Rupin Pass Trek
The Himalayas! The gigantic mountains! The mystifying
mountains! The alluring mountains! They were beckoning me, they were pulling me
to them. It was time to pay a visit.
After much research, back and forth discussions, being
rejected due to a full batch, and then putting all my persuasion skills and
non-existent charm to use, I was on the 24th May Indiahikes Rupin
Pass batch!
Sunita, my buddy and trek mate, and I flew to Delhi from
Mumbai and then took the overnight train to Dehradun. And we were good to go….
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| Boarding the night train to Dehradun |
24th May 2014
Day 1– Dehradun to Dhaula (by
car)
The entire group set
off from Dehradun station at 7 am in different cars in groups of 5-6 towards
Dhaula, our first base camp. The road journey was an adventure in itself with
Kailashji our driver, who would have given Schumacher stiff competition, taking
us literally, for the ride of our lives! As the narrow roads turned and twisted
through the mountains and by the Tons River, often I held my breath in fear.
But despite our panic attacks, he knew his stuff and we reached Dhaula safely
by 5.30 pm.
We had a home-stay at Dhaula. It was my first-ever trek and
I so badly wanted to stay in a tent. Sunita kept telling me that home-stays are
far more comfortable and I should appreciate the comfort as long as I was
getting it. But stupid me! Anyway, we even had a hot water bath here, the last
of many days to come.
This is where we met Shiju, out trek leader. After a round
of introductions in the dark (we had to flash torches on people’s faces to put
a face to the name), and a briefing about the next day, we had an early dinner
and retired to our rooms for the night.
25th May 2014
Day 2 – Dhaula to Sewa
The next day was a sight to behold! Our home-stay was by the
river which was gurgling and swirling, unaware that night had turned to day.
She was doing her bit with a persistence that was admirable. The boulders stood
doggedly in her path, but she diplomatically found a way to circumvent them.
She had carved out a course for herself despite the adamant rocks. It was
reminiscent of a man-woman relationship. I knew peace would be maintained and
she would leave the rocks alone, to stand proud and vain in her path, while she
adjusted her own course, to keep their egos intact. But when she would be
angry, she would swell and rise, and kick them out of her way. That is the
innate strength of a woman! Anyway, it was a glorious day and the air was fresh
and crisp. I was rejuvenated!
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| The beautiful Rupin River, our constant companion! |
After a hearty and healthy breakfast, and a packed lunch in
our bags, we were off to our first day of trekking. It was 8.10 am on the 25th
of May. Our next destination was Sewa. Here too we were to have a home-stay.
Sunita was happy and I was still feeling cheated out of tent-excitement. Of
course, I didn’t know then that I would change my mind rather fast about
tents!!!
It was an uphill walk. The snow-capped mountains were at a
distance, an amazingly captivating sight! It was a hot and sunny day as we
walked through different terrains, through pine forests, on ledge ways on
cliffs, but always accompanied by the Rupin River way below. Her gurgling
splashing sounds were our constant companions! Sometimes we would be high above
and could not see her, but her low gushing sound assured us of her presence.
And sometimes, as we would climb downwards, the low sound would turn to a
roaring gush and suddenly she would be upon us in all her glory! A couple of
breaks along the way for snacks and lunch and we were at Sewa at 12.55pm,
instead of the expected 3pm. We were at approximately 6,200 feet. Shiju heaped
praises on us and it worked wonders for our self-esteem. I began to think of
myself as a pro trekker and climber, completely forgetting that this was my
first day on my first-ever trek. But then compliments have a way of infusing
self-confidence in me, like no other motivator! I was ready to run all the way
to Rupin Pass!
Mafia was the real ice-breaker! We played Mafia and I finally
realised why my daughter could play it through the night. Only difference was,
she is 10 and we were 3-4 times her age. It was like a college outing as we
tried killing each other in this sit-down game! We were all hooked. A light
drizzle interrupted our game. A walk through the village and yellow wheat
fields to an ancient temple took up the remaining part of the evening. In a light drizzle and dropping temperatures,
we had an early dinner and retired to our sleeping mats in bedrooms by 8.30pm. I
was still grumpy. I wanted to sleep in a tent! Outside the rain had turned
heavy and we could hear the wailing winds and thumping of incessant rain drops.
