We are enjoying our first sunset in Pakistan from the top of the hill in Malam Jabba. Everything makes sense right now and we are ready to start one of the most intense journeys of our life!
Our Zom Connection team is made up of nine people with varied skills: Jean Remi Ceron (cameraman), Arthur Ghilini (photographer and ski instructor), Victor Lanel (economist), Paul Millet (ski instructor), Gilles Herry (ski instructor) ), Mathieu Maynadier (Himalayist and mountain guide), Helias Millerioux (Himalayist and mountain guide), Victor Daviet (pro snowboarder), and myself.
Connecting all the green lights to make this trip happen has been a whirlwind even before the 40 hours of non-stop travelling it took to get here. Standing here, watching some of the highest mountains on earth light on fire with an incredible sunset, feels like a very proper reward.
Malam Jabba is a small village that happens to have a small chairlift on the slope above town. The Pakisatani government built the chair 25 years ago, but the Taliban occupied the valley for several years after 9/11 and temporarily shut it down. The Taliban got cleared out a decade ago and the chairlift is spinning again so local winter tourism has grown in recent years with visitors from big cities coming to see the snow and breathe some fresh air.