My undying love for hills makes me uneasy in my regular citylife so every now and then I plan a timeout to head out to some place to kill this monotony.
Just like that, I planned this hike in last June to Hampta pass…though people who know me well, they know I genuinely prefer walking alone…but I don't mind company of likeminded souls who do understand that📷😊
We started our journey from Bangalore on Friday evening the 23rd to reach Delhi, caught a bus… rendezvous at the corny sounding 'Majnu ka tila'(who keeps a name like that??). Woww!! Its like naming a drain after Ghalib..Ghalib ka naala!! So much for naming hot spots:-)
It was a hot summer evening...after spending many years in Bangalore, it was unbearable to bear Delhi heat now.. Anyway, We boarded the Volvo to Kulu-Manali around 5ish..( as soon as we gathered ourselves we found us surrounded with many more trekkers in the same bus...)
It was a real shock to me...so many girls? that to on a trek? I wonder why are girls brought along in treks. I may sound ‘Sexist’ but I have noticed in last couple of years most of the girls are frankly a pain on treks . They talk/ stand anywhere on the path to take selfies…. And they have the weird habit of spoiling the silence of the mountains…I don’t want to sound like another pseudo trekker but thanks to our Bollywood movies, likes of ‘Jawani Diwani’ which has just popularized this adventure into a commercial trend. Most of the new age wannabe trekkers are a real pain on these treks..I don’t know if people relate with my thoughts...it's a good trend though that now lot of Indians are preferring treks over normal trips...but still isn't it better for these guys to come a little prepared. You can't just take mountains for granted..
That’s why I’ve always preferred a smaller group and preferably of experienced guys, who know when to shut up and listen to mountains...citylife is anyways full of noise , last thing you would want is to have a similar crowd in this wilderness.
After all the uneasiness of overnight bus journey, We finally managed to reach Manali next day morning around 9ish, where we met our group leader Vijay and Jagat RC from GIO team(@gioadventures).
To our surprise even one of our fellow trekkers Gitika too, from a previous trek, joined us on this trek as well…thanks to her got a place to freshen up before heading for this adventure. We started from Manali around 10:30ish ..moved into the trekker /sumo to reach the starting point. The starting point was inside of a reserve forest where one needed to take permits.
Our group was superb this time, most of them were good trekkers...a special mention to Sir and his son…Man, these guys were really good!!!..the fittest of the lot.... they were zooming on those hills, surely it was difficult to beat that speed📷😊.
Our first day started with a fun walk for about 3- 3and a half hours to Chikka campsite.
(Manali (2000m) - Jobra (2707m) - Chikha (3000m) (Drive / 45 mins) ( trek / 2-3 hrs). We saw some really beautiful natural scenery on the first day of our trek. Tall pine trees and towering Himalayan peaks kept us company for the first half of the trek. After a while, we started walking beside a raging river, which had swollen up due to the constant showers. It took us more than the usual hours to reach the first camp site. Our tents were laid out on a lush green meadow. There were waterfalls all around us. It was like being in paradise:-) I have done many treks but every time when I visit Himalayas it astonishes me with its beauty and pulls me away from city to stay there forever.. Next day was a real long walk to ‘Balu ka Gheera’, which was full of adventure and lots of mishaps..starting from Tanisha slipping in the beginning to me later towards the Hampta circle.. which was about 3800 meters from sea level.. I thought mine would have been a minor sprain in my knee which later was diagnosed as a critical ligament tear….somehow we managed to spend the night there.. thanks for the fun people we had in our group…Led by Jagat our guide, his stories about 'Balu ka dera' which really helped in diverting my mind, Mohit and Sir started a rather philosphical discussion on the correct name ..'Baalu' or 'Bhalu'. Shushant was brought out to solve the dead lock but it seemed the cause was lost on him as he somehow rationalized that it's 'Baalu' because clearly there are no 'Bhalus' on sight. Well, we didn’t get the 'Bhaalu' side of the story but we were too tired to care. Night falls and we were around the first and only campfire of the trek(no woods after that). A few of the first timers were a bit tired and of course a bit of fever from fatigue ..but they took in an early dinner and retired. Some of the night birds stayed up to chat away the night..
