I’d never thought I’d ever go to Sikkim. I knew that to access the alpine zone in Nepal entails arduous trekking, and Bhutan bans all manner of motorized transport. I’d imagined that Sikkim would be comparable. I later found out it isn’t, but how could one organize a trip there? Then I received an email from Harry Jans in 2022 inviting me to go on a trip he was planning. I’d traveled with Harry to Tibet and realized this would be my best opportunity to visit the central Himalaya on the Indian side. I simply had to say yes. I had made some commitments (with signed contracts) that conflicted with the trip—but some fast talking and negotiations got me out of them. I could go!