A Trekking Expedition to Sar Pass; In the Himalayas!! Back to Nature!!

A Trekking Expedition to Sar Pass; In the Himalayas

(18^th May to 28^th May 2015)

Well, back to Mumbai, as I am sitting to write this note, I am still going through Mountain hangover! I am missing it badly! Yes, I am talking about the National Himalayan Trekking Expedition to Sar Pass, organised by YHAI, and which is considered the hardest of the many treks it conducts throughout the year.

I took a night bus from Chandigarh to Kullu on 17^th May. Oh, entering the bus, occupying the window seat next to a guy, who was talking continuously to the girl on next seat, I said to myself,”Oh Marathis again!” As I overheard the others in the bus, I could hear conversations in Gujarati also. And quickly I assumed that those people would also be up for the same trek, though I didn't bother to ask, for I hardly talk while travelling. But in the morning as this guy handed me over the blanket, and asked if I had a charger, I had but to talk to the fellow. And a little conversation with this guy named Rishi, who had come with 5 girls; we came to know that we were actually on for the same trek. And then what, we became a bunch of good friends over next 10 days. We boarded a local bus from Bhuntar and reached the base camp at Kasol at around 11:00 am on 18^th.

Kasol; the base camp

 Base Camp: Kasol (6500 ft)

(18^th to 20^th May)

After getting done with all the formalities like ' registration and tent allocation' I went to Manikaran for a dip into hot spring water, with Saugatha' one of the trekking friends I met on Munnar trek, and had some refreshing hot water therapy, rejuvenating my soul.  J

"Refreshed: In and out!" ;-)

In the evening I went alone to roam around in Kasol Market, and explored a bit of the small village, beautifully located on the bank of Parvati River. Kasol, also known as mini Isreal, is full of foreign tourists, and looks more like a foreign land than Indian. To add to that, we could see some banners in entirely foreign language. As I roamed around the Market doing some window shopping, I was shocked by the exorbitant prices of every item: some foreigner commented, “There are 3 types of prices in Kasol Market; 1. Indian Tourist Price 2. Foreign Tourist price and 3. Stupid Foreign tourist price.” LOL

After early morning run and exercise of 19^th, we were taken for hill walk of around 3 kms, just for acclimatization. Logic behind this is that ‘as we all were coming from the plains, from sea level, it's risky to go straight to the Mountains with the possibility of inviting so many sicknesses relating to altitude. After all everything should be a gradual process. The walk was moderate and it gave everybody the opportunity to interact with each other and make friends. The three girls I came close to were, Komal and Krupali from Gujarat and Nicole from Mumbai, the four of us being almost together throughout the trek. We trekked up and sat at a flat top under shady trees for some times, where we gave our introduction one by one and shared our earlier trekking experiences. So much fun we had while giving the introduction; a girl saying my name is this and I squander my Husband's money, a Gujarati fellow saying 'we are four mama batija and this is our first ever trek', some other's commenting, ‘My leave was rejected but I came anyway!” Lol and when it was my turn everybody expected me to be a bold and strong Pahadi girl, but I went on like this,” Hi, I am Nawang. Basically I am from Kinnaur district of Himachal, but I did my studies from Chandigarh, and right now I am working in Mumbai. So, in a way I am a jaali (fake) Pahadan.” On this they commented,” No matter what, you have Mountains in your blood and you are a Mountaineer by blood.” True they may be! Hmm

"A Lively interaction amidst lively surrounding"

Next day on 20^th, after the usual morning warm up exercise, we were taken to Rock climbing area for Rock climbing and Rappelling, where we got ample of time to chill out with our new friends. :-)

"Let's do some chill pill before heading for the adventure"

Grahan: (7700 ft : 9 kms)

21^st May 15

We left Base camp at around 8:30 am. The next two batches sent us with best wishes amidst YHAI style clapping (1-2, 1-2-3 and repeat). It felt like we all were on a mission. Hmm nice feeling obviously! The trek to Grahan village was moderate initially. It was a leisurely jungle walk, the guide making us rest at many points. We reached our lunch point, a spacious expanse of land under large pine trees, on the bank of a small river. We had our lunch, which tasted so yum and then spent next 1 hour at the river, playing with the clean, clear and beautiful water at the same time enjoying every bit of nature. Everyone seemed to be in a jubilant mood till lunch. But after lunch trek of 1-2 hours was just not so easy. It was a steep rise, in zig zag motion with sun God directly shining upon our faces. I along with Nicole, Puru, Shakti and Shrinivas Sir were the first to reach the camp. And reaching the camp, it was pure bliss. The small village of Grahan was beautiful, untouched yet by modernity; no road, no electricity lines, no phone networks. The houses were made up of wood and seemed quite old and precious. People were intrigued to see us, may be thinking us crazy to go climbing, which for them is out of necessity. Devbhoomi it is, and they have their own devta, which as per their account gets offended if someone consumes alcohols and other drugs, and drinking is strictly prohibited to that effect. Yes, we cannot test their firm belief. So, respect!!! :-)

"Welcome to Grahan Village and enjoy the beauty around!!"

