the trail to SANDAKPHU & PHALLUT
Guest to the home of red bear-cats for few days and witnessing four of the World's highest mountain peaks despite, being tired, exhausted in the chilled trekking trail of Indo-Nepal borders, it is now an amazing experience to share in this update at stofotos.
Find the Inner Piece
All the time I was walking through this trail, a continuous pandemonium within myself, was breaking its way to surpass the silence of outside forest.
May be that's the reason "Om manipadme hum" is grafted within the rocks and flags, that the wind carries it everywhere and us, could find the inner piece we look for.
With this note, we stopped by Chitre monastery at an altitude of 7758 feet.
Way to Chitre through the trekking trail was hectic, all thanks to stiff trail and me, carrying a heavy backpack!
Through the clouds to Nepal
We bid farewell to Chitre and started walking through the forest of rhododendrons. During the spring and early summer, this trail welcomes you with a variety of rhododendron flowers. By lunch time, we've reached Meghma and, we planned to walk through the clouds there. Soon, we reached to Tumling by early afternoon. Initial trail was difficult and we gained an altitude of 9840 feet from 6692 feet.
Yes, we were in Nepal and using phone network of the Nepal Telecom.
Do you know that electronic batteries drained in cold? Well, I take it if you say that you've lost your phone or GoPro battery power here.
Met the sleeping folk
Our trek leader, with all his wisdom of these mountain trails, promised us a view of Mt. Everest along with the sleeping buddha range from a distance of crowd and we couldn't reject that very thought.
No one really said this line then - "beware of what you wish for". Hence, we started along with the first light. Few clicks away and few feet of inclination, I was panting when we reached that top. Only us and the Himalayan range in front of us. Four of the World's highest peaks at the horizon was eagerly waiting for the day's Sun to warm them up within this solitary land.
home of Himalayan Firecats
I remember Tumling for witnessing the Milky Way for the first time, or, witnessing the mighty Everest for the first time. As soon as we leave this piece of heaven, home of the firecats - the Singalila Natianal park welcomed us. This is a downhill trail across the forest. We reached Gairibas pretty fast. Few glimpses of the Everest accompanied by Mt. Lhotse(left) and Mt.Makalu(right) was a great addition to this trail.
Next trail of the day was waiting for us and it was a difficult one. Gairibas to KalPokhri is the trail I met with sufferings. Despite of sprains in ankle and knee, somehow, I reached. We were at an altitude of 10,431 feet.
up, above the clouds
The hut where we stayed at KalPokhri was chilly than the outside. Besides, the northern wind hitting that mountain from Nepal side was freezing. By the next morning we started through our trail, everything on the ground was frost.
Around the lunch hours, we've crossed Sandakphu. Our destination was a place called Aahl. Not sure why a friendly German Shepherd walked along with us in this trail. My fellow trekker named it 'Bantai'.
Pretty less known and consisting only a hut to stay. We're on top of the clouds! It looked like, the Sun is hiding under a wide cotton blanket while on the other side, ship of Mt. Kangchendzonga is sailing across the sea of clouds.
That innocent smile
Well, after sharing a lot about how I experienced the landscapes, weather and events, the story remains unfinished if we don't talk about the difficult life the natives live beyond these mountains. Bringing water from the downhill streams daily, Electricity from the solar-panels or none at all, cooking food from pine-wood's smokey fire or reaching schools after miles of forest walk, escaping being supper of any wild animals, mountain life is difficult.
Despite of all those sufferings, struggles and pain, somewhere people find peace among that innocent smile.
The longest trail
As we leave from Aahl, there was an amazing 19kms trails waiting for us to explore. It started through a valley named Thokum. There were not much climb in this trail hence, it was less exhaustive but the lengthiest across the whole trek plan. We didn't take much halts apart from Sabargram. We reached Phallut by 4PM. Took rest and at the first light next day, we climbed towards Phallut top. This area has only two huts to stay and lots of trekkers visits. Prior planning is needed if you are walking towards phallut.
Adios...
In these four days, we have climbed from 6k feet to 12k feet. Struggled, exhausted, suffered but, we were amazed by how Himalayas welcomed us this time. These solitary landscape formed billion of years ago and still mesmerize every time I stand Infront.
New thoughts, new experience and new friends. For a change, this time we had 'Bantai' with us for a very short time. And out trek leader, a humble man with a great knowledge across all these terrains.
Downhill trail was of 2 days trek. From Gorkhe and then via Rammam to Srikhola. Will see you soon Himalayas!
And the story continued..
As usual, these are the photographs captured during this trek. Check them out in full screen and who knows, you find another story out among these..
