New Delhi - Rishikesh - Joshimath
- Auli - Haridwar - New Delhi (8 days Vacation)
I
could not resist/wait to pen down my experience about my vacation.
I've scribbled a few in this blog.
My
Background:
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| That's me :D |
I am a
26-year-old IT professional with BMI around 25 - living in Bangalore.
This is my first himalayan trek with less knowledge (amateur
trekker) about this trek. I just wanted to go out of my daily routine
and explore things around. That was the time when my friend (Janu)
planned for a trip, I immediately gave thumbs up without knowing
about the trek. He is my close friend since my school days but we had
never been out together till now for a overnight stay. This trek has
made a remarkable memories for us.
When
someone says Himalayas the first thing that comes to my mind is snow
fall, I've never experienced snow fall till now. This trek fulfilled
my wish. I just wanted to feel the snow fall out there.
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| window side view just got the capture not the seat :P |
Most of
the travel were my first time experience, (Delhi, Flight Travel,
Joshimath, Rishikesh, Bungy Jump, river rafting, Auli, Snow fall, Ice, minus temperature etc) so I enjoyed each
and everything that went through.
On Day one,
we started from Bangalore to New Delhi via Flight. This was my
first time flight experience, so I was all excited and was on my toes
to get into the flight. I was eager to sit in window seat to enjoy
the view but missed it both the times:(. Still I enjoyed the journey
during take off and landing with my ears blocked :D I felt our
Airavat Club Class seats were far better than the flights. :P
hehehe.....
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| Five Minors in Qutub Minar |
We
visited Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Jumma Masjid, India Gate, Rashtrapati
Bhavan. All these I've read in my school days books and now they
stand tall right in front of me and what a bliss that it is to capture
a moment with them!
We took a
over night travel to Rishikesh and hired 3 Bikes early morning and
drove 14km to our camp site (Wildex Camp), The drive itself started
our adventures as it took to humps, stones, pit holes, sun rise right
next to beautiful river ganges. Then came our first adventure
activity – BUNGY JUMP. Oh, boy! What a feel that was when you jump
with your legs tied and hands free upside down from 83mts height. The
feel that you get before and after the jump is hilarious. Post that
we headed late to River rafting office, The driver had to take us 16
km away from rafting office to the starting point.
The way he drove
the jeep was fantastic with complete safety, he had a fast driving
skills not the rash driving, I think we reached in 20 minutes to the
rafting point. 2 ½ hours of river rafting wooooohhh!! we enjoyed all the
rapids we faced Grade 3+ rapids, A tea in the middle of the rafting
and a cliff jump without knowing swimming :D. And I cannot forget our
rafting leads command “Forwardddddd!!” LOL!
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| Swathi is still shorter tough she stands so far :D |
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| At start of our Rafting |
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| A perfect click |
And that day ended with worn out, weary feel. Our eyes went to automatic shutdown mode that night.
Himalayan Trekking – Kauri Pass Trek
And the big day that we were awaiting for started with 8 hours of travel to Joshimath from Rishikesh, on Day One. And we had a briefing about the trek that evening. The walls of the base camp building in that place was so cold that we could not even walk on the floor bare footed. Of my surprise once we finished the trekking and came back to our base camp again on the last day, the walls and floors were absolute friendly to us. We never felt cold because of what we experienced up the hills :D
Trek Preparation
We started planning for the trek/trip 4 months before, so that we get ample time for us to prepare for the trekking.
We (Janu, Swathi, Hepsibha, Llyod and Myself) had several conference calls (mostly every week in the last month) to discuss about the vacation that we have planned. All of us are first time trekkers in himalayas, so we had tough time to decide what essentials needs to be carried though TTH (Trek The Himalayas) team provided the details on website. Because we did not want to invest money on one time use essentials. We had silly questions like will we get hot water? How will they provide water at that peak? Would they melt the ice, heat it and give it us to drink? Will we take bath? If so, how about hot water? …. ha ha ha....
Mental preparation
My mind and soul was all set for "daily routine relief" :) but not the trekking, I never knew how this trekking would be. It is really important to clearly understand what we are about to face.
I did few small treks in Karnataka, which gave me confidence that I could do this trek as well.
