I sat near Terminal 4B, waiting for my flight, which was scheduled at 8:40 p.m. A good four hours. While I watch the world go by, the spirit of Kashmir remains in my thoughts. I sat there thinking about all of the panoramas I’d seen, all of the mountains and valleys I’d gasped at, and all of the lakes that had inspired me and blown my mind (like truly). Everything around me seemed to become more materialistic all of a sudden. It made me realize that we are surrounded by so many things that satisfaction may not be possible to define.
I’m lost in thought when the notification to board my aircraft arrives. I’ll be in Bengaluru in 2.5 hours, returning to the “made” universe where I have a place. But something has shifted within me. Why was I giggling for no apparent reason?
Be Ready for the Trek:
Work was wreaking havoc on my life. It wasn’t despite enlisting for the end-of-week treks in the Western Ghats with the neighbourhood groups that I would leave at 8 a.m. and return at 11 p.m. During this time, I made the decision that I needed to visit the Himalayas! After a great deal of thought, I decided to put my faith in the Kashmir Great Lakes Trek. Obviously, I conducted my own study to see whether it was worthwhile. It went above and beyond anything I could have asked for. Every trekking company, blog piece, and photo screamed at me, “This is the most beautiful trek you will ever do!” So, bummer, get in there! Just in case I’d known what to expect from uneven rides before I went on one.
I signed up for an opening with India Climbs on August 1st. At the same time, news of the assassination of Hizbul psychological oppressor Burhan Wani broke. Individuals flocked to the lanes, time constraints were imposed in Kashmir, and the walk was now stuck in a rut. With Kashmir effectively shut off, all plans are now shrouded in doubt. Trekking continued, albeit in the shadows. I rescheduled my walk from the first to the thirteenth, hoping that things might improve, and then rescheduled it for the 26th of August.
My determination was unwavering. They believe you’re safe once you cross the valley and enter the mountain ranges. Then the unthinkable happened: all of India’s Kashmir treks were cancelled. Obliteration! What am I supposed to do now? Most certainly, I would not want to cancel my plans. Goddamnit!!! I then dialled Trek the Himalayas, a local company. Surprisingly, they were all running the trek at the same time. The expedition was scheduled for August 28th, so I signed up for it on August 26th and booked my travel tickets for August 27th. The surge was just discussed a minute ago! I’d gotten myself back on track.
An early morning flight to Delhi, followed by a hop over aircraft to Srinagar, brought me to my dream destination of Srinagar. Outside, it was pouring. My friends made up for the lost time by arriving 30 minutes early and waiting for me. My belongings were missing the tip cover for the climbing post.
The air terminal had a left-hand slant to it. Because of the hardship in the valley, tourism was at an all-time low. Took a taxi to the Tourist Reception Center, where our transportation to Sonamarg’s base camp was arranged. It was sprinkling, and everything was wet. Shops were closed at each foundation. The Defense Personnel were primarily visible, watching the highways for the goal of making an impression. At this time, I was a little tense. The city was completely destroyed.
With the help of hungry strings, we were able to complete TRC. I’m curious if there’s anything that can be uncovered at this point. One elegant gentleman informed us that there is a small ahead upstairs that appears closed from the outside but is open. I can’t thank the restaurant owners enough for their generosity.
We got a call (the pickup guy) at 3.30 p.m., the vehicle had stopped, and we were on our way to Sonamarg. While en route, we could see the valley in the midst of the worst of the protests, with troops all around, stones strewn about, and trademarks strewn around. Heaven was devouring me. The valley was shrouded in mists, and the Sindh River was gushing down in its full force.
Due to the rain, it is necessary to compel. It was particularly wonderful because there had been a significant storm and the valley had been engulfed in mists.
Sonamarg took us almost 2.5 hours to reach. It was exactly two years ago that I visited and stopped in this lovely town on our way to Leh. With the Thajiwas glacial mass overlooking the town, the campground was situated up perfectly alongside Sindh creek. I’m glad Sonamarg hasn’t lost its lustre yet. At Sonamarg, we have a beautiful campground.
The hike leader and a local guide greeted us. Over some acidic hot soup, they rapidly enumerated the agenda and the do’s and don’ts that we needed to follow. In any case, the constant downpours were even more frightening. The stress lines on everyone’s temples are now visible. The lights were turned off ahead of schedule.
Raindrops smashed against our tents as I awoke. In any case, I’d like to wish you a warm Aloha! It quickly passed us by, leaving us with the bright sky and spectacular views to enjoy while we ate breakfast. The importance of owning a poncho was stressed. So we proceeded to town to get the permits and ponchos for the trek.
Things were confusing as a result of the lack of phone arrangements. We decided to carry on without them and just hold up a few people ahead of us at the summit. It took them three long hours to get back. After a beautiful collecting shot, we’re off.
“Where are my shades?” I inquired, concerned. Nope, I’ve thrown them away. I drove along the road looking for them, but they were undoubtedly lifted up by someone. Those were brand new out of the package, but they passed my eyes with ease. My second sacrificial offering. Today, we were strolling towards the Nichnai campground. It was all about going up from the beginning! The course is a complete shock. It was shady, making it an ideal location for a downpour hike. Come to Shekdur for a tasty, cool lunch surrounded by lush trees. Our ascent has continued, and we now have even more incredible views!
The campground was very stunning. There were no clouds in the sky. However, it was really mushy. Thajiwas ice sheet provided a new and exciting perspective. We sat about, took a few photos of rainbows, and had some great hot tea and soup. The resting bags were really comfy, and I was ready to nap as soon as I slipped in. I awoke in the middle of the night to never-ending downpours. It made me anxious in the morning.
We awoke in a tent full of rainwater. The water seeped into the tent and formed a puddle near the entrance. It wasn’t a pretty sight when my sleeping bag got soaked and I had to get my pack and belongings away. To begin, we’ll take a dip in the trek’s pool, which is conveniently located within our tent! The sky was clear outside. It’s a great day to get started early.
Due to the early camping that we needed to set up yesterday, we needed to do roughly 16-17 kilometres today. We started up the underlying route, and then it was just a simple stroll through some dense Cedar and Birch trees. We emerge from the bushes and embark on a rocky path.
