Annapurna

Everything on Annapurna is dangerous, even the route to Camp 1. Having ventured partway there a couple of days earlier, I had an idea of what to expect. The first challenge that demands your attention is crossing a dirt gully with a drop of over a thousand feet to the right. After this, you must rappel down another dirt gully to reach the glacier. Although the rappel itself is not technically difficult, the abundance of loose rocks makes it hazardous, so wearing a helmet is essential. Unfortunately, I had forgotten my ATC (rappelling device), so Pasang lent me his while he used a Munter hitch. This seemingly minor issue triggered a cascade of negativity in my mind, convincing me that I wasn’t a good climber and unprepared for a technical mountain like this. I tried to silence the “shitty committee” in my head, knowing that negative self-talk is never helpful.