Trek begins - Day 3 Sankri to Juda Talao

May 25th - Beginning of the strenuous trek. As usual the group was up by 5:00 AM - tea and exercises followed by breakfast. Went back to the tents and collected the trekking rucksack and backpacks. Need to mention that YHAI provides a basic rucksack for the ones who don't have one. Most in the group opted for that. Some of, having had the experience and a trekking backpack took ours. They also provided a cloth lining for the sleeping bags, a fresh one. This has to be carried with us and used at all campsites. We were given a great send-off by the instructors and office staff at the campsite and the long walk started. Being first day and with warm temperatures, the first hour was strenuous. First day, we were told, is all ascent - 6000 ft, Sankri Base camp to 8000+ ft Juda Talao. We were accompanied by a trekking guide who patiently waited for the last one at every stop. We had to stop every 15 mins or so to catch our breath and have some water before we could take our next step.

Photos: Steep ascent and group taking rest

Photos: One of the many water streams during the trek - our water source and locals taking essentials to the villages on the mountains using cows and bulls.

Photos: Lunch point, group relaxing and Tea served by the locals

Talking about the views - it was  breathtaking! We saw quite a few of the Himalayan peaks coming closer as we conquered the first day. Swargarohini, is supposed to be a famous peak and that's the one we tracked throughout the first few days of the trek.

Coming back to the trek, we reached the lunch point around 1:00 PM. The lunch point is always fixed - the locals serve packed juice and hot maggi at all lunch points, accompanied by hot tea. YHAI provides packed lunch - rotis and potato sabji everyday. Trekkers who need a change typically order maggi at the lunch point - prices always at a premium, but certainly a change instead of the daily rotis and potato.

One of the clear instructions to us was not to take a nap in the afternoon. Apparently if you are catching mountain sickness, you get very sleepy and that affects your body. After a tiresome walk and a great lunch on the first day, we relaxed under the shade of trees - talking, laughing and taking a dig at each other.

We left the lunch point around 2:30 and a short walk took us to the entrance of the next camp - Juda Talao. The camp leader came down to greet us and take us up the last climb - close to 60 degrees steep climb and when we reached the camp, the sight was awesome!!! The tents followed by a lake and the Himalayan peaks looming all around :-) A sight to cherish! Dumped my bags and spent a couple of hours taking photos near the lake! We also celebrated Rajesh's birthday at the camp with a cake made by the cook :-)

Photos: Different views of the camp site and the lake

Photos: Night view of the camp site and Dragon fly at the lake

Photos: A bird relaxing at the pond and Rajesh's b'day celebrations

This place was a great camp site for many reasons:

1) Just awesome to be in the midst of thick forest and mountains all around with a lake nearby

2) Excellent place for photography - great opportunity - check out the next day experience for one more great experience

3) The place somehow makes you feel at peace.

As usual, 10:00 lights went out - since it was almost a full moon, took a few shots in the night just using the moonlight. Back to Bangalore today, I miss that place! Sigh!!!

Kedarkanth trek - Day 2 / Acclimatisation

Day started off with exercises to get our body and mind adjusted to the weather and heights. The base camp is @ 6000 ft and it was essential for this acclimatisation process to start here. Jogging, followed by core exercises were completed and the group came back for breakfast. After that, we all packed our ruck sacks / backpacks for a short trek and rappelling.

First stop at the rappelling point, we were given instructions about rappelling and the instructors did a demo. Then one by one we all completed rappelling down a 55 ft cliff. Once that was done, a short trek uphill followed by a descent was done and we returned back to the camp for lunch.

Photo: Field Director Shravan Kumar Sharma giving instructions to the group on rappelling.

Post lunch, we segregated our belongings into two backpacks / bags. One for the trek and one to leave @ the base camp. By the time we got that sorted out, it was evening and we were ready for the tea and dinner routine.

Around the same time, the batch that left on 15th May - 40+ students from a college in Mumbai had returned. So the dinner time we had more people in the camp. Additionally 7 more people reported for their trek starting from 24th. Since that was a small group, they were merged into ours, making ours 28. Their acclimatisation was quickly done by an evening trek and they joined us for dinner and intro later.

