My trip to Mount Everest

 

A recount by Hiral, inspired by the ‘Beckoning Silence’ and ‘Into Thin Air’.

 

As I clipped into a fixed rope and prepared to rappel over the lip, I was greeted with an alarming sight: an avalanche hurtling towards me. I was dreading, dreading my destiny. As rapidly as I could, I lowered myself gently, going in a horizontal direction. It was an insurmountable hurdle that I needed to overcome. In relief, my half-tired, half-dreading body managed to escape from the rush of snow.

  Sighing, I began to my descent. The icy cold wind blew across my face violently; it was freezing cold. The largest mountain in the world and I was climbing it…

  Suddenly, the sight of a crevasse hit me. Puzzled, my mind span around in gigantic circles, adding to my altitude sickness. It was as if a giant was reaching out to grab me: I felt alarmed and the ice was cracking. However, my best mate was there to help me. I was thinking that as long as my companion was by my side, I would be fine. But I was wrong. Without warning, my friend cut the rope. I fell. I fell helplessly into the crevasse.

Luckily, my companion came and the cracking stopped. My heart was beating furiously, beating against my ice-cold chest.

  Cold. Nothing but cold. This was the end of our lives: a storm. I shouted as loud as I could, but no-one answered me. I felt petrified.

 

By Hiral, age 11 years