When I came on this trip, I had no intention of climbing any mountains. I figured the village 
treks would be more my style. However, give me an opportunity to do something unexpected and I will go for it! So yesterday, me and three other friends: Caity, ME, and Jack, decided to choose the most difficult trek offered: Mt Fansipan! Which at 11,000 ft, is SE Asia's tallest peak. The fact that this trek's description mentioned several times that it was treacherously hard worried us a little bit but hey, its a mountain, uphill is to be expected. However we did not account for the multiple ups and downs, it felt like we were climbing a million mountains! It got to the point that I thought if I had to go dopwn and all the way back up and more one more time...I was going to declare the view as good enough and call it done. But the hope and promise of the feeling of exalted victory of extreme accom0plishment upon reaching the summit was more then enough to keep me going! It was fun for a while, scrambling up and over boulders of rock, stepping on roots as stairs, and using bamboo as handrails. Every so often we would come out on a ridge with fantastic views of the valley and depressing views of how far we had to go still. One of my favorite parts of the long climb was walking along a ridge where my eyes were torn fromlooking over the wind-blown polant prairie landscape and at the same time, keeping an eye on my feet to not trip over any rocks. We reached the "high camp" at 2008m around 2:30 where we dropped off our packs and headed up the last 1000m with our cameras. Those last few hills were killer! My feet felt like lead. But the summit, an hour and a half later, was totally worth it! And thanks again to ME if she reads this for bringing that big Snickers bar to the top for a celebration treat!
I have never climbed a mountain like that before, and the feeling of being abover everthing, literally at the distant foothills of the Himalayas and Mt. Everest, is AWESOME! Yes it is quite a distance to Mt. Everest...but the guide told us that Mt. Fansipan was in the foothills! sounds cool... We could see all the way down to Sapa, our base town, and all the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, the hazey smog that is inevitable this time of year hindered our view farther out, but still the view was amazing. In the end, the intense climbs, the cold and windy night at high camp, and the noodle and meat and vegetable soup for breakfast, was well worth this intense adventure.
treks would be more my style. However, give me an opportunity to do something unexpected and I will go for it! So yesterday, me and three other friends: Caity, ME, and Jack, decided to choose the most difficult trek offered: Mt Fansipan! Which at 11,000 ft, is SE Asia's tallest peak. The fact that this trek's description mentioned several times that it was treacherously hard worried us a little bit but hey, its a mountain, uphill is to be expected. However we did not account for the multiple ups and downs, it felt like we were climbing a million mountains! It got to the point that I thought if I had to go dopwn and all the way back up and more one more time...I was going to declare the view as good enough and call it done. But the hope and promise of the feeling of exalted victory of extreme accom0plishment upon reaching the summit was more then enough to keep me going! It was fun for a while, scrambling up and over boulders of rock, stepping on roots as stairs, and using bamboo as handrails. Every so often we would come out on a ridge with fantastic views of the valley and depressing views of how far we had to go still. One of my favorite parts of the long climb was walking along a ridge where my eyes were torn fromlooking over the wind-blown polant prairie landscape and at the same time, keeping an eye on my feet to not trip over any rocks. We reached the "high camp" at 2008m around 2:30 where we dropped off our packs and headed up the last 1000m with our cameras. Those last few hills were killer! My feet felt like lead. But the summit, an hour and a half later, was totally worth it! And thanks again to ME if she reads this for bringing that big Snickers bar to the top for a celebration treat!
I have never climbed a mountain like that before, and the feeling of being abover everthing, literally at the distant foothills of the Himalayas and Mt. Everest, is AWESOME! Yes it is quite a distance to Mt. Everest...but the guide told us that Mt. Fansipan was in the foothills! sounds cool... We could see all the way down to Sapa, our base town, and all the surrounding mountains. Unfortunately, the hazey smog that is inevitable this time of year hindered our view farther out, but still the view was amazing. In the end, the intense climbs, the cold and windy night at high camp, and the noodle and meat and vegetable soup for breakfast, was well worth this intense adventure. 
Now I am glad to be back in the town of Sapa, which I might add, feelslike a fantasy oasis in itself. Those that have been to Europe compare it to Switzerland! I feel like I am sitting in a village on a hillside out of a storybook. Quaint Vietnamese houses with their wooden door and window frames surrounded by balconies make a beautiful contrast to the bright colors, green, turquoise, yellow, and a few gray, of the hotels. However descend down the cityscape, past the potted bamboo and skinny brick chimneys, and enter a scene comparable to China (according to my friend Jeremy). Women from every native tribe in the area constantly and relentlessly ask you to "please buy something from me" but the market is quite fun and the shops full of handicrafts and treasures.
Soon I will say goodbye to Sapa and board the night train once again for Hanoi. Then a van ride to Halong Bay where we set sail into the maze of islands that make up this natural wonder of the world!
here is a Sapa sunrise from my hotel room balcony...Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts that go with me through this journey. I have felt them throughout my trip and I say thanks for them every day!
Taylor! Your pictures and stories seem unreal! All that you are doing sounds amazing and I'm so glad you are enjoying every bit of it!
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