The group that just returned warned us that the first trek will be the most difficult. With that in mind and the excitement of starting the trek, lights went out @ 10:00 PM :-)

Photos from day 2:
Acclimatisation & rappelling photos

Kedarkanth trek - Dehradun to Sankri

YHAI had provided stay @ a Dharamsala and by dinner time I realised I did not have space to crash. Only one room was left, without electricity and any other facilities. So I informed the director and took a room outside. We were asked to be up and ready by 5:00 - get some breakfast, pack our lunch and leave by 5:30.

Morning I reached the Dharamsala and the gates were locked. With 2 backpacks weighing me down, the wait was endless. Luckily my co-trekker Niraj showed up :-). He called up the director and the watchman showed up - eyed us suspiciously and opened the gates after we convinced him that we are not thieves :-).

Earlier, the night before more people joined the group. Originally the batch for 22nd just had 15 people. Like myself, others from later groups (23rd and 24th) added and we were 21 people that morning.

So when we reached Dharamsala, hot breakfast was ready. Oily pooris were a bit too much for me and hence I had a large quote of hot hot Dalia. It was simple, yet wonderful food. With breakfast sorted out, packed some pooris and bhendi in my box for lunch. Slowly rest of the group started streaming in for breakfast, welcoming each other.

By that time, we also realised that the 5:30 estimated departure may not happen. There was still some confusion about the bus and the final confirmation came for 7:00am departure. Since we had some time, Madam Gopi, one of the Volunteer camp leaders and an avid trekker from Karnataka got us together for an informal briefing and intro. At last, I got to know the gang for this trek. It was a mix of all ages starting from 3 kids around 13 yrs to 3 senior citizens. Madam Gopi took us through the dos and donts in these treks and safety tips. We all streamed towards the bus, myself and another guy got to the top and piled all our backpacks. The helper tied them down with a tarpaulin sheet and we were all set.

Officially, the trek started on the morning of 23rd May with a bus ride to the base camp @ Sankri. Close to 175 KMs from Dehradun to Sankri. Being a local bus and we were only 21 people, the bus stopped almost every 2 KMs to pick up or drop-off the locals. Winding roads, some 10+ mountains to cross, the total journey took 10 hours! Added to this, for someone tall like me, the seats are very uncomfortable. The bus stopped for breakfast, lunch and few times for tea on the way. The last hour, the trekkers were the only ones in the bus. After a quick stop @ the forest check post for entry fees, we finally arrived at our destination @ Base Camp Sankri - time was 5:30 PM Sunday, May 23rd !

All the tiredness from the travel vanished with the breathtaking views waiting for us. The camp was located in the middle of potato fields. First level was the reception and office, 2nd level dinner area and the last two levels were the tents.

The evening went in formalities, collecting our sleeping bags and other essentials. Mr. Shravan Kumar Sharma - Field Director, YHAI Kedarkanth trek, briefed on the schedule and we dispersed to our tents. One thing was common in this trek, that's the schedule. 5:00 AM Wake up, 5:30 tea, 7:00 AM breakfast, then proceed to the activities. If at the camp, 1-2pm lunch, 5:30 PM tea, 6:30 Soup, 7:30 PM dinner and by 10:00 PM lights out. This schedule was religiously followed (and enforced). Looking back, I feel this strict schedule helped us accomplish all the challenges thrown at us during this trek.

After a hot soup, I went to  the Sankri village (half km by walk) to buy sandals and poncho. I needed a size 10 and the last available size was 7 - shops stock for the locals and it was rare for them to need a larger size. Left with no choice, I picked up the size 7.

Came back for dinner and we all gathered for a formal introduction. The instructors, office staff, field director and the trekking group got to know about each other. Campfire (just a basket with lights) is a ritual, lighted by our group leader and the trek was officially kicked off :-)! 10:00 PM lights out!

Photos here @
Base camp @ Sankri photos

Trek to Kedarkanth (YHAI)

Finally, after 2 years of hesitation, work pressure and various other factors, I decided to take a plunge to one of the best rated treks. Youth Hostels Association of India (http://yhaindia.org) arranges trekking expedition every year to multiple places, especially in the Himalayan ranges.

