Limberlost in Czech-day 4

Waking up to falling snow in a forest is always a different experience, peering out of our window the green became green and white, then white and then even more white and soon only white. The sound of the falling snow was magical and the flakes so big, we could just sit there at the porch peering out as the morning unfolded on the crumpled clothed and happy souls of ours. Nature through its sounds and sights which are slow and never loud, heal all that you may have Its impossible not to be amazed, wide eyed and happy when you see a sight and hear a sound that has been placed for you by the mountains and forests.

With a morning like this on the last day of the Czech trip, it would have been a pity to stay indoors. We selected a relatiely less commonly hike, which our sketchy map predicted to be of 10km. Thus started our comedy of errors and false assumptions - 10km, easy relaxed walk to wind up the holiday, close to where we were staying. Unlike the normal hiking day pack we just put in an apple and some rice waffles and thought of breakfast enroute. 

As you can imagine the route was not sure so there was no enroute and so there was no breakfast. Finally by the grace of supreme map reading skills of our omni present and omni potent driver we managed to reach our point of start. Not withstanding the directions given by a half crazed digger by the side of deserted road or the spooky cafe waitress who just came out of some haunted story, it was Deepam who could get us to the corrcet point. 

It looked inviting and chrming, the recent of spell of snow in the last few days covered any track if there were any. But as it was, as it was presumed, it was an easy walk or stroll in the snowy woods; we started off cheerfully.

Every few steps we would stop to listen to the sounds - falling snow, snow slithering of overladen leaves, songs of a merry bird and the whistling wind throuh the pines. 

A snowman duly made, another duly destroyed and with the sun on our backs we walked on, a bit up a bit down a bit left and a bit to the right. It was a picnic, with no other living human soul around. 

We speculated on the trees age, cutting patterns and the commercial growing of these timber giving giants as we walked on. Following the marks our trail was supposed to have, we came up at the first stop where we thought we would have a coffee or some morsel to eat. But it was not open, the reason being that the trail was not yet open for the season, this explained our solitude. 

Anyhow we were having fun, a few odd minutes later we continued the trail. Now the path narrowed in, the trees seem to take over, branches wanted to stop our way, but side stepping and deviating we were on.                                                                                                                                                                                 The path became tortuous and slippery with the moss and the ice. 

Forcing us up the rock sides to avoid slipping all the way down. 

But what goes up comes down, and as always up seems better, the coming down was steep and at places the ladders fixed from the last year were in place, but slippery and in doubtfull condition. We slid and stepped and fell and carried on. 

Then came a point when we noticed a slight change in th emarking symbol of our trail, the colors were the same but the shape was similiar not same. Bringing in the slight bit of doubt in our head.

 We followed it as that was the only way. But soon we were at a cliff from where we could see down for miles in the valley. All we saw was an ever exapnding forest. Suddenly the breeze seemed like a gale and the sun could give no more warmth and the cold started to buid in. These are the games that our minds play. Out came the map and we figured out that the end point of the trail which was supposed to be another cafe would also be closed as the trail was yet not opened and we would have another long walk back to our car further from there. That was okay, but what was not is that right now we seemed lost, out of food and cold.

Quick evaluation of options were that we could trudge all the way back we came, like retreating soldiers and the walk back was nearly 4 hours in addition. Or else we could give a shot in trying to figure out a way to reach to the road head. We decided for the latter, but with hesitation and thought we would push ahead for an hour and then re decide on the next action. If we yet seemed lost we turn back to recah back to the car before night fall. Suddenly the banter vanished as we walked and Deepam came up with the question that I could carry her on my back all the way. Chivalrous me said ofcourse, but the voice deep within was howling - what nonsense is this? A footprint troubled Deepam to no end, was it a wolf or hyena? And voila by the end of the hour we found the road. A sudden relief and soon followed by a feeling of triumph that we overcame our fears and got there. The walk further to the car though another 4k did not feel like more than a few metres. Shaking our hands and proud we walked off the trail with the decsion to never be under prepared again. What a sign off to a lovely holiday of never before seen sights, amazing experiences, beautiful mountains and enchanted forests. Maybe we never come back again but these images will always be in our heads. Bye Czech.