Sidu, the Local Himachali delight and Rhododendron Chutney: Yumm

Padri: (9300 ft : 9 kms)

22^nd May 15

We left Grahan at around 9:30 am as the trek to Padri mostly was downwards, which required less time. Trekking down until you reach one river base, and crossing that river to trek up to the next Mountain, the process continuing throughout the trek, was one of the most awesome experiences.

Padri, a meadow located between five mountains, thus the name Padri, became the favorite camp for all group members. It was here that we got fresh running stream water just near our tents. The entire area was quite spacious and we got our time for exploring the beauty of nearby waterfall, where we had our first glimpse of snow, formed as ice caves at the base of waterfall. We girls had enough of our girly, chirpy and exciting moments, clicking pictures, posing and taking selfies!!! (wink wink)

"Rest if you must, but never quit"

"Mother's love, friendly fight and so much beauty!!!"" :-)

"Cheerful us!!!""

 Mingtach: (11300 ft : 12 kms)

23^rd May 15

As the trek for the day was quite long and tough, we had to leave Padri at around 8:00 am. Again we crossed one river to another, to enter one mountain from another. People seemed tired, especially some of the girls, due to high altitude, but I cannot say the same for me, as I had to come up to everybody's expectation from a Pahadi girl and also being a Mountaineering graduate, I guess I was prepared for the trek to some extent. The after lunch trek was the real one, when we were faced with one vertical wall of Mountain; to call it 90 degree would be an exaggeration, but yes it would have been around 65 degree. (Sorry I am bad with angles as well as maths). As we gained height, we came across wild rhododendron in large numbers, the beauty of which helped in lessening our fatigue to some extent.  Ah, after climbing that stretch of hanging wall, when we reached the top, we were welcomed by our camp leader of Mingtach. And speaking of Mingtach, it was another heaven, and to speak in my own words, “Heaven is everywhere on earth, but it doesn't come to us, we have to walk towards it.”” (wink)

"I want nothing else but Nature's lap, where I feel at home, where I feel whole and where I can be myself!!"" :-)

Everything was perfect, until at night, when we curled into our sleeping bags, Rani, who was sleeping next to me, jumped with a shrieking shout. Oh hell! We were attacked by a bunch of rats, which would have come expecting some goodies to relish from our bags. We all woke up first, then slept again covering ourselves entirely. But there were so many of them and they kept jumping on us. It became intolerable after some time and we went out complaining to the camp leader, who shifted us to another tent. Well, we had a sound sleep for a while, when again we woke up at the sound of the wind blowing so hardly, hitting our tents, with little rain showers as well. After that sleepless night, it was all quite in the morning. Everybody came out of their tents cheerfully, looking forward for the journey ahead to our highest camp at Nagaru. :-)

Nagaru : (12500 ft : 6 kms)

24^th May 15

As Nagaru was merely 6 kms, we left quite late. To our amazement, we could see our lunch point as well as campsite from below. It’s quite amusing to stand below, and envy a mountain top for standing so high, and wishing you could reach there, and actually reaching there you just have no words, but sighs! Again it was a steep upward trek, but everybody lazed around and walked slowly, clicking pictures and all. We reached the camp at around 3:00 pm, and were amazed to see snow all around. As it’s the highest camp, the timing also changed for our dinner and next day’s morning breakfast and departure. I was so excited when the camp leader said, “It’s here in this camp that you will get to eat your earliest dinner at 6:30 pm, and breakfast at 3:30 am, and departure at 4:30 am.” I personally felt so excited and slept with dreamy eyes, but not again, at around 2:00 am in the morning the wind started blowing. It was so hard and furious, and hit our tents at such a speed that all the flap knots came out. Soon it started thundering and lightening. We still were in a state of awe when we felt water drops on our faces. I woke up to check, and on my Bag above my head I saw snowflakes. Taking snow lightly, I curled back into my sleeping bag, and covered myself completely. Helplessly, we all just waited for the storm to pass. Camp leader shouted from outside,”Dont be scared, it’s a everyday story over here. If you feel that your tent is about to break, or blown away, just surround the pole and hold it tightly.” Freak! We really felt that our tents will be blown away soon. The storm and snow continued even after 4:30, our scheduled departure time. At 5:00 when the call for tea was made, we were hardly in a condition to go and avoided tea as well. But to avoid no. 1 & 2 ain't that possible, being purely nature call. So, Rani, Nicole and I pulled out our Ponchos and set for mission no. 1. And Hell, what we saw the previous day as our makeshift toilet, was dashed to the ground covered fully with snow. Lol We kept ourselves inside the tents, and to avoid the cold, we started singing and cracking jokes. It was at around 6:45 am that the wind receded and snow stopped. We were served the breakfast, which we hardly had. At around 7:30 the camp leader left the decision for further trek to us, as it was already late and risky. But we were determined. I really wanted to go ahead no matter what. So, we left at around 7:45 am in a hurry, forgetting to apply sunscreen as well.