I joined the Kedarkanth (not kedarNATH) trek and managed to take 14 days time off from work. Reported at the starting address today and met up with the camp director. Since i am a couple of days early from my actual starting date, they have agreed to let me join the group that starts today. As of now, I know there are 13 of us - names, will be able to recollect for the blog as days go by.

For more information on the trek program, refer to this URL.
http://yhaindia.org/files/adv_programs/description/kedar.html

For today, just the introduction to all members - all from different places in India. Had dinner with most of them - sumptuous dinner prepared by the YHAI employees. Need to take good rest tonight - have a 8 hour (175 kms) bus ride to the base camp @ Sankri. Though the distance is less, being a local bus, apparently the bus stops for everyone and anyone who waves at it. Have to ask the locals to tie down their hands, if they don't have any intention of taking that bus tomorrow :-)

Until i get network connectivity, Adios for now :-)

I feel betrayed!

I feel betrayed! - That is how I can sum up my emotions on the current controversies hitting cricket.

I am one among the millions of cricket fans in India - not a fanatic, just a lover of good cricket. I like to stand up and applaud a match winning score by a tailender or when Sachin hits 200 to rewrite the record books, once more. I just love clean cricket, free of unwanted controversies like Harbhajan vs Andrew Symonds. I felt angry when Harbhajan slapped Sreesanth live on cameras.

But what is coming out in the media is just appalling. Call it media hype or "trial by media", but the muck coming out of IPL is just unfortunate. A bunch of businessmen decided to exploit the emotions of millions of fans like me. A number of them pay a day's salary to watch a match live in stadiums. Some buy colour TVs just because India is in the Semis of world cup. Some stand in line, hours, to get a ticket that will give a glimpse of their favorite player. All of that stands exploited right now.

IPL came up with the concept of cities owning teams. Sachin getting out and the stadium goes into a frenzy! - in India, that was never imaginable before IPL. Such is the extent of the love for this game, that the little master is not above the fan's passion for his / her team!

What have we got back - Sleazy deals, money laundering, under the table agreements and perfectly smiling politicians saying "We do not have any stake in IPL" (except their relatives & friend's benefit from the businesses surrounding IPL).

All those irritating ads that doesn't even allow you to see a replay of a wicket that just fell, hours of game analysis, stupid strategies suggested by the non-playing "captains" of what we called as commentators - I was ready to bear all that, all for the love of this game.

I feel betrayed!

One of the owners said recently - "A group of *like* minded people came together and decided to buy a stake in IPL teams". I would like to rephrase the "Like Minded" to money minded. A bunch of money minded people decided that by owning a team in IPL, they can own the game. They decided to exploit the "passion of the nation" for their own profits.

Players are pure entertainers.
IPL promised to entertain the country - combination of fast paced game, music and celebrities - all in 4 hours.
IPL promised to build the budding entertainers from the host cities. A dream for so many players who may or may not make it to the national team to play with the likes of Zaheer, Kumble, Dravid, Ganguly and the list goes.
IPL promised a platform to bring out the talent in many. For many of them (except a handful from the current national team), getting a national cap is the ultimate achievement.

And IPL promised all of that.

Today, I don't know what is real - every six that is hit, mis-field yielding crucial runs, wicket taken at a critical juncture, mix-up leading to a run out, injuries and what not - have they been decided out side the field? Are the players mere entertainers, enacting the script they have been given. The thin line between Cine celebrities and Players, has it blurred? Did someone think that actors cannot become players, but the reverse is possible?

I don't know what to believe, but I feel exploited!

So what can we do?
Don't shy way from the game. Somewhere, in some corner, the game is still pure, in its original form. Continue to watch the game, but don't pay money to see IPL. No feeding into the millions of revenue that is a part of the forecast - no believing Abhishek Bachan's calls for "Ungli Cricket".

History has taught us a few lessons - when the common man starts questioning the system, it leads to a revolution. Be a part of the revolution that will clean this muck. Let the men who wants to run this game, understand that there is no price for the passion of a fan - it cannot be bid and won. Lets stand up!

Until that happens, I will feel betrayed!!!