The peak that sits above the clouds -Mt Meru

The Mt Meru hike,a short story;

It's a 45-57km journey depending with where one wishes to start and end the hike,but definitely it will give you an elevation gain of not less than 3500m.

Nothing much on day one except the usual trail walk inside a thick forest with regular sighting of some wild animals. A distance of 11km and an elevation gain of 1000m ends the day.

Day two has two sessions that starts from where day on left. The false summits and Little Meru peak become increasingly visible as one progresses. The morning session has Some 10km with another gain of 1000m. A five hour climb gives one enough time to have an early lunch,dash to little Meru and have a nap early enough to wake up at 11pm for the second session of the day.

By 11:30PM the second session of the day begins, otherwise known as the summit night. The darkness does little to help as one approaches the summit ridges. The ridge is the remaining half of what must once have been a substantial crater rim. The other half has long since collapsed or eroded, leaving sheer cliffs on the inside rim. Beneath these cliffs is the circular ash cone, which is surprisingly well preserved. Constantly balancing on the cliff and occasional chain ropes fixed for support , one approaches the hardest summit this sides of the world. The summit is a near vertical cliff of rocks,sharp and protruding like dragon teeth. A kilometre takes more than two hours to cover. Here,the hiking poles don't help and climbing on four becomes the only option. Crawling up against sharp cold winds,the summit offers a sigh of relief after a night out in Mt Meru.

Every pain,every sweat drop, every shiver,every doubt overcame is worth the sight at the summit.

Make your date with this mountain.