Perhaps, actually it was a good thing we were not in tents! Did I hear Sunita
smile at my thought in the dark? I could almost hear her say triumphantly,
“Didn’t I say?”
26th May 2014,
Day 3 – Sewa to Bavta
The rainy night had given way to a beautiful day! The mood
was light as the trek began. We descended several kilometres through pine
forests. Walking through the shade ensured that we did not feel weary at all.
The cloud cover was in sharp contrast to the scorching heat of the day before.
Suddenly we came upon the open bank of the Rupin River. Everyone was resting
there, filling their water bottles with the refreshingly cold water and of
course, clicking pictures. After a short welcome break, we set off again to
Shiju’s whistle. I was like a trained puppy now. I would hear a whistle and
immediately fall in line! What followed was a picturesque walk up through green
forests. We ascended to a quaint bridge over a stream, which further down
joined the Rupin River. The bridge was like a hammock without a hand support.
They were planks held together, which swayed with vigorous movement. It
provided a perfect photo-op and of course, Sunita and I had to pose to live up
to the new name we had got for ourselves – models! (Not because of our
drop-dead gorgeous looks but because we wanted to be clicked everywhere! Later
I realised that everyone had more pics of themselves than I had of myself!!! So
much for my new name!) With the walk over the bridge, we had entered Himachal
Pradesh.
We ascended onto a kachcha road which would take us 5kms
through rocky terrain. On the left was a rocky mountain straight out of MacKenna’s
Gold. And on the right at a sheer drop, was the river below. It was suddenly
overcast and big drops of rain fell hard. There was a scurry for ponchos and
rain cheaters, and just when everyone had worn them and packed up their
cameras, the rain stopped just as suddenly!
As the gradual ascent on the kachcha road continued, the
magnificent snow-capped mountains appeared larger and larger as we drew closer
to them. Clouds flitted across the sky sometimes shrouding the mountains and
then as dramatically uncovering them and letting us on to the breath-taking
sight. It was like the curtains were being raised for the grand finale!
Suddenly we were descending on the most dangerous trail so
far. It was a narrow slippery track just enough for one person to walk on.
Below on the right were loose stones, leading straight to the fast flowing
Rupin. One false step and one would reach the river below with several broken
bones along the way. Jhansi ki Rani had turned to Scaredy Cat!
As the steep ascent began, at a turn I was greeted by a
spectacular vista. Words are inadequate to describe the sheer beauty of the
snow clad mountains which formed the backdrop. In front were green mountains
with thick forest cover. Below was the greenish grey frothing river and on a
green patch on its banks was a big flock of sheep resting! I wanted to fill in
the sight, I wanted to just sit here forever.
We soon ascended into our homestay at the village of Bavta,
very close to Jiskun. It was about 1.45 pm and we were at an altitude of 7,250
feet. There was electricity here! Yipee! We all whipped out our mobile phones
and camera batteries and charged them. The evening was dedicated to Bollywood
music and dance. It is strange how Bollywood is so ingrained in our lives that
even in this remote village we were dancing to “hookah bar” and “chammak
chalo”. A round of Dumb Charades followed, where names of movies were a result
of hyper active imagination. The creativity of our fellow trekkers was as its
peak as names like “Antadiyon ki Shahi Biryani” and “Kashti ki lehron ke
gud-gud gotey” were invented! It was an entertaining evening.
As we settled into our sleeping mats, we chatted and
recounted the events of the day, blessed as we were to have had fabulous
weather through the entire route. I also felt lucky and privileged to have seen
god’s powerful artistry. And I knew this was just the beginning, I was going to
be privy to several such resplendent sights in the days to come.
And yes, you guessed right, I was still sulking!!!!
Tent!!!!!