Physical Preparation
I started with daily walk, jog and exercise for about 1 hour every day to keep myself fit and ready to face the big boy (trekking). I was very much keen in not falling sick for the big day.
On Day Two
We started our 6 km trek to Chitrakhana (9600 Ft) past Dhak Village (6790 Ft). Its a complete ascend. I had my music on in my phone (enjoying the trekking with most of the 80s songs). We were about 23 members including the trek guide. We never knew each other, all were from different location and the best is we never went back the same way. We all were united as one team with lot of bonding and sharing (Infact we had to be that way as no one else out there :D lol).
The mountain views were absolute beauty. We met Cute kids, lovely dogs in Dhak Village. We finally reached Chitrakhana, late in the evening We all were sitting outside and enjoying the weather. Without my knowledge I dozed off snoring on a mountain rock for a about an 1 hour. A bit of Ice was fallen on the mountain cap, we went to feel the Ice and walked on them. Later in the evening we had tea, tasty veg soup and then dinner and the whole day singing songs in the tent with my buddies.
On Day Three
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| There you see the excitement!!!! |
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Resting time... phewwww!!
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We started to Tali Top (11,070 Ft) 3 KM trek and reached the place around 12-1 PM. Here there was bit more ice fallen on the mountain just in one particular place, we were so excited and when there with all essentials and gaiters wore and clicked some pics. Later around 2:30 PM to our astonishing flabbergast there came the showers of blessings (THE SNOW FALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) we all were so excited, shouting, playing in the snow fall, photos, selfies etc.... Wooohhh!! Cant express that feelings when you first time feel the snow fall. Open your arms wide apart, look up the sky and close your eyes, the snow fall will kiss you.
A couple was celebrating anniversary on day three, to our surprise, our cook prepared a delicious cake for them, it was the best of our cook..... Later the whole night was snowing we had our liners and sleeping bag tight to withstand the cold and had a peaceful night
On Day Four
(Kuari Pass Submit day), as we got up from sleep and came out of tent, the place where we were was completely filled up with snow, it became a land of snowfield. As I stated earlier, A bit of ice has now turned into a whole of ice. Walking on the snow was like a milk power feel. We were shivering whenever we came out of the tent. The Bonfire kept us warm most of the time. After breakfast we started to “Submit” as we started ascending towards Kuari Pass, The snow fall did not stop, but still we continued trekking, As we were going ahead, the snow fall became snow storm, we faced strong wind, 15mtrs ahead of us was not visible. That's when our guide decided to trek back to our camp site. Unfortunately we could not submit “Kuari Pass” But truly enjoyed the snow storm as well and as we had a bit more time in the evening when the snowfall stopped. We went for a small trek to a freezed lake and while coming back took the firewood's for our bonfire. Again we started singing round the bonfire area and in my tent as well with my buddies.
On Day Five
The final day of 9 KM trek to Auli (2945 M) via Gurson Bugyals (3721 M). we started at 9:30 AM I guess. I really have to say this, I struggled from day three to walk with my boots worn, which is not trekking shoe at all. It has 0% grip, the sole is complete plane, the biggest mistake I made which drained my energy. I somehow managed till day four, but day five was horrible. I had to put my double the energy on my foot to lock the ice to avoid slips. But still I slipped most of the time.
Please guys dont ever miss your trekking shoes or else it will kill you. During the trek we reached the complete snow area which is nothing but a beautiful place called Auli, A complete fulfillment boosted within me and we were in descending stage and I happily descended till the rope car with my buddy Swathi and Llyod. Swathi was injured badly with her knee slipping often, we (myself and Llyod) had to plan a rescue operation for her to reach the destination :D Lol. The rope car took us to our base camp. And a complete rest there, we celebrated my friend Janu's birthday on the final day which would be memorable for him.
And That's my Team, Miss you all folks :)
On Day Six
We all packed our bags and was ready to move from the base camp saying a good bye to all. I felt complete after the trek and said to myself, Hey buddy!! its time to go home now. And there we started 28 hours of journey to reach our home sweet home :) Namma Bengaluru.
I will come back HIMALAYAS!!!!
