Nepal, Nov. 22 -- I've loved nature and hikes since childhood, so trekking had been on my wish list for years, and for the past two, I'd been looking for an opportunity. So when I met my best friend's cousin during Dashain and found out she was going to Panch Pokhari, I asked to join right away. A casual conversation turned into reality, and soon I was trekking with her and two friends I had never met before.

Amid the rush of Tihar, I prepared myself as a first-time trekker. I bought the essentials the night before and asked friends who had hiked the trail about the weather and hotels. In the end, I pulled everything together by borrowing gear from friends and even a few clothes from my dad. The night before, we discussed logistics over ...