27th May 2014
Day 4 - Bavta to Udakknal
It was a rather cold day and I needed 2 jackets now. The
weather motivated me to do suryanamaskar and pranayam! As the sun rose, I could
see the snowy peaks in the distance glistening in the sunlight. As we left our
campsite at 8.20 am, some snow- capped mountains were in the shade, awaiting
their turn in the limelight, namely sunlight! We crossed Jiskun at 9.20 am, and
I was yet again amazed at the splendour of nature. I had never seen a bluer sky
or a clearer one. Everything seemed so real, so pure, so immaculate, it was
simply perfect! I would have gladly died here. White fluffy clouds dotted the
clear blue sky. The trails were narrow and we walked in a single file. They
were covered with dried leaves forming a carpet of sorts on the path! Some of
the pine trees had fresh leaves, adding a different hue of green to the trees.
There was beauty as far as the eye could see.
We reached Jhaka at 11.30 am. We rested here for nearly an
hour. Everyone was so happy and content, that nobody wanted to move. I managed to
make a phone call home, borrowing the handsome local shopkeeper’s phone. Tears
sprung to my eyes, as I was told that my 2.5 yr old baby had cried for me when
scolded by her dad for being stubborn the earlier night. Her cries of “mamma
mamma” reverberated in my ears and tugged at my heart and I knew I had to get
back home to my 2 babies, all thoughts of dying content on the mountains,
dismissed immediately from my mind. I took a few moments to compose myself as
thoughts of my little daughter played in my mind. But it felt good to
unexpectedly connect with home.
Anurag, a co-trekker had been suffering from fever from day
1. Last night his fever had reached 104 degrees. Everyone had given him an earful,
warning him about how the trek was only going to get more and more difficult.
But he was one helluva determined guy. The medicine given to him by Sunita had
worked wonders for him and he was trekking with us. The only thing bothering
him now, was each one of us asking him how he was doing!!!
It was a sharp ascent here. The gigantic mountains kept
reminding me of how insignificant I was. Thank god for the call home, at least
some part of my ego was intact since I realized that I mattered at least to my
family. Here, I was just a tiny little speck in the whole universe!
As Sunita and I were merrily walking through a forest, with
no other trekker in sight, we heard some sounds in the tall trees. Looking up,
we saw an entire baboon family swinging on the trees. Sunita quickly suggested
that we not continue along by ourselves any longer. Who knows what other
animals we would encounter ahead? Good point. We would take a snack break and wait
for the army gang (a group of young boys from Thane and Dombivali who we had
christened army gang due to their olive green army t-shirts), who were behind
us. I literally felt like a babe in the woods waiting to be rescued by some
knights in shining armour. Soon enough they caught up with us! We offered them
our snacks and casually told them about the baboons. The next thing we knew was
that the snacks had hurriedly been packed up. And before we knew it, we were
scooting along with them as fast as we could!!! Also getting a lecture about
how the monkeys could have attacked us for the food! The melodramatic story I
had built up in my mind of the damsels in distress being rescued had just been
smashed to smithereens! So much for waiting for the brave boys!!!!! Jokes
apart, they were absolutely right. We would have been no match for the monkeys
had we been attacked for the food which we were foolishly eating, right in
their presence.
We reached the campsite at 4.30 pm. Finally, I was going to
get my tent. Was I excited!
The cold hit us as soon as we reached. We were greeted with
hot soup and popcorn. We quickly layered up, looking forward to the evening
campfire. But the plan was literally watered down, due to rain. My first
tent-stay, and rain! Damn! Anyway, we retired to our tents and got into the
first of many discussions with Pavan our 3rd co-inhabitant of the
tent, our roomie, as we now called him. The rain had stopped but I lacked the
guts to step out into the biting cold. Finally, they had got a fire going and I
had to push myself out of the tent. A starry night and old Hindi film songs which
we all sang around the campfire, made the evening a memorable one.
Anurag, who had made it to Udakknal on sheer will power got
a round of applause from all of us. Now there was no turning back for him. Since
Rupin Pass trek is not a round trek, after Udakknal the only way a trekker can
go is ahead. As we said our good nights and got into our sleeping mats, I
finally realised why Sunita had constantly been telling me to enjoy the
home-stays. Our tents were on a slope and much of the night was spent in sliding
down and re-adjusting our positions.
That star-lit night of 27th May, we were at about
9,350 feet!
28th May 2014,
Day 5 - Udakknal to Dhanderas
(Lower Waterfall)
I just didn’t want to brush my teeth. The water was chilling
cold! Fortunately, the campfire was on and taking strength from it, I forced
myself for a quick brush, knowing that the next day onwards the temperatures
were going to fall further and brushing would be a forgotten activity. Everyday
activities had started becoming avoidable due to the frosty cold. Washing
plates and cups after dinner was like a cruel punishment.
It was Paddy’s birthday and we started the day with a
birthday song for him. We left Udakknal at 8.30 am and reached Dhanderas or
Lower Waterfall, which is at 11,300 feet at 2.15 pm. The ascent was delightfully
scenic! What’s new, you may ask!
Snow, for sure! This was our first
introduction to snow and it filled us with exhilaration and joy! The rush of
excitement of stepping on snow for the first time got our spirits soaring. As
we walked on, we came upon a big snowy slope, which brought out the child in
each of us. All of us were happily sliding down on it, hands in the air, shouting
and laughing, when we heard Shiju’s whistle. Shiju was the sweeper that day and
when he reached us, he had caught us in our childish act. We were reprimanded
for going out of our route and playing on snow which had not been tested by our
trek guide, Suraj. We had no clue what lay beneath the snow, how deep the snow
was, where the boulders were, how we may have changed direction while sliding
and fallen off somewhere else etc. Like kids caught playing truant, we
apologised sheepishly. Immediately, Shiju lightened the atmosphere by cracking
a joke, and we continued with our journey, this time with our bottoms
completely wet with all the snow-sliding!
Here onward, the course had large expanses of snow. We
crossed a glacier, sometimes we walked upwards, sometimes across, at times it
was slippery and dangerous and therefore thrilling! Every now and then, the
Rupin gushed out from an opening in the glacier, flowed freely for a little bit
and then again disappeared under ice. I loved this peek-a-boo that Rupin had
been playing with us all through this journey.
As we walked on and on, we
reached the campsite which was a sight for sore eyes. Tiny cute blue tents on a
white canvas of white. There was a 360 degree view of snow – it was like
sitting in an amphitheatre with snow all around. We were welcomed here too with
refreshing juice.
At 4.30 we had a briefing session and practical lessons on
snow climbing which would be required for the next couple of days of
snow-climbing. Back at the dining tent, some of us sat around joking and
laughing. The high point was the now-fit and healthy Anurag regaling us with
stories of his bestie Tarun, who was also trekking with us. We had many a laugh
and Tarun sportingly joined us.
Arun, a dentist by profession and an avid trekker and a
passionate photographer, had been clicking pics all along the way. We would
often find him at strange places, clicking our pics, sometimes he would race
ahead, sometimes he would lag behind, sometimes he would wander off to get a
rare pic! He stayed up late that night to get an invaluable pic shot over 15
min with extended exposure time to capture the star trail and the illuminated
tents (he had requested us to flash our torches) in this bowl-shaped snowy
arena.
29th May 2014
Day 6 – Dhanderas to Upper
Waterfall
The tents were right on the snow and I had had a disturbed
night as the snow kept crunching beneath me at every move and the cold had
seeped in through the floor of the tent. I arose at 5 am, it had become a way
of life now – sleep at 8.30 pm and be up before 5 am. We began our trek at 7.40
am and we knew it was going to be a tough climb. We were heading to Upper
Waterfall, the last stop before Rupin Pass. We could see the waterfall high
above, far away. We had worn
micro-spikes on our shoes which increased our confidence manifold. The air was
thin, breathing had become quite an effort. We took baby steps upwards. Balancing on the slippery snow, tested my
endurance and often I could hear my heart pounding in fear. A few times, we
clambered over rocks, using all four. Walking on snow is tricky, frequently our
feet slipped and I could hear “oops” or “oh shit” ringing in the air. Prashasti
or PS as we called her, the PYT of our group, injured her knee and got a new
name for herself, Langda Tyagi! Resilience was the order of the day.
