The Icy Climb That Shook My Legs: The Toughest

Before I left for the Everest Three Pass Trek, I read a dozen blogs, watched hours of vlogs, and talked to trekkers who had done it. Everyone warned me about the altitude. Some talked about long days. But one name kept coming up again and again Cho La Pass.

Now that I’ve done it myself, I get it. Cho La isn’t just a section on a map it’s a climb that shakes your legs, fogs your breath, and tests your willpower. If you’re wondering what the most difficult section of the Everest Three Pass Trek is, this is the one I’d put at the top of the list.

The Everest Three Pass Trek: A Quick Intro

The Everest Three Pass Trek is not your usual Everest Base Camp hike. It’s wilder, longer, and takes you over three high mountain passes — Kongma La (5,535m), Cho La (5,420m), and Renjo La (5,360m).

Each pass has its own mood. Kongma La is long and remote. Renjo La is beautiful and peaceful. But Cho La? It’s dramatic, icy, and steep like it belongs in a mountain movie.

The Morning That Started Too Early

The day we crossed Cho La started in the dark. My guide woke me up at 4 a.m. in Dzongla, a small place just before the pass. The cold hit me first my water bottle had frozen overnight. My boots felt like blocks of ice.

We left with headlamps, following a thin trail across rock and snow. It was quiet except for the sound of our boots crunching frozen ground.

The Climb: No Joke

The climb to Cho La Pass isn’t a simple walk. The path goes up sharply. Big boulders, slippery patches, and loose rocks make each step tricky. You have to keep your balance and watch where you put your foot. One wrong step, and you could twist an ankle or worse.

After an hour or so, the trail turned white. Snow covered everything, and the air felt thinner. I was breathing hard. My fingers went numb inside my gloves. But we kept going. That’s what you do up there. You just keep going.

The Glacier Section: Beauty with a Bite

One of the hardest parts of Cho La is the glacier crossing. You step onto a flat patch of snow and ice, surrounded by jagged peaks. It looks peaceful, but the surface is slippery and full of hidden crevasses. Some parts feel like walking on glass.

We had to move carefully and quickly. The sun was coming up, and as it hits the glacier, the ice starts to melt, which can make things dangerous. I couldn’t even take proper photos my fingers were too cold to press the shutter.

The Final Push to the Pass

The last stretch is brutal. It’s a short but steep climb through snow and ice to reach the top of Cho La. I could see the pass, just a few meters above, but it felt like a mile. Every step took effort. My lungs burned, and my legs wanted to quit.

When I finally reached the top, I dropped my backpack and sat in the snow. I didn’t cheer. I didn’t pose for a photo. I just sat there, breathing heavily, feeling the wind hit my face. Around me, flags flapped wildly. The sky was blue, but the cold still cut through everything.

So, Why Is Cho La So Tough?

Here’s what makes Cho La Pass the hardest section of the Everest Three Pass Trek:

Early morning cold that freezes everything including your motivation
Steep ascents with unstable ground and large boulders
Icy glacier crossing that demands focus and balance
High altitude that makes even simple movements feel heavy
Limited visibility and unpredictable weather

Would I Do It Again?

Yes. It was hard, but it was also one of the most raw, real experiences I’ve had in the mountains. Cho La tested me, but it also reminded me why I came for challenge, for change, and for the quiet moments when you realize you’re stronger than you thought.

If you're planning to take on the Everest Three Pass Trek, Cho La will probably be the section you remember the most not because it's easy, but because you earned every single step.

Tips if You’re Heading for Cho La: