Wednesday, 1 February 2017

Finally I reached the Chandrashila peak which is at 3500 mts on the Shivaliks on the day of 31st January 2015 at 9:00 am.



Shivaliks are known as lower range of Himalayas which is told by our Guide Umesh Bhai.




My most awaited lovely adventurous amazing first Himalayan trek experience........


Day 1: We all gathered at 6:30 am at Haridwar railway station and started to Sari village which is an 8hr drive. Sari village at 6500 feet where our trek leader Karthik met us and the briefing is done.
After an hour drive we (Aditya, Sagar, Latha,Srinica and me) stopped at Dhaba to have yummy breakfast with a lovely introduction of everyone.
After the ok types breakfast on the way to sari, not rapport building driver but he showed us Rudraprayag (Alakananda and Mandakini sangam) and Devaprayag (Alakananda and Bhagirathi sangam). Bhaghirathi is rough river, Mandakini is very silent :D . I also got to to know that Rishikesh is known for most adventurous activities. 
Our journey continued with our lovely jokes,knowing each other's hidden talents, admiring picturesque mountains rivers etc,. Had yummy lunch at beautiful Dhaba :) and our drive started.
There comes beautiful snow mountains. The moment I saw them I just calmed myself for a minute and felt "Can I reach there" can't take away my eye from the mountains at all.
Phenomenal reflection which cheated us to take photos :D
 Reached Sari at 6:30 pm, 30 humans introduction, BP and oxymeter check, yummy snacks and hot drink followed by dinner and comfortable sleep at the house which is the last time we stayed during the trek.
Chopta from Sari
Day 2:  After yummy breakfast, body warming hot drinks, briefing about how to carry backpacks, how to use trek poles our trek started to Deriotal Lake which is 2kms. Started at 9:30 am.
On the way so beautiful nature snow mountains surrounded by green mountains, mountain goats, A goat feeding her baby, different trees, just watching the target and go on, waiting for all the trekkers to be together......a cool experience.

Halfway through everyone stopped and our guide Umesh Bhai was telling about the peaks that we see from a distance.
Chaukamba 7000+mts

After everyone click the photos and enjoy the nature carry on for another km trek to reach the lake everyone in their own pace.
Reached lake at 12:30 pm which is our first campsite at 2500 mts. I'm stunned to see the nature...a beautiful lake surrounded by snow mountains, bird sounds, orange tents.... go on clicking the pictures. Though my husband didn't like,I can't stop myself taking pictures, not for fb nor Whatsapp, it's for myself, this is my lifetime dream.
Pandavas came in search of water where Dharmaraja had to answer 5 questions asked by Yakha before drinking water to rervive his brothers lives and the history goes on......
Chaukamba reflection in Deriotal lake
But I realized I'm so lucky as this happens to be my First Himalayan Trek because every campsite amazing history of India, beautiful scenery, the only trek which includes forest and snow mountains. I felt this is my Destiny. 

Day 3: Hats off to the helpers who are carrying our backpacks which is the only income to them and the cooks who could arrange the food to us on time. 
After oxymeter check 8kms trek started to next campsite Rohini Bugiyal which is at 8800 feet. While starting I realized water and sleep are the best medicines to human body. Started at 9:00 am and reached campsite at 2:20 pm where we are supposed to reach at 2:45 pm, I felt I'm doing good :D 
On the way at 8200 feet we saw Himalayan Griffins, wowwww wowwww how majestic they are. We were all taking pictures and seeing their beauty in gliding for an hour,6 of them. Thanks to them for entertaining us. Thanks to God for giving us such a wonderful experience. Snowy meadows, a small Himalayan water stream, though we are coming through the forest,the temperature is 1 degree, enjoyed every moment of the trek.