We reached our beautiful campsite at 11.05 am. We were a
jubilant lot. Sunita and I had decided that we would take each day as it came,
each step at a time. We were happy to be safe after another challenging day.
Here we were at our home for today at 12,700 feet. Suddenly I had the urge to
eat chicken kabab. The cook had been whipping up awesome meals of dal, rice,
roti and sabzi, accompanied by papad, salad and even desserts like kheers, yet
my taste buds yearned for non-veg today. My brain had been conjuring up
mouth-watering visions of kababs and I chewed Pavan’s brains with descriptions
of my food fantasy which he sat through patiently. I wonder whether he was
simply being polite or actually fantasizing about food along with me!
At 3.30 pm we had a practice and acclimatization session for
tomorrow’s big day. We were introduced to our technical leader, Pranav, who was
going to guide us up to Rupin Pass. Under his training we climbed a steep
ascent of about 300 feet near the camp, without micro-spikes. We had got spoilt
with micro-spikes and it took a little while to get used to climbing without
them. But soon enough we were on a roll.
By the time we returned, the temperature had fallen even
more. I layered myself with everything I owned. Pavan was kind enough to lend
me his woollen socks so I had on 3 layers of socks. Still my toes felt
uncomfortably cold and numb. The air was thick with anxiety for the next day,
the most difficult day of this trek. I knew it was going to stretch me and test
my endurance.
30th May 2014
Day 7 – Rupin Pass
I woke up at 3.15 am. It was dark and agonizingly cold. The
night had been the coldest I had ever experienced in my life. Temperatures had
slipped to -5 degrees. We had been told to hydrate ourselves well since the
earlier day because there was no water source on the way. We would have with us
just as much water as we could carry with us in our day packs, ie 2 litres each.
Despite knowing I had to drink as much as I could, I could not get myself to
sip the water – it was freezing cold. Hot water was announced from the kitchen.
We hurried to the kitchen just 10 feet away, but the water was freezing cold
again. My toes were cold, so were my fingertips. I missed Mumbai’s heat and
humidity. I was never going to complain about it, I quietly promised myself.
It was 5.40 am and we were ready to leave. Everyone was
unusually quiet. A mix of apprehension, anxiety and excitement was writ on
everybody’s faces. We began our ascent in one file, walking very slowly.
Breathing was indeed difficult! I crossed Ahilya and noticed the focus on her
face. Little did she know what danger lay ahead, in fact, neither did any of
us!
We climbed the steep incline in a zig-zag manner. Often, we
had to stop to catch our breath. We all studiously followed the breathing
technique taught to us the earlier day. We resolutely climbed on and on,
keeping our eyes only on the step ahead. At one point I turned to look back to
see how much distance we had covered. My head spun! I guess this was what they
call vertigo. I was too scared to look up either, to see how much more to go –
I was afraid I might topple backwards, after all we were on a 70% incline.
Suddenly, menacing clouds took over. The weather changed dramatically. And I
encountered snow fall for the first time in my life. It was magical – those tiny
soft flakes falling around us. We quickly put on our ponchos. I removed my
gloves to feel the flakes, they caressed me as they fell around me. I was
excited like a school girl!
We carried on upwards towards the high Rupin Pass. As some
of my group members reached up, they began a countdown for the rest of us. The
countdown for me was reverberating in my ears, it was music to my ears. The
pass was so near and yet so far. Much as I wanted, I couldn’t hasten my steps. Each
step needed deep breathing. Each step was slow and laborious. And before I knew
it, I had put my foot on Rupin Pass. I was on top of the world, standing 15,250
feet high. I felt powerful, I felt fearless, I felt triumphant, and I felt like
I had conquered the world, I felt like crying! Words are inadequate to describe
the feeling of victory, pride and elation I felt. The air around me was
celebratory as everyone cheered, laughed and did hi-fives. We had all done it!