Next day morning was with a challenge ..there were stones throughout on the way up on an ice glacier (those who found them will understand). This day trek was supposedly bit tricky with two glaciers cross. Me and Addy kept contemplating previous night whether to climb the pass or to head back from there to the base. Believe me, It’s a strange feeling when you are almost there at the top but not touching the final point. That void of unfulfillment was killing me inside. …I knew my knee was hurting badly, I was slipping / limping down while walking...but i still wanted to climb and finish the climb. Next day morning instead of things getting better to my surprise my leg got totally stiff, I wasn’t able to move my knee an inch, for a moment I thought how will I even move down in this condition...rather I may end up fracturing my leg for bad... This was all because of the extreme weather…damn weather was also not helping me this time...first I had swollen leg in subzero degree temperature plus it started from drizzling to heavy shower, which made things impossible for me...what a terrible condition to be in just before completing the trek:-(
I had to push myself this day... else I am sure I would have got stuck in nowhere position, was just praying that I could reach safely at the base without giving up further on my strength, I knew I have to push harder now and drag myself down on one leg...I gathered all my strength to pack my stuff to start climbing down.., I have to really thank Vijay (guide bhayya) specially, these pahaadi chaps are real rockstars..in all sorts of extreme condition too they work like real lifeline...without his support don’t think I would have managed that 18-19km descend plus the heavy pour which was making it more difficult throughout two day journey from Hampta circle to base... I was feeling really bad for Vijay since he wasn't just carrying his bag but mine too, weighing easily 25-30kg plus holding my one hand throughout the journey...for my non trekker friends , believe me, climbing down is tougher than going uphill...plus when you have too much weight on your back..
Few challenges which till date I wonder I managed to cross on my way back like imagine those little streams which we crossed while going up became huge of heavy downpour to cross by then.. uff !!! it was crazyyy.
After 2 days of rigorous walk, we finally managed to reach back at the base where we had to catch our cab to the hotel..wooooww.. what a relief!!! trust me guys, I have learnt a great deal after this trek that never take mountains for granted...rather wonder and request these amature trekkers whom we met while coming down…don’t think you can take Himalayas like any other picnic spot...where you can dope out…or like some girls who were showing tantrums to their guides / support staff to pick up there water bottles/bags/ pack tents while they were enjoying time taking selfies...or few girls who were dressed up like as if they are on a picnic, wearing leather party boots on a terrain like that…or some guys asking for cabs near the pass…strange things... I have not heard such things which still amuses me thinking about how people plans coming to treks!!!!! Treks really make you humble📷😊plus teaches you real deal in life...
I have some take aways from these experiences: • If you can afford to do so, travel with a company that makes an effort to stay current on weather conditions and uses experienced guides who truly know the area and can read different weather patterns. Listen to what they have to say about the conditions. • If you do travel alone or simply hire a porter, read up carefully on freak storms, cloud formations, etc., so you have an idea of what to watch for. Don’t expect our authorities to babysit you, as this will likely not happen. Your safety is in your hands! • Make sure when you pack that you bring sufficient clothes, food and water for extreme weather – items like super gaiters that totally cover your boots; hand, foot and body warmers, such as those used by skiers; a waterproof jacket and pants to cover your clothes and extra gloves, hats and scarves and first aid kit which carry all the essentials.. • Pack your things in plastic bags, and line your duffle and backpack with plastic to keep things from getting soaked. Above all in the cold and at high altitude, you need to be warm and dry. • Don’t overestimate your abilities and try to outrun a Himalayan storm. If you miscalculate, it may cost not just your life, but the life of the porter you hired to go with you!
I am currently strengthening myself to get back to my favorite places in Himalayas, I hope to get better soon and will come out healthier and wiser to overcome nature’s uncertainties…
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