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