The group had ascended Rupin Pass in 3 hours 45 min, all 26 of us had done it!
After clicking pictures, we were all ready to start our
descent. As Arun rightly said, “Coming up is optional, going down is
mandatory.”
The descent was long and gruelling. I found that I had mentally
prepared myself for the ascent and had completely forgotten about the descent.
Walking down never-ending slopes of snow took the life out of me. At times it
was so dangerous, that I feared I wouldn’t come out of this adventure alive.
But it was not without a fair measure of fun, the slopes were often so long
that the fastest way down was to slide. Like excited kids we slid down, some
like me who lost control, rolled, toppled over and often landed on their faces
or stomachs. The loud whooping and laughing lightened the tension of the
precarious climb down.
And then on a snowy slope, each one of us missed a heartbeat.
We watched in utter shock and horror as Ahilya lost her footing and slipped!
She went hurtling down with a cry and the rest of us froze in unimaginable
fear. This is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life – the panic that
gripped us is unforgettable. Shiju immediately jumped behind her to help her.
There were rocks everywhere below, where was she going to land? What was going
to happen to her? The rest of us were rooted to the ground, mouths gaping wide
open and hearts pounding hard and fast. Ahilya just slid and slid, she missed
the first batch of rocks and then the second. And then she slid some more and
finally stopped. Somehow, she knew that everyone was watching from above. The
first thing the brave girl did was to turn to all of us and do a thumbs-up
gesture to indicate that she was safe and unhurt. With that gesture, the morbid
tension which hung thick around us, finally dissipated. A cry of joy and relief
went up in the air. Soon Shiju reached Ahilya. Both of them had gone so far
down that they were both mere specks in the distance. Slowly they started their
zig-zag way up, while the rest of us resumed our journey towards Ronti Gad, so
glad that Ahilya was safe! I said a silent prayer of thanks to God.
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| Porters lending us a helping hand |
However, this incident changed everyone. If Ahilya, probably
the most experienced trekker in our group, with 13-14 treks behind her, could
slip, then any of us could. We were a different lot now, a lot more thoughtful,
a lot more introspective, and a lot slower. As we continued our walk, fatigue had set in.
Yet there was no sign of our camp.
We had been walking, for what seemed like
eternity, when suddenly the yellow tents appeared. What a sight it was! There
was a stream flowing beside the camp site and a glacier behind the tents.
Around us were mountains with snow on the peaks. In a way, it was good to see
snow far away. For 2 days, we had had snow to our heart’s content. Now it was
time for some greenery.
We were welcomed to Ronti Gad campsite with piping hot
Maggi. It was 4.20 pm and we had been walking for over 10 hours. I was tired to
the bones. I was dying to have a long peaceful night to rest my weary bones.
31st May, 2014
Day 8 – Ronti Gad to Sangla
It was an ecstatic and proud group which arose the next
morning. We were all relaxed – the toughest day was behind us. Now just a
descent of a few hours and we would be in Sangla! We left the camp at 8.45 am,
we had been far too busy clicking pictures and fooling around to worry about
the time. The sun was up in the air and it was wonderful to not feel cold any
longer. Everyone was relaxed and happy. But soon we realised that a descent is
sometimes as difficult as an ascent. It’s taxing on the knees and tough on the
feet. I had to spray Volini on my knees to numb the tormenting pain. I could
also feel the blisters on my toes. Most of the group had similar complaints.
And just when we thought that we had had enough, we entered Sangla. It was
2.15pm!
The predominant thought in my mind was – bath and food! I
wanted to bathe, wear fresh clothes and feel human again. And that’s exactly
what I did. Next on the agenda was food! We walked to a nearby restaurant and
ordered whatever was available and ate it all!