:-)

Chale Chalo 

"The Morning after the stormy and snowy Night, we shall never forget!!" :-)
We are tiny, small and so helpless in front of Nature's freedom!!"

Sar Pass : 13800 ft to camp at Beskari (11000 ft : 14 kms)

25^th May 15

It wasn’t that easy to trek 14 kms continuously from morning to evening on mountains covered fully with snow, but the inner feeling you get at each step is quite magical. Walking, crawling, skidding, sliding, climbing up and down through snow, slipping and falling, we reached Sarpass and crossing its highest point at 13800 ft, we reached our lunch point just below snow line at around 4:30 pm. Again I along with Dinesh was the first to reach. As we were completely wet, we felt the chill and hunger. Wonder we didn’t have our breakfast properly and in a way trekking with empty stomachs. (That’s a mistake, never do this). At every lunch point some local people would be there, selling eatables. The moment we reached, we ordered magi and tea, and that boiled magi for Rs. 65/- felt so priceless. It started raining, and we ran for our further trek down to our next camp, which took us another 1 hour to reach through muddy, slimy and thin way made through bushes and rhododendron flowers. As it kept raining, we were served Pakoras and Chais in the tents itself, which again we had like hungry beggars. Sigh Oh just next to my bed, a cute fellow, named Tom, who crossed the pass with us, had already occupied the space, and was in deep sleep already. As he was reluctant to wake up, I avoided everybody’s comments to let the dog out, and let him sleep there. Such an adorable fellow he was. Some of us, including the dog lovers had the most memorable and touching moments with him. I miss him now. Hmm

 

Hmm. I have no words  to express the abundance of feelings running within...:-)

When you realize the value of Sun, you will never criticize it's heat!!!

Bhandak Thatch : (8000 ft : 12 kms)

26^th May 15

Again we were back to the easiest and moderate walk, sometimes down and sometimes flat jungles, where all the girls who cried the previous day, showed their smiley faces. Oh Bhandhak Thacth, which is also known as ‘Mini Switzerland’ by YHAI members, was just beautiful and spacious with beautiful landscapes around. There was a a spacious ground near our tents, where we played Cricket in the evening. Oh it was here when I got my Mobile phone charged from Gulshan’s power bank and took out the phone to take a selfie,and eff, came face to face with my burnt face. It was red, and on top of it, I was wearing an orange colour stole, for which Gulshan commented,”Tu toh Hanuman ji bani padi hai.” LOL but we had fun, and I was least bothered about my burnt face, as the main mission of crossing the Pass was accomplished. Woohooo!!! :-)

Another truth: We can never be on the top of the Mountain for long,
for it belongs to the Mountains only and we are just the visitors; 
So, be a good guest and be thankful to the Mountains for its hospitality!!!""

"It rained whole night and the morning sun rose like real bliss!!! :-)

 Trek to Barshaini : (6600 ft : 10 kms and drive back to Base camp Kasol : (6500 ft: 17 kms)

27^th May 15

We got our ID’’s and were now free to trek down till Barshaini village on our own and from there to fetch a bus to Kasol. Tom also accompanied us uptill some point after which we lost his track when we touched the road. May be he went back to Mountains as civilisation doesn’t suit him. Hmm

Tom had the choice to stay back, but we had but to come back to the material world. Never mind, we are back with our tummies full of magical memories. :-)

"Goodbye Mountains, Hope to see you again!!"

"So, here we are back with our Monkey faces!!!""" ;-)

Well, overall the trek was A-Awesome! I would call it a Moderate trek, but for first timers it is not moderate at all. So, if you ever plan for such trek, first of all ‘Be prepared mentally as well as physically”.

Some Memorable moments with Tom: It was the hardest Goodbye ever!!