Now, it was winter time, and none dreamed of travelling over the passes at that season.

But Firdoos Gita Makani was not one to hold back when a thing had to be done.

So we started, and this is what happened, in his own words: "From the time we left Herat it snowed incessantly; the farther we advanced the deeper it became.

After three days it reached above the stirrups.

In places the horses' feet did not reach the ground; yet the snow continued to fall.