road to Everest through the eyes of two young men from southern Lebanon Tourism and travel

Himalayas- At an altitude of approximately 5,364 metres, where the cold, pure air makes breathing difficult, Everest Base Camp is the highest inhabited point that climbers can reach before ascending the highest peak in the world.

Here, the majestic mountains intersect with scattered clouds, and white snow covers the rocks like silk curtains, while the first rays of the sun touch the peaks of the Himalayas, illuminating them in magical golden and pink colors, as if nature is painting a rare painting that a visitor to the place will see once in his life.

In the heart of this majestic scene, gentle breezes intersect with the sounds of the wind carrying the whispers of distant mountains, and mist surrounds the rocks, giving the place an aura of mystery and breathtaking beauty.

Beauty lies in contradiction

The two young Lebanese men, Muhammad Hamid and Hussein Farhat, chose to test the limits of human ability and the spirit of adventure, starting from the villages of southern Lebanon filled with traces of pain and destruction. Each of them carried his dream and his lens, and set out on an exceptional journey, where every step means a new challenge, and every breath is a test of will and patience.

Their path was not easy; The slopes are rugged, and the road is long and extends through winding valleys, making each step a unique experience that requires concentration and physical strength, but at the same time it was full of beauty that is difficult to describe in words.

While they were on their way towards the camp, which is the last stop before heading towards the summit, they realized that it was not just a station on the road to arrival, but rather that the road towards it represented a living experience that touched the eye, heart and soul.

Between the solidity of nature and its enchanting beauty, the two young men discovered that adventure is not just a climb to the top, but rather a journey into the depths of the self, where fear intersects with beauty, and determination intersects with feelings that are difficult to describe. Every moment here tells a story, and every landscape leaves an indelible imprint on the memory.

Drive to the top

Muhammad Hamid’s passion for adventure began since his childhood, when he was drawn to the mountains and valleys of southern Lebanon. He says, “Since we were young, we loved walking in nature, visiting rivers and camping in the mountains. The first time I took a hiking trip, I was 15 years old, and after that we continued to discover Lebanon and its natural beauty.”

Hamid recalls the details of the trip and tells Al Jazeera Net, “We decided to go through a different experience, an adventure that combines the love of adventure and the discovery of the unknown. The trip was beautiful and difficult at the same time, but it achieved for us what we were looking for: discovering something new about ourselves and the world around us.”

The first impression of the place was magical by all standards. Hamid describes the sights with an eye overflowing with admiration, and explains, “Perhaps it is the most beautiful place in the world. The views there are beyond description; the majestic mountains surround you on every side. I felt as if I had visited the most beautiful parts of the earth, to the point that I no longer wanted to visit any other place. Perhaps we made a mistake in starting from the top, because we started from the most beautiful thing that can be seen!”

His companion Hussein Farhat interrupts him and adds with a smile, “Since we were young, we had a spark of love for adventure, and it accompanied us until we became adults, so our trip to Everest Base Camp was a natural step in our lives.”

Farahat confirms to Al Jazeera Net that this trip was not just a walk through the mountains, but rather a real test of human endurance. He says, “The most difficult thing the climbers there face is the lack of oxygen, which leaves its impact on both the body and the mind. The latter begins to give strange commands, and you feel as if you are not completely conscious. Everything becomes a challenge, even the simplest movements.”

Harsh environment

The two young men’s meeting with the indigenous people of the region and their exposure to the difficult details of life in the Himalayas increased the details of the trip in depth, as the people there still maintain a way of life isolated from the modern world.

Hamid talks about the “porters,” the men who carry luggage across the rugged mountain paths. He describes them with admiration, saying, “Their abilities are extraordinary. They walk in places that no one else can reach, and they endure unimaginable conditions. Their every step speaks of strength, dignity, and patience.”

He added, “We thought we knew the limits of human capabilities, but we discovered that they are far beyond what we imagined. These people walk for long days carrying heavy weights, and they live in villages that never reach a car, and are a week’s walk from the nearest road. Meeting these people was a lesson in patience and endurance.”

On the other hand, Farahat adds, “At those altitudes, everything becomes expensive; even water, one liter of water, may reach $7, in a place that is supposed to be a haven for the soul, not an arena for commerce.”

A passion that never dies

The recent Israeli war on southern Lebanon left a difficult impact on Hamid’s life. He says, “Our lives came to a complete halt. Our projects were frozen, and disappointments struck us. The idea of ​​ascending Everest was present in our minds, but we decided to postpone it until the situation calmed down. A year after the end of the war, we said: No matter what happens, we must maintain the passion for life and adventure.”

The two young men stress that adventure is not measured by financial spending, but rather an investment in oneself, explaining that the cost of $3,000 per person is not just a number, but rather a decision chosen by the heart before the mind. They say, “Some people spend it on fleeting things, but as for us, we allocated it to an experience that refined our spirit and expanded our outlook on life.”

Hamid considers that the journey to the summit of Everest is not just a physical challenge, but rather an act of confronting fear and despair. He says, “We do not escape from reality, but we believe that we have to live despite everything. War may take a lot from us, but it will not take away our passion for life.”

The trip left a deep impression on the two young men, marked by every hill and slope they passed, and every valley and ice shelf strengthened the level of will and determination in their souls, and every breath of their fatigue vanished when they raised the Lebanese flag on the summit, confirming that the true adventure lies in self-discovery, amid the difficulties of nature and its captivating magic, and that the adventurous human spirit is capable of challenging the most difficult circumstances.