TO THE TOP

TO THE TOP
Wednesday, October 12 was a school holiday, so our family took to the hills! We rented a vehicle and, at 10 AM, the seven of us--Ellen, Autumn, Andrew, Becky (our helper), Tabea (teacher-in-training from Germany, Karin (nurse from Switzerland), and I—climbed into a (jeep-like) Summo, and headed for Reiek (Ray-ek), a quiet village on the northern slopes of Reiek Mountain. It is an hour’s drive from our village of Durtlang through to the southern side of the city of Aizawl. From that point Reiek is visible off to the south west even though it is another hour and a half down into the river valley and up the twisting road to Rei-ek. From the village it is another hour—or two depending on your endurance—walk to the top of Reiek Tlang (mountain).
Reiek is not nearly the tallest mountain in the state of Mizoram. Phawngpui (Blue) Mountain in the southern corner of the state reaches up to 2157 m (7,075 ft.). However, Reiek does give one a majestic view at 1,465 m. (4,800 ft.). From that stony perch, I hesitated to peer down the steep cliff to thousands of metres below. It didn’t seem to affect the younger generation the same way! In the picture: Becky, Autumn, Karin, Tabea, and our driver. Andrew had already been to the top and headed back down by the time I arrived at the summit.
After that climb and that view, I determined to leave Mount Everest entirely to Sir Hillary and his Sherpa guide! However, there is something thrilling about making it to the top… no matter how (in)significant it might seem to others. A delightful adventure. Weary hikers arrived home after dark.