michal lenden
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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."
By michal lenden6 months ago in Art
Khopra Ridge Trek: A Symphony of Blisters, Bad Decisions, and Borrowed Hope
The Himalayas have a way of humbling you. Not with grandeur, but by handing you blisters the size of grapes and then laughing while you limp. When my friend Dave—a man whose life choices include tattooing his WiFi password on his arm—pitched Khopra Ridge as a “quiet, soulful escape,” I should’ve known better. But there we were: Dave, Sarah, Emma, and me, crammed into a jeep bouncing toward Nepal’s Annapurna region. Our gear? A drone Dave swore would “capture the soul of the mountains,” Sarah’s selfie stick (blessedly forgotten in Pokhara), and Emma’s apocalyptic stash of snacks. Our souls? Questionable.
By michal lenden7 months ago in Art
Royal Trek: Where the Only Crown is Your Sunburn (By Michal Lenden)
Intro: "Royal Pain, Zero Gain" When my friend Dave pitched Nepal’s Royal Trek as “the walk Prince Charles did in the ’80s,” I imagined tea with royals and scenic strolls. Instead, I got blisters, a sunburn shaped like my hat, and a team of misfits:
By michal lenden8 months ago in Art
Ama Dablam Base Camp Trek: Where the Mountain Looks Like a Grumpy Grandma
Let’s address the elephant in the room: Ama Dablam isn’t just a mountain. She’s a 6,812-meter-tall diva who knows she’s prettier than you. Her name literally means "Mother’s Necklace" (all Sherpas are clearly poets). I went to meet her with my friend Tashi—a guide who laughs at sub-zero temperatures and considers crampons "fashion accessories."
By michal lenden8 months ago in Art
Humla Limi Valley Trek: Yaks, Yak Cheese, and the Art of Surviving Your Own Stupidity
Let’s get this straight: if the Gokyo Lakes were a chilly slap of reality, the Humla Limi Valley Trek is like getting dunked into a bucket of ice water while someone yells, “This is character-building!” My accomplice? Anika, a friend who claims she’s “into cultural immersion” but is really just a history nerd with a knack for getting lost. Together, we ventured into Nepal’s far northwest—a place so remote, even Google Maps shrugs.
By michal lenden8 months ago in Fiction
A Himalayan Adventure That Changed Us
Last year, my best friend and I did something reckless—we booked tickets to Nepal on a whim. Neither of us had ever trekked seriously before. I’d get winded climbing stairs to my apartment; she thought "hydration" meant drinking coffee. Yet there we were, standing in Kathmandu’s chaotic streets, staring at our oversized backpacks and realizing: We’re actually doing this.
By michal lenden8 months ago in Fiction
Upper Dolpo Trek: Where Yaks Judge You & Wi-Fi is a Myth
Intro: "I Thought This Was a Good Idea Google promised me "Tibetan wilderness." My friends promised an “adventure." What does no one mention? That Upper Dolpo is basically Nepal's version of Mars - if Mars had yaks, medieval villages, and zero cell service.
By michal lenden9 months ago in Lifehack
Khopra Ridge Trek: A Symphony of Blisters, Bad Decisions, and Borrowed Hope
The Himalayas have a way of humbling you. Not with grandeur, but by handing you blisters the size of grapes and then laughing while you limp. When my friend Dave—a man whose life choices include tattooing his WiFi password on his arm—pitched Khopra Ridge as a “quiet, soulful escape,” I should’ve known better. But there we were: Dave, Sarah, Emma, and me, crammed into a jeep bouncing toward Nepal’s Annapurna region. Our gear? A drone Dave swore would “capture the soul of the mountains,” Sarah’s selfie stick (blessedly forgotten in Pokhara), and Emma’s apocalyptic stash of snacks. Our souls? Questionable.
By michal lenden9 months ago in Humans
Ruby Valley Trek: Gemstones, Goat Trails, and the Art of Questioning Life Choices
Let me preface this: if the Gosaikunda Trek was a spiritual slap in the face, the Ruby Valley Trek was like a 5-day group hug from Mother Nature—with occasional moments of her whispering, “Darling, why are you so slow?”
By michal lenden9 months ago in Fiction
A Journey of Grit, Laughter, and Mountain Magic: Everest Expeditions
Hello adventurers! I’m Michal, co-founder of Summitude Expeditions, and I’m thrilled to share how my team and I are organizing an epic Nepal mountain adventure for my friend and me. Think of this as a behind-the-scenes peek at how a professional trekking company (yes, us!) plans a trip that balances adrenaline, safety, and just the right sprinkle of humor. Let’s dive in!
By michal lenden9 months ago in Art