After reaching the campsite, another admiring experience to me that I couldn't take off my eyes from the mountains. On one side snowy meadows and on the other side beautiful wide and high range of mountains,in the middle orange tents,very scenic. What a beauty....I sat down for 5 mins just looking at the mountains.This is the real beauty.
At campsite it was very sunny but within 2 hrs we had to put on our warmers, temperature was -1, everyone was just admiring the lofty peaks all around the meadow.,hahaha. All the boys were playing cricket in that temperature, clicking so may pictures and admiring golden mountains during sunset. Most of us grabbed food like refugees for every meal hehehe, always take more liquids, oxymeter checks, loads of knowledge from the trekkers, inspiring stories etc,. :)
Had a beautiful discussion with 3 guys (Ninadh,Kedar,Koustubh) who does Sahyadri explorations every weekend who has amazing trek experience, enjoyed speaking to them.From then on started calling them "Sahyadri Explorers" :)
Sunset at 8800 feet
Day 4: This day especially we're warned to take more water and be more careful as the ascent is more and nearing to the negative temperatures, take Dimox (which keeps us away from AMS Acute Moutain Sickness) tablets etc,.
After yummy breakfast,with well known trek mates, with lovely friends (Latha and Srinica) started trekking to Chopta which is at 11000 feet. 7kms trek and our last camp site.
Started at 9:10 am, today during the trek I jumped a lot with whole lot of confidence, beautiful meadows on the way, scenic views, lot of knowledge from our guide, a beautiful story about Pancha Kedar, clicking so many pictures, too much of running in the trail :D , so many selfies :) on the way Akashkamini river, guide clicking admirable nature pics, half a km was paved road trek which no one liked, finally to Chopta village at 2:10 pm where the temperature was 5 :)
Akashkamini at 10,000 feet
After the welcome drink and good chitchat with friends,suddenly I got headache and just slept in the tent,didn't have dinner, couldn't write my day experience also. Our trek leader warned me that why I didn't tell him. We're supposed to wake up at 2:00 am to reach the summit and enjoy the sunrise. I was just telling myself that I should be fine and I should reach the peak :)

Day 5: I'm all fine by 1:30 am, woke up with lot of excitement and confidence that I will reach the summit. Temperature was -5, no brushing hehe, yet finished breakfast,hehehe, herbal tea cleansed my mouth :P , so many warnings by our trek leader to take care of ourselves, 2 of our trek mates had to stay back at Chopta coz of AMS. 
Started trekking at 4:10 am with our head lamps ON and slowly walking...... suddenly I had severe stomach pain, I felt God has taken away all my pride, I had pain throughout the trek. Yet I was strong mentally to reach the summit.
I was suffering and walking, but very thanks to my trek mates, good friends (Amit, Aman, Bhargav,Neeraj) who helped me through out the trek, taking care of me that how I am, giving water, giving required medicines etc,.very thank full to them.
Our trek leader instructed first 6 people to push them fast so that at least they don't miss out on beautiful sunrise.
We 5 in the middle, neither first,nor last, though they could walk little fast, they are with me helping me. Mountains and trekking teach real humanity. Just walk along, at one point of time we felt are we in the right path.....
We got to know that first 6 people reached the peak by 6:45 am where they could lot of snaps of beautiful sunrise of golden mountains.....incredible.
But we on the way enjoyed the sunrise too, each sun ray falling on the mountains and a hope that we could see natural light which helps us reach the summit :), I couldn't take much pics this day coz of terrible pain.
Tunganath, the highest Shiva Temple at 11500 feet reached at 8:00am, our trek leader waiting for us and pushing us to summit. The last 1km to the summit is vertical like 80 degrees.
Finally we managed to reach The Chandrashila peak which is at 3500 mts and 5kms trek at 9:00 am
When I was just about to reach the peak in 10 mins, my Husband came and helped me reach the peak, after reaching the peak, that moment I really forgot my pain,I was just enjoying,indulge in the mountains but yes by the time we reached, all the mountains are covered with clouds where we couldn't see The peaks Chaukamba(7000+ mts,3 peaks), NandaDevi(8000+mts),Kedar Dome etc,.Temperature was -8
On the summit shouting, jumping, group pic, worst breakfast and started descent at 9:20 am. Throughout the descent I was so happy to be with my husband,sharing the experience. Reached the campsite Chopta by 12:20 pm. 
But in this trail, I'm frustrated to see so much plastic. I felt why people don't feel responsible. I collected as much garbage as I can. I felt to collect this garbage I have to do this trek once again. Tons of plastic..... :( so sad to see this, mountains loosing their beauty because of irresponsible humans.
After reaching the campsite, I just wanted to jump all the time though I had stomach pain, priceless happiness :D , we both are awarded with "Green Trails Badge", everyone with the completion certificates, excited all the day, games, fun, New Year cake cutting, admiring,eye catching Milky way in all the campsites, recollecting lovely memories, lovely beautiful amazing inspiring adventurous friends,unforgettable moments, lot many pics now till evening :D
Sunrise on 31st 2016
 
Sunrise on 1/1/2017 from Chopta

A best New Year of mine in the mountains..........

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