My Old Trekking Boots: Eight Years, Countless Trails and One Final Goodbye

By Ashok Sah | Himalayan Shangrila Treks Nepal Pvt. Ltd.

Some trekking gear becomes more than just equipment. It becomes part of your journey, carries your memories, and accompanies you through countless adventures. For me, my old pair of SALOMON trekking boots was exactly that.

I bought these boots in 2018 from Sherpa Gear, Thamel, Kathmandu, without knowing just how many mountains, valleys, villages, and challenging trails we would explore together over the coming years.

After almost eight years of walking together, it is finally time to say goodbye. But before retiring this faithful companion, I want to share the story of the journeys we made together.

The Beginning: Mount Kailash, 2018

My first journey with these boots was to the sacred Mount Kailash in Tibet in 2018. It was a special journey, filled with adventure, spirituality, challenging landscapes, and unforgettable experiences.

From that first journey onward, these boots became my trusted companion on numerous trekking adventures. Whether walking through rocky mountain trails, crossing suspension bridges, climbing steep hills, or descending into beautiful valleys, they were always there.

Over the years, we travelled together to some of the most spectacular trekking destinations in the Himalayas.

Countless Trails and Unforgettable Memories

After Mount Kailash, my SALOMON boots accompanied me on many other adventures.

We walked the legendary trails of the Everest Base Camp Trek, explored the spectacular landscapes of the Annapurna Circuit, and enjoyed the beautiful villages, terraced hillsides, and mountain scenery of the Ghandruk–Ghorepani Trek.

Last month, they also accompanied me to the remote and beautiful Phoksundo Lake in Dolpo, one of the most fascinating trekking destinations in western Nepal.

Every journey added another memory. The boots became older, their appearance changed, and the signs of countless kilometres became increasingly visible. Nevertheless, I continued to trust them.

I never imagined that our final adventure together would end so unexpectedly.

Everest Base Camp Trek, October–November 2026: A Different Experience

On 26 October 2026, I started another Everest Base Camp journey. However, this time, everything was different.

The weather conditions in the Everest region were far from what we had expected. Instead of the usual clear mountain skies, we encountered heavy snowfall and increasingly challenging trail conditions.

We began our journey by helicopter from Kathmandu to Lukla and continued walking towards Phakding on our first trekking day.

[PHOTO 7: Your boots at Lukla or on the trail towards Phakding]

The following day, we reached Namche Bazaar, where we stayed for two nights to acclimatize. Until then, the weather was beautiful. The skies were clear, the mountains were visible, and everything seemed perfect.

After Namche, we continued towards Phortse. The weather remained reasonably good throughout the day, although the temperature was already dropping considerably.

But when we woke up the following morning, something had changed.

Snow had already started falling during the early hours. The beautiful mountain trails were gradually turning white, and walking conditions were becoming increasingly difficult.

[PHOTO 8: Fresh snowfall on the trail towards Phortse or Dingboche]

When My Trusted Boots Finally Let Me Down

The trail from Phortse towards Dingboche is already challenging, even under normal weather conditions. With heavy snowfall, it becomes considerably more difficult.

As we continued walking, I suddenly noticed something uncomfortable: my feet were getting wet inside my SALOMON boots.

At first, I thought it might just be a little moisture. But as the snow continued to fall, the situation became increasingly uncomfortable.

The elevation was already above 3,000 metres, and walking with wet, cold feet in freezing mountain weather was not something I could ignore.

We stopped for lunch at Pangboche, where I decided to try a simple solution. I put a polyethylene plastic bag over my socks, hoping it would prevent water from entering and keep my feet dry.

Unfortunately, my socks were already wet, so the idea did not work as expected.

Somehow, I managed to reach Dingboche. I immediately dried my feet, socks, and boots, hoping that things would improve.

[PHOTO 9: Your SALOMON boots covered in snow during the trek]

However, the heavy snowfall forced us to halt our journey in Dingboche for some time. I kept thinking about how to protect my feet from getting wet again.

I tried another solution. On the sixth day, I placed a polyethylene plastic bag between two pairs of socks to protect it from tearing due to friction while walking.

Once again, it did not work.

My boots were no longer waterproof.

Almost at Everest Base Camp, But Not Quite

Despite all these difficulties, I continued walking towards Gorakshep, getting closer to Everest Base Camp.

By this time, the cold had become increasingly uncomfortable. My feet were wet, my boots were cold, and I had even started sneezing because of the freezing conditions.

The following morning, I was supposed to hike to Kala Patthar, one of the most spectacular viewpoints in the Everest region, offering magnificent views of Mount Everest and the surrounding Himalayan giants.

But my feet had other plans.

I started walking towards Kala Patthar, but the cold and wet conditions inside my boots became unbearable. Eventually, I had to turn back to the lodge.

I could not make it to the top of Kala Patthar.

I also had to give up my plan to visit Everest Base Camp after breakfast.

It was disappointing, especially because I had come so close to completing the journey. But sometimes, even as experienced trekkers, we must listen to our bodies and accept the limitations of our equipment.

And this time, the problem was my boots.

[PHOTO 10: Your boots at Gorakshep, covered in snow]

[PHOTO 11: A photograph from the Everest region showing the heavy snowfall]

The Reason: Almost Eight Years of Adventure

After returning and examining my boots, I finally understood what had happened.

The upper part of the boot, where it bends naturally with every step, had developed a cut. The waterproof membrane had also deteriorated after years of use.

I could clearly see the opening. Whenever I walked through snow, the snow melted against the boot, and water entered directly through that damaged area.

After almost eight years of trekking, thousands of steps, and countless mountain trails, the boots had finally reached the end of their useful life.

Perhaps I should have replaced them earlier. But when something has served you so well for so long, you naturally develop a sense of trust and attachment.

I had trusted these boots on so many journeys that I never expected them to disappoint me on this particular adventure.

Thank You, My Dear SALOMON Boots!

[PHOTO 12: A final photograph of your old boots together]

Now it is time to say goodbye.

Dear SALOMON boots, thank you for walking with me since 2018. Thank you for accompanying me to Mount Kailash, Everest, Annapurna, Ghorepani, Dolpo, and so many other beautiful places.

You carried me through countless trails, rocky paths, steep climbs, muddy tracks, and unforgettable mountain adventures.

You were not just a pair of trekking boots; you were part of my travelling life.

Although our final Everest Base Camp journey did not go exactly as planned, I will always remember the thousands of steps we took together.

After almost eight years, you deserve a well-earned retirement.

Goodbye, my dear old boots. Thank you for everything!

And now, it is time to find another pair of SALOMON boots and prepare for the next Himalayan adventure.

The mountains are still calling!