Some people trek to find peace, some to meet someone new, some to challenge themselves and some for the sheer love for trekking. I do not know which category I fall into, but I must admit there is a little of all of the above in my trek to Sar Pass. This is my attempt to showcase the beauty of the trek and also to help future trekkers with some useful info..
Getting there – This involved a plane, a long 16 hr bus ride from Delhi to Manali and finally another 4 hour bus ride Kasol. Kasol is a beautiful town which has become a sort of Israeli settlement for reasons unknown to me. The food, the people, the places, makes one feel like they are not in India. Lovely little town to roam in.
First 3 days: The YHAI base camp is situated on a plain near Kasol and we were put up in tents ( 12 per tent), ladies separate. Sour ordeal with sleeping bags started here. One should be extremely careful to check the bags before getting into them, or you could be an interesting subject to a scorpion, rat, ticks or maybe, if lucky, a snake. The 3 day stay involves an acclimatization climb on a hill for 1000 ft and could help beginners get a feel of what the trek would involve. Then there is Rappelling and rock climbing which could be quite an ordeal to many.
Food: The food is really good for a trek like this where they serve you hot Puris and pakodas at a height of 12,000 ft. If anyone has a problem with the food, they would be better off staying back in the comfort of their over crowded cities. Teas, and chocolate drinks are served at regular intervals to keep one warm n ward of the cold (rather unsuccessfully).
The trek itself: The trek basically is a 7-day affair with 6 camps at different points of the trek. Each campsite competes with the other in terms of beauty and surroundings. The camps are managed by efficient camp leaders and a few cooks. Each leg of the trek has a different guide whom you met at the campsite. We trekked for nearly 7 hours each day from one camp to another and stayed the night at each campsite. There is a telescope at one of the campsites which helps one explore the clear night skies. The trek is by no means easy and had the most competent gasping for breath and wishing to see the next base camp. Being a little in shape is definitely a plus point! The first 4 days we trekked through the mountainside and jungle and the snow clad peaks were always visible. The 4th night is when we get to the base camp before the Sar pass itself .Here discipline is of utmost importance, mainly because of the snow, the extremely cold weather and the steep slopes. People finicky about proper toilets will not like it because in the trek the mountain slopes are your best bet and tissues paper is your best friend. Day 5 we have to cross the snow-laden pass before the sun rises coz then the snow melts and the situation could turn very dangerous. The best part of the trek is the giant snow slide (slope of the mountain) which one encounters as soon as they cross the pass. This slide saved you the trouble of trekking nearly 1500 Ft and it’s the most amazing feeling! You end up in a plain filled with snow where you play in snow to your heart’s content. That was fun! From here its all downward (in terms of trekking path) and we arrive at beautiful camps situated on rolling meadows. One of the camps is called ‘ Mini Switzerland’, not without reason. Its one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. From here we trek for a day and get back to the base camp in Kasol and leave for home.
Social issues: it is advisable to come as a large group or by yourself if you are good with people. One thing this trek teaches you is to gel with people from all walks of life. We were skeptical in the beginning, but as time wore on we got more dependant on each other and the whole group had a good time. Not only should one leave his ego and status behind, but also remove mental blocks towards meeting new people who may not be what you expected. I think this is really important, as I realized, to enjoy the trek.
Clothes: 2 T-shirts and a pair of jeans. That’s all is needed up there. ( other than the warm clothes, of course) , A rain sheet ( poured when we were up there), lots of socks and a pair of shades are other important items. Don’t expect to bathe for the 11 days you are there coz it is not possible. (Good fun actually:-) You could consider carrying your tooth brush along.. but do remember , every extra gram could become a big burden on those slopes!
Conclusion: This trek feels like a once in a life time thing, but once you are back in your city, in the pollution and the daily grind, you will long to be in the hills again… n I definitely will do it again next year, maybe a new place……
