My bad habit is, I’m searching the trails and blogs most of the time and throughout the year. After many plans having been made and discarded, I finally took a stop in Kedarkantha. The pictures of Kedarkantha always fascinated me. A couple from my friend-list also joined me and time proves it was a blessing.
We blocked our tickets to Delhi & the buses for Delhi-Dehradun-Delhi, coz the rail tracks blocked during the time for heavy snowfall. Before that, we booked our seats in a Trekking group, can’t say to choose them was our bad decision because we get a few nice souls during the trail.
Day 1, On 05.02.2020: we meet at Dumdum airport our journey started with lots of hope and doubts. From the Delhi airport, we took a cab for the Kashmiri gate to catch the bus for Dehradun. The bus-journey was good until they dropped us in Dehradun ISBT stand on a chilling night at 5 am.
Day 2, 06.02.2020- Dehradun-Sankri:
After waiting for 2hrs, at 7 am our Tempo-traveler reached, and we grasp our seats. After all the fellow travelers came, we started our journey to Sankri. The network becoming disappear and I feel more relaxed. The road was very scenic. We stopped at the shop to have our breakfast and stopped again after 2hrs for tea. At 3.30 pm we reached Sankri. Dropped the rucksacks in the allotted rooms, we get fresh and rush out to stroll this small busy village. Met with many people, few are going for the same destination with another group, some are already completed their summit and taking rest, they shared their experience n suggestions too. After having hot magi, we strolled the nearby and back to the hotel. The sunset time was very good. Handover the papers to the guide and completed the checking procedure of Oxygen-level, heartbeat, blood pressure we finished our dinner and sleep.
Day 3, 07.02.2020- Sankri – Juda Ka Talab:
After having chaye with alu paratha pickle we take our rented gears (Spikers & gaiters) and started our first day of the trek. Few are rented ponchos, waterproof shoes, trekking polls also for them. I already collected these items from the last few years. The Trek started after 5mins from the village, and all of a sudden you will find yourself in a beautiful pine forest that welcomes sunlight throughout the day. It's a 4-5 hours hike today, but not at all challenging. You will find yourself surrounded by knee-deep snow and you'll have to zigzag your way as same.
After walking for 2hrs we reached a tea stall where we had tea and fix the spikers in our shoes. After a few climbs, we reached Juda ka Talab, our first stopover for the night. Incredible is an understatement for the views there. The camp was set up at a place with huge snow-capped mountains guarding us, our first campsite. A minor change in altitude can do you wonders.
Day 4, 08.02.2020- Juda ka Talab – KK Base Camp:
Today is going to be an exciting day. ‘Trail is easy, distance is short’ Aisa Guide ne bola tha. Don’t believe in their words. we started our uphill walk after finished the breakfast. The snow-covered path makes the journey a bit tricky and difficult. The chill air freezing the face sometimes. Entire trail the picturesque background cheers up all the time. We were busy in snapping and our trek lead was urging us to “Keep moving”, promising that the views will only get better. And he was right!
The mesmerizing view of Kalanag, Swargarohini Peak & Bandarpooch followed us all the trail and healed our all pain and exhaustion. After a few uphill climbs, we see our campsite. Colorful tents over the snow like a valley of foams. The mountain guarded campsite. But the most important thing we noticed a huge white mountain hanging like canvas. The peak wasn’t sharp, it was round and looks like heaven. We back to the real world when our guide said, today midnight we will go to that peak, that's our summit. They placed a few mats for us in the open space and we spent most of our time there. you’ve got the best seats in the world waiting for you at your base camp. The best seats in the Himalayas. Of all the treks I have been on, I’ve never seen such an incredible campsite.
Day 5, 09.02.2020- The summit Day-
As per last night's instruction we all wake up at 2.30 am, get ready with our gears. Our headlamps going to use today. Dalia boiled with milk n dry fruits our today's breakfast and no one skipped. We started our journey at 3.15 am, on a full-moon night. Sometimes I felt to turn off my headlamp and walk in the trail with the moon’s light. In -17°c, the valley flooded with moonlight and we were are trying to take the steps faster. Chilling weather and we were taking breath faster and the legs were losing strength.
Suddenly we saw a small tea shop whose roof was covered with snow, a small lamp blinking inside. We took a stop (the bad decision ever) and had tea. We started again and the surroundings became lighter, we were almost close to sunrise.
A light orange shade appeared, and we were in a hurry to reach the summit before he wakes up. The summit climb was a challenge. But with the help of our trek lead and of course each other, we made it to the summit.
Well, I had Goosebumps. I couldn’t speak for some time. The sun rises and I don’t want to blink my eyes. Standing up in a snow-capped mountain, where Lord Shiva had first chosen to meditate. I do not know; I do not want to know. I was there, the moment was the reward.
I took some snaps also but what my eye received is priceless. After spending much time our local guide asked us to get ready to return. ‘jis raste se aye the waha se nehi slide karte huye jayenge’. At that time, we didn’t understand the real meaning until we stand at the sloping point.
The guide sloped downwards, and I followed him and then my fellows. It was then like an addiction. Rest of the trail we were truly searched for the scopes to slope somehow. The snow-covered trails towards KK Base camp were nice though the downhill walk was tough somewhere. At 11 am we reached our camp had tea and early lunch. Today we will go to Juda ka talab again through downhill but in relax mode. When we reached Talab it was crowded with more quantity of snow we found.
Day6, 10.02.20- Juda Ka Talab – Sankri:
It’s a relaxing morning, our guide already informed us that we will start our journey after breakfast, at 11 am. We just passed the time over snow-mat with the attitude of Teesmaar Kahn’, yessss, we completed the summit. After two rounds of tea (I grasped the tea from unknown team also) & a heavy breakfast we started our journey.
We were thinking today that, we will sleep in bed with a blanket. The downhill walks sometimes tougher than uphill, especially when the path covered with snow. At one point, at a tea shop, we free our shoes from spikes (the muddy path will start from there) and walk again. The path wasn’t good, very muddy & slippery. Finally, we reached the spot where we started our journey. We took snaps and shouted so much, patted our own shoulder. WE HAVE DONE IT.
Patel bhai, Mihir bhai, Subhasish, Parmita, Nitu, Puja, Sunny, Avro, Anuj, Lakshya and the local guy Manveer, without your presence the completion of trek was impossible and this post become incomplete as same..stay blessed :)
Rests are as usual and then the time comes to back to square.