Sunrise at the Summit (4096m)

Easy Goal :
Wake up at 2am, and start climbing to reach the top of Mt.Kinabalu- Low's peak at 6am to view sunrise

Operating conditions :
Complete darkness except for star-studded sky(pretty obvious at 3am?),
Temperature 10 degree C, to a minimum of 5 degrees at peak,
Steep uphill climb over sheer rocky surface with just a rope for guidance
Rapid chilly winds, with light rain for some "cool effects"
Rarified air causing shortness of breath, demanding frequent stops

Physical conditions:
Headache (not a hangover:), body pain, and mild fever from prev night, dry cough from previous week, violent shivering due to rain,wind and insufficient warm clothing(insanity in hindsight!), Nausea and slight giddiness due to high-altitude.

Mental conditions :
"This is craziest thing you have ever done. Why the hell are you doing this ? What are you going to gain in 'real terms'? You dont want to fall dreadfully sick up there. Its better to stop now, that return in a stretcher. Its time to QUIT ! Now !"
the above running in an infinite loop in the head, on top of the headache.

Results:
Exhilaration on reaching the peak in good time, wait in biting cold conditions.
Realise at 6.30am, that its too cloudy to see any decent Sunrise :(
Climb down hastily, not because there is nothing to see, but it had started to rain, and rocks would soon be slippery.

The most difficult part was to capture the faint sunrise, and "We were here" pics, because a shivering hand , and some wet lens dont produce a razor-sharp image !




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Nothing , really nothing else could justify all the pain, than the unique feeling of achievement that grasps the sinews of your heart in such moments. All this also makes me realise the greatness of all the mountaineers, who have battled and some conquered mightier peaks, snow-clad peaks that are more than double the height of this one, belittling my ascent.. The difficulties in their efforts is presently unimaginable to me, but their joy certainly is.

I finally stop at this last thought : Nothing on earth except Mother Nature, is stronger than the power of the human will.