Nestled within the Lanayru Region’s frigid mountain range rests one of Hyrule’s greatest peaks. Mount Lanayru is seemingly sacred to the region and stands as an immovable monument to the ancient land of Hyrule. Home to many secrets and many dangers, it takes true heroism to climb its icy and sacred heights.
Any expedition to the top of Mount Lanayru involves multiple steps of planning and a respectable lack of apprehension. That is why Link is the man for the job. The main route to the mountain starts at the end of the Lanayru Promenade, where a Red Lynel patrols near the mountain’s base. It is the first trial Mount Lanayru sends its visitors, so it makes sense to leave this type of challenge to the Champion of Hyrule.
It is past the Lynel where the planning stage becomes most crucial. The temperature drops rapidly once Link wanders into the mountain’s incline, and it only grows colder the more he ascends. A complete outfit made for frigid climates or an inventory packed with cold-resisting elixirs and meals are the only things that will keep Link from freezing to death and becoming both a permanent fixture on the mountain’s trail and a harsh warning for any future adventurers. Link also needs to consider what enemies he might face along the way, especially after dealing with a Lynel and seeing the wolves that stalk at the base of the mountain. Weather, beasts, and monsters: the natural and the supernatural that call Mount Lanayru home are clearly not fond of guests.
As the base of the mountain shifts into a steeper and rougher trail that draws toward the summit, the warmth of Hyrule’s green fields are no longer visible and Link prepares for anything. The snowflakes lingering in the air make it hard to view his progress, the mounds of snow on the ground make it hard to properly track the path, and both make it hard to watch for dangers. That is why the attacks from wolves, Ice Keese, Ice Chus, and Blue Lizalfos are often effective at catching Link off guard. Especially the Lizalfos, which can camouflage themselves within the snowy terrain. All the way up the mountain, the beasts hunt for unfamiliar prey, and Link has no choice to deal with each problem as they arrive and keep going.
The higher Link ascends, the more he feels as though there is something the mountain wants to keep him from finding. The trail is rough, but there are also bare spots in the snow that betray the evidence of civilization. The is path was forged by someone else in a time long past, and the identity of those pioneers has been lost to time.
The climb continues to grow more perilous. The monsters almost seem to lurk around every bend, and the frigid air tries its best to cut through Link’s efforts to protect himself. The stars become his only non-aggressive companions as they slowly become clearer and more vibrant as he ascends. Link can only hope that they will bear witness to an amazing discovery when he reaches the top.
The top. After far too much tension, Link finally stands at the mount’s peak. Massive ice formations spring from the rocky summit, almost like jewels set within a crown. At the center of this crystalline corona rests a statue of Hylia. It is not what Link had set out to do, but what he finds at the top of the mountain is the Spring of Wisdom. The odd thing is, it seems vaguely familiar.
But there’s more. Much more. He saw the statue, but that was the second thing he noticed. What he saw first was the massive, sickly dragon perched on the ice masses around Hylia’s likeness. It is the divine dragon Naydra, though it looks to have seen better days. Malice covers its body, and Hylia seems to have plans for Link to save the serpent. It’s an incredible request, the story of which is probably best reserved for another time. The only thing to remember now is that Mount Lanayru has one final test in store for its brave explorer.
