Every budding trekker wishes to stretch himself to the limits he has never explored. After Kashmir Great Lakes i was kind of over the seven stars thinking what can't I do next, when one day while i was sipping coffee in my office cafe my friend asked me if i have done Goechala Trek. I said "No, where is it". He said "it's in Sikkim and its considered one the mostly challenging trek if you don't follow the regular itinerary".
Truthfully speaking i was inspired by the photos but was intimidated by the challenge of doing this trek in 5 days where as the regular itinerary finishes this trek in 10 days.
I took up the challenge without knowing what was i getting myself into and this is when my journey of exploring Sikkim started.
Again, truthfully speaking, i couldn't finish this trek in 5 days in my first attempt but did it in my fourth attempt. My constant attempts of uplifting my fitness levels and endeavors were exhausting. I said to myself If I don't do this in my first attempt, I am not coming back. Also, I said the same thing on my second & third attempt and finally felt satisfied with my fourth attempt.
I was very happy when I was walking through the trek to amrita and explaining the strategies of guiding a trek here in the next fall. I said to her that the first part of my trek was just 16km but I felt like I was climbing Kudremukh for the third time in a day. Its constant inclination sometimes breaks your spirit but that's not the worst part, once you reach Tshoka, there is no view apart from the distance you have traveled and valley you have crossed.
The view appears on the second day when you are at Dzongri Top. You could see almost all tall mountains, the whole valley you have just crossed and the valley you are going to cross. Still even from here you don't see Mt Kanchenjunga, he is hiding behind the mountain close to me, asking me to cross the next threshold before he could show himself and all other high mountains seems like making a den for me to reach the epicenter of the view.
Frankly speaking, it is not recommended to do this trek without a day of acclimatization but I just finished Sandakphu Trek and my Mountaineering course, So I believed I was good to go.
I started early on my third day of Goechala Trek and descended to Kockchurang and reached Thansing. I was only half way when my knees started hurting from the intensive descent of Kockchurang and also the thought made me terrified that I have to climbing back the same route to Dzongri Top tomorrow.
Took a small break and continued my trek to Lamuney. It was almost noon when I reach Samiti Lake, relaxed for a bit and prepared myself to the final destination - The Goechala First view point. Once I reached my destination, I felt like I am kneeling with my folded hand in front of a giant Gini asking for my wishes to come true. The Gini was none other than holy Mt Kanchenjunga, standing tall gazing into my eyes and giving his blessings.
I collected all the treasures I could from the view and return with a hanger in my mouth smile. I was very happy like the happiest child who gets the first ice cream in a group. I told myself i succeeded but the trek broke my ego. It made me more humble and I realized I should never over estimate my qualities because how high you grow, there is always something which will make you work harder than ever you tried.
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