Triund-Indrahar pass- March 2011

The mersmerising Triund view

A Monday holiday, is heaven sent. Friday evening packed by knap-sack and alone I set off for the Dhauladhar snow line. The ordinary HPTDC bus started off on time but at Majni ka Tila the driver went looking for his majnu it seems, took forever. I tried reading a book but the drive was far from reading friendly and so I gave in to the gossip that accompanies the bus rides. The odd angle of sitting/sleeping allowed no reprieve either.

Looking up to Indrahar

The morning tea stop was with a view of the hills and the excitement built up, soon enough we were in Dharamshala. The ticket and the board on the bus specified that the bus ended here, but the driver continued and voila-we were in McLeodganj. WOW. Got off the bus, tied my sleeping bag on my knap sack and trudged along till Dharamkot, the walk set my limbs free and got the blood circulating again. Enroute I saw a old Volkswagen van with EU numberplates and clothes lines tied from its roof to the surrounding trees. Clothes drying. Love the spirit of these travelers


. Reached Himalayan tea cafe, enjoyed my cuppa and omlette and Anil, my local contact appeared. We were both ready to get footloose in Himalayas. The trail was an easy ascend early on with good pine cover. By the time we reached Gallu a few ten min's lter the rain started pouring. Ponchos out, bags water cover out and on we march. Rest a while- the name of the dhaba, makes u rest a while, u cannot ignore such a name and walk on, especially when it offers a small respite from the cats and dogs heavens are pouring on your blessed soul. After the rain we started again, the going was fairly comfortable and soon we were at Triund.
As soon as I reached there, it was as if the scenario opened up and the peaks seemed in touching distance. Sat there mersmerised for some time and painfully missed my beloved wife.




 We carried on till Ilaqa glacier absorbing the views. As soon as we started pitching the tent, torrents of rain and hail slammed down and we decided to shift base to Triund. The storm went on howling and screaming. We set up the tent but turned up in the solitary dhaba there, spent the night on his floor.

Reflections

The next morning greeted us with complete white-out. Snow everywhere, we rushed to Ilaqa and by there it was more than knee deep. Snow plodding continued till we were almost at Lahesh caves, but as the weather gods seemed to displeased with us and scared us, we scurried and scampered back to Ilaqa.

Careful, we leave footsteps when we tread

Next day we started lazy, abandoned the Indrahar pass idea and beat a retreat, took a different route that opened up at Bhagsu-nag falls. though it was steep but in meadows and pleasent. Hit Dharamkot by 2pm. Had some lovely pasta. Slept at bust station in McLo for an hour, boarded the night bus and back to work the next morning.

2 days and 3 nights of pure bliss.