A Winter Trek where the Heavens Showered Snow

I have a story to tell but I fail to put into words.

It all started when I was planning a trip at the time of New Year, when a story popped up on Instagram about Deorital-Chandrashila winter trek by One in the Orange Jacket. I then and there decided that I will welcome this New Year on the snowy mountains.

I remember from the beginning when I found myself sitting with a bunch of strangers in a traveller at 6 o'clock in the morning. We were headed to Sari (Base Camp) from Rishikesh. It was a 6 hour drive along the winding roads amidst the valley of Ganges and its tributaries. I was exhausted initially by the complete journey from home to base camp but was excited soon by the level of happiness and energy of the group trippers.

We were all very excited for the trek and hoped to see a good amount of snow, as that's the highlight of any winter trek.

Even though most of the people had introduced themselves during the drive, we had an introduction and briefing session after reaching our campsite. This was the beginning of all the craziness, happiness and the memories. For me rather I guess for all 14 of us, the night at Sari was the start for an unforgettable trip with a Connect!

I am writing this after 5 months post the trip, but I can remember all the memories vividly. Such were the vibes all around. The group had everything from first time trekkers who were nervous, some were experienced travellers who were relaxed. There were old friends who came together, or some who just wanted some sole time and respite from the humdrums of the city. While others wanted to witness their first snowfall. And finally all of us wanted to reach the summit on a bed of snow and live in that moment and just be happy. (I can hear Connect  ... Connect!!)

And heavens got a plan to make it a dreamy fairytale too, so it was after our first day we saw the sun shining to our faces only when we reached back to Rishikesh. Yes!! It was snowing all the 4 days.

We all have seen, played and trekked in unknown trails in a continuous snowfall. Walking through the forest, in between snow capped mountains, playing snow fights we reached the mesmerising Deorital. (according to ancient Hindu mythology, it is also believed that it was the place from where the mighty Pandavas were asked queries by Yaksha). The lake blessed us with miraculous reflections. It was the first time I witnessed a tent collapse due to continuous snowfall. But all rest assured, the camp owners provided us with some fire and the game night started with the same zeal and enthusiasm with a hope that skies are going to be clear tomorrow.

As I woke up next morning, it was a clear sky with sun rising in between the mountains. The Himalayas, one of the tallest and most beautiful ranges in the world looked even more magnificent in person. The blue sky white fluffy clouds, the huge mountains and the lush blanket of snow around me made me feel like I am in a pristine snowy paradise.

The things about the winter treks are that although snow gives us happiness and blessing but also brings with it challenges to trek further on the route. But we all have our passionate trek leader Vyshakh who knows things closely enough so that he calmly made all possible alternate measures possible to reach the further part of the treks. It was us who wanted to keep going but it was his passion that kept all the possible alternatives so that we don’t lose any of this experience.

It snowed all day, all night and was still snowing on the final day. Reaching the summit was out of question due to the neck full level of fresh snow. We all started and decided to go up to the maximum possible stretch. This was the dreamiest and fun-filled day of the trek for me. All the trails had been buried under the loads of snow. You just have to be there to feel that joy which was evident in all our faces. Some of the sights seemed straight from dreamland.

It had been altogether a completely different sort of experience. It was a winter trek where the heavens blessed us with snow and the like-minded group of individuals reveled in the showers. This trip had it all from passion, to complexities, to enjoyment and finally the sense of fulfilment that comes with completion. Everyone was contributing to the happiness and memories in their own way, and before we realised we were a group of crazy 14 people dancing on the streets and fooling around. I consider my life as a book, and each trip story as one chapter but this one trip has given me fourteen different stories altogether. It will not be fair if I am not naming some of the stories, so let’s name the first one as the girl with missing bag, crazy people who love to fire the woods, Mafia- remember the name, four silent killers and the boy who was unheard for 30sec!!

 

A few days in the mountains with crazy people and you ought to return with loads of memories and worthwhile experiences. We smiled, laughed at all times irrespective of the situations. The path may be challenging but you have to enjoy it, love the trails because in the shivering snowy night of January in Himalayas under the camps, you cannot survive without your own determination and the warmth of human association that you form with your group making friends hopefully for life.

 

The best part of travel, and in particular treks, is that you start alone, but come back with a bunch of good friends who do not say regular farewell but rather say , “हम तो फ़क़ीर हैं, झोला उठाएँगे और निकल पड़ेंगे “  to See you In the Mountains.!