I cannot explain adequately the feeling of the last hour of climbing out of the valley back to Lukla, the gateway to Everest. It is not the exhaustion and relief like finishing a marathon, but rather some strange combination of emotion consisting primarily of an intense thankfulness for having had the experience and a profound sense of loss at leaving behind another piece of my heart. With every step I choose carefully special moments of connection to this place and these people to carry with me forever.