It took 36 hours of mind numbing air and car travel to reach the trailhead. Our destination? One of the most remote places on earth. We would be the first documented Westerners to ever hike up this Himalayan Sikkim reserve. While each trekker faced his or her own imaginary and physical limitations, we ultimately experienced what was required - the right amount of adversity.

Thirteen months prior, a devastating earthquake changed the map in these brittle mountains. Small villages vanished and lives were lost in landslides. As the world’s third tallest peak watched over the juxtaposition of surrounding jagged peaks and its gentle Lepchan inhabitants, we climbed into rarified air of magnificence.

Anthropologists have yet to determine the origins of the Lepchans living in this land surrounded by Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan. Lepchans live off the land and are enormously caring and trusting. They were our guides and porters. The Lepchans we trekked with were nothing short of angels appearing surreally when treacherous footholds gave way.

Nature can be the lazy man’s teacher, yet combined with a people of extraordinary presence; the education was all around us. Together we ascended through leech filled jungles and abandoned monasteries. Following the footsteps of the mythical wizard Padmasambava, we touched the shores the sacred Keshong Lake at over 15,000 feet above sea level.

On the most physically challenging part of the trek we climbed 50-degree switchbacks, ascending over 3,000 feet from dense forest to frigid environs above the tree line. At one point, I looked back to Jeff Salz who said, as sweat framed a sparkle in his eyes, “This is the right amount of adversity.”

In some cases, adversity is flat-out entertaining.

On a moonless night, with headlamps piercing the basecamp darkness, three of us brushed chattering teeth. The chill vanished in a heartbeat when we saw a fellow trekker struggle to stay upright in the aptly named ‘poop tent.’ With a flimsy nylon structure, only large enough to house a chair with a hole in it, our climbing buddy started to imitate a scene out of Alien. His headlamp flirted with undulating shadows of elbows, knees and feet flailing to prevent the tent from falling over. Note: Witnessing this kind of adversity makes toothpaste blow out your nose.

Each of us faces adversity.

Some adversity can torture you with sleepless nights. Some is so great your knees may buckle.

But know this: Adversity is the wellspring of wisdom. It’s the foundation of character. Without adversity, your inner power atrophies and your moral compass can lose true north.

It took a great deal of time and effort to put ourselves in a place of hostile temperatures, uncertain terrain and thin air, but we did it. We climbed, not because it was there (or reaching a bucket-list goal for a motivational keynote speaker), but to fill our lungs and soul with the restorative impact adversity can have.

During the struggle it was difficult. Looking back is was an adventure of a lifetime.

Is it time again for you to climb past hardship?

You’ll find the adversity is just the right amount.