When we returned to the guest house, we all knew it was time
to say our good-byes. Conflicting emotions raged within me. On the one hand I
couldn’t wait to get home and see my family and my little girls and hold them
tight in my arms, and on the other, my new family who had been with me through
the trials and tribulations of the trek, was soon going to part from me. It was
an emotional moment when Shiju blew his whistle and we fell into line for the
last time. As he gave his final speech, I could feel the lump in my throat and
tears in my eyes. I was surprised at myself – I didn’t want to leave my new
friends, who in a matter of days had become as close as family to me. Just a
week back they were mere strangers and yet now the thought of parting from them
tore at my soul. Each of them had inexplicably but surely, made a place for
themselves in my heart. Shiju, our leader who was rock-solid and motivated us
each day of the trek, would be leading another group soon. I was going to miss
his perfect smile and his “full-on power, trekkers” and “chalo mere sheron”
shout!
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| Roomies - Pavan, Sunita and me |
Pavan, my roomie who lent me his woollen socks without a thought about
the cold in his own feet and with whom we had some very profound discussions.
Anurag and Tarun reminded me of Tom and Jerry, their verbal banter provided the
much needed comic relief during this intense trek. Prajakta and Madhushree must
be the sweetest girls I have known, kind, gentle and helpful. Arun and Ahilya,
the dentist couple who became family right from Delhi airport. They are such a
friendly duo that I forgot that I had only just met them. Then there was Sanjay
and young Shantanu, the strong men who carried their backpacks all through the trek.
When many of us were struggling to get just ourselves through the trek, they
had done it with their backbacks. It was commendable! I had some entertaining
moments ragging poor Shantanu when he shared a room with us, and he was
sporting enough to laugh with me. Hats off to Sonali and her indomitable
attitude. Anupama-Ashok-Anandi a family who trekked together – what a novel way
of holidaying! David who came from Singapore but became one of us in absolutely
no time. He was as Indian as Indian could get. Gautami whose theplas were much
sought after and which she shared with all of us generously. God Bless you
Gautami. Prashasti, the hottest girl in our group, cheerful, sporting and
always ready for some fun. She and I shared a really special moment as we rolled
down a snowy slope together. We were unstoppable, out-of-control and couldn’t
stop laughing at our helplessness as we just kept sliding, slipping and rolling
together. Saurav, who was so fit that I always only saw him at the camps
because he was always far ahead and was the first to reach the camp
everyday! Richa, with who I had some
real soul-conversations. Tarun the solid silent one who soon got himself a new
name - RWT! The 5 army guys, Paddy, Amey, Kunal, Rohan and Bhushan, their
enthusiasm and penchant for fun and adventure was infectious. They ended up
becoming my buddies! If they were just behind me or in front of me during the
trek, I knew I was safe. How can I forget Suraj, our trek guide who was always
ready with a helping hand and a kind word of motivation. Makhan, the bright and
cheerful young boy, who won our hearts with his helpfulness and affection. He
is such an endearing boy and I wish him luck in his dream of becoming an
engineer. Then there was young and handsome Arjun, so young yet so mature and
so solid. When he put out his hand to me, I knew I was in safe hands. The rest
of the support team who cooked delicious meals for us, fetched us water,
carried our baggage. My salute to them. And last but not the least, Sunita,
without who I wouldn’t be doing half the things I end up doing. We have been on
so many adventures together that now it is unthinkable for me to do any of it
without her. I hope we go from strength to strength and finally conquer the
world together!
But for now it was time to go home to my children and
husband. It was time for some R&R, some TLC and some more alphabets which I
cannot mention here! Yes, yes, you guessed right, so stop grinning! And get
back to work….
Photo credits - Dr. Arun Nayak, Gautami Gavankar, David Tan, Padmanabh Athavale, Dr. Sunita Kolke, Pavan Madhini, Kunal Patade
The stream looked so dainty and pretty like a
delicate petite woman, flowing languorously. It was time for our first water
crossing.
It was time to head back, but not without some photographs
to freeze the moment in time, not without soaking in the magnificent sight of
snow-capped mountains to my heart’s content, not without drowning myself in the
exhilaration of the accomplishment, not without throwing my head back shutting
my eyes and breathing in the pure crisp air, not without capturing this special
moment and imprinting it in my mind and making it indelible forever! 
