Pikey Peak Trek: Where Sunrise Steals Your Breath

Let’s be real: any trek described as "easy" in Nepal is a Himalayan prank. Pikey Peak—a "gentle" hill promising Everest views without the death march—turned out to be the universe’s way of reminding me that "moderate" means "your quads will file a restraining order."

My partner-in-crime? Anil, a friend who calls 4 AM starts "character-building" and owns more moisture-wicking layers than a space station. Our mission: chase sunrise views while avoiding donkey traffic jams.

Phase 1: Denial (and the Jeep Ride That Shook My Soul)

The "adventure" began with a 7-hour jeep ride from Kathmandu to Dhap. Picture a vehicle held together by duct tape and prayers, blasting Nepali pop while navigating roads designed by a toddler with a shovel. Anil grinned: "Think of the mountain air!" I thought: "I can taste the dust in my molars."

Day one was all pastoral bliss: terraced farms, kids herding goats, and teahouses serving chiya so sweet it made my teeth ache. "This is just a countryside stroll!" I declared, patting a suspiciously friendly donkey. Anil smirked: "Just wait for tomorrow."

Phase 2: Bargaining (With Hills and a Donkey Named Dave)

The climb to Jhapre (2,920m) unveiled the truth: Pikey’s "rolling hills" roll up. Steeply. My lungs staged a protest halfway, while Anil bounced ahead chanting Buddhist mantras. Then came Dave—a donkey with a vendetta against backpacks. He blocked the trail, sniffed my snack pocket, and gave me a look that screamed "Pay the cheese tax." Anil tossed him a cracker. Dave accepted and trotted off. (The hustle is real.)

That night, our teahouse host—a grandma with bangles jingling like wind chimes—force-fed us dhedo (buckwheat porridge). "For strong bones!" she declared. Anil claimed it tasted "nutty." I whispered: "It tastes like dirt and regret."

Phase 3: Terror (AKA The 3 AM Death March)

Summit day began at 3 AM. In the dark. In fog thicker than dal bhat. Armed with headlamps and existential dread, we inched up the trail. Anil’s pep talk: "Sunrise in an hour! Everest will glow!" My internal monologue: "My toes are frostbitten popsicles."

Then—plot twist—the fog vanished. The sky bled pink, and suddenly, the Himalayas lined up like icy royalty: Everest, Lhotse, Kanchenjunga, Makalu. Even grumpy Annapurna waved from the west. Anil yelled: "WORTH IT, RIGHT?!" I choked back tears (and frozen snot): "Shut up and take my picture."

Phase 4: Bliss (and the Breakfast of Champions)

At the summit stupa, we joined a huddle of shivering trekkers. A Sherpa boiled tea on a tiny stove, handing out cups like a caffeine saint. We shared chocolate as the sun gilded the peaks. For once, no one spoke. Just a chorus of camera clicks and contented sighs.

Phase 5: Descent (Or, How Gravity Became My Frenemy)

Going down, my knees declared mutiny. Anil adopted the "zigzag of shame" technique. I perfected the "geriatric penguin shuffle." Halfway down, Dave the Donkey reappeared—this time leading a cargo train of propane tanks. He glanced at me, snorted, and marched past like a CEO. Touché, Dave.

The Takeaway: Donkeys, Dharma, and a Sunrise That Stole My Cynicism

Pikey Peak isn’t just a trek. It’s:

• Dave’s snack-based hustle (always carry cheese tax)

• Grandma’s dhedo gospel (it does make bones stronger… probably)

• 3 AM misery transformed into magic (thanks, Himalayas)

• The humbling truth that "easy" treks still require ibuprofen

Would I do it again? Ask me after my foam-roller session. But here’s the truth: some sunrises rewrite your soul. Especially when donkeys judge you on the way down.

TL;DR: Pikey Peak = 12/10 sunrise, 5/10 donkey negotiations. Pack thermals. And bribes.

Need-to-Know Nitty-Gritty

• Permits: TIMS ($20) + Local Permit ($10). Pro tip: Bribe officials with smiles (or chocolate).

• Best Time: Oct-Dec (crisp skies) or Mar-May (rhododendron confetti).

• Gear: Headlamp (for the dark summit trudge), knee braces, and industrial-strength snacks.

• Solo? Doable! Teahouses every 3-4 hours. Just learn to say "dhedo, please" politely.

• Wildcard: Zero crowds, epic Everest views, and donkeys who’ll mug you for cookies.

Pro tip: if you want to go trek in Nepal don’t miss to go Nepal mountain adventure. This is the best trekking company in Nepal, the accommodation is best, and the facilities are good. I was going with the other company before, but the trek accommodation and facilities are not good as much I think but when I go with Nepal mountain adventure my imagination got match