Date : 25th July, 2015
Start : Sarchu (1015 Hrs)
Start : Sarchu (1015 Hrs)
End : Whiskynala (2030 Hrs)
Distance: 49 Kms
Terrain: Uphill boring deserted off road. The roads were narrow and full of dusts. No source of water anywhere.
Unlike yesterday, it's even more windy and unbearable cold here. We reached late and settled down in a dhaba at Whiskynala. It has got numerous leaks and chilled air making it's way inside. Thanks it has got thick blankets to keep us warm. We even got our food on to our bed for the same reason. This place is exactly in the valley hence makes this place extreme cool.
Because of extreme cold and thin air, we hardly could sleep yesterday and got up early at 5.30 in the morning. Enjoying a cup of hot tea took the preference over wrapping up the tent. At the dhaba, Ashwin's condition was bit bad and he seemed to be suffering from mountain sickness. With out any further delay Vijesh helped him with all the medication, what we were carrying and suggested to consult with a doctor on the way at Pang. Helping our motorcycle friends to dismantle and packup their tents pushed our start schedule quite ahead. After finishing all other thing along with food packing, we finally could able to start by 10.15 AM from Sarchu.
After crossing the check post at Sarchu, the road became boring and frustrating with the sand and gravels. On top of that some sound from my front disk and Vijesh's seat post were the most annoying thing that had to happen today. Till then we were just discussing about Ghata Loops and there was no sense of it. In the middle we scrubbed Vijesh's seat post a bit and tightened some screws on my front wheel. Luckily that solved both the issues. For few kilometers, it's even rained. Lot many obstacles, specially when we were late.
In sometime we crossed Brandy Bridge and that's where the Ghata Loop started. Roads became too narrow, bad and dusty. Suddenly from some where a long queue of vehicles started coming from the other side. It was up hill, we were short of energy and stamina; we had no choice other than stopping our self and letting those giant vehicles pass. It took more than half an hour to clear up all the vehicles. The condition was too dry and dusty with a high quality off road. It had all those parameters today to drain our energy and will power. But the curiosity to proceed further, to experience made us climb further and further. Suddenly we found the road was blocked due to land slide and that was the reason too much clustered vehicles passing by. We made a wise choice and settled down our stomach with the packed food.
By the time we finished our food, the road was cleared at least for cyclists to move. But that was not the ending, we just realized that we underestimated the Ghata Loop, No the great Ghata Loops and still way to go. Time along with water was running out of us. Many four wheel travelers along with some army personals helped us time to time recharge our water containers. That was not the only one problem that moment, we were even started freezing at that altitude; the sun had already packed up for the day. Out of happiness and lack of terrain knowledge, we even celebrated sometime as end of Ghata Loops. We were wrong and we still had to cover a lot of distance. We were exhausted and wanted to settled down some place, but we were out of food and water. Staying at that altitude with out food and water would have been a very big mistake. We spoke to some motorcyclists and travelers to understand the distance and terrain condition. We got control over our hormone to keep our self calm and determined to reach Whiskynala in any condition.
With many stops, we kept riding and finally reached the Nakeela Pass. That's the highest pass for today and we had to ride down three kilometers to reach Whiskynala. Big relaxation and relief made us show our gratitude by making stone pillars. Even if I do not believe in god, but that time it was just to thank the unseen lord.
Our happiness got doubled, when we saw Jinji and Bram waiting for us at the Dhaba and they welcomed us so gracefully. It was the best feeling when some one appreciate your effort and energy for achieving something.
By the time when we reached, it was horribly cold and more over we were starving badly. Hot momos and soup very much helped us to restore our energy for a while.
Unlike yesterday, it's even more windy and unbearable cold here. We reached late and settled down in a dhaba at Whiskynala. It has got numerous leaks and chilled air making it's way inside. Thanks it has got thick blankets to keep us warm. We even got our food on to our bed for the same reason. This place is exactly in the valley hence makes this place extreme cool.
Because of extreme cold and thin air, we hardly could sleep yesterday and got up early at 5.30 in the morning. Enjoying a cup of hot tea took the preference over wrapping up the tent. At the dhaba, Ashwin's condition was bit bad and he seemed to be suffering from mountain sickness. With out any further delay Vijesh helped him with all the medication, what we were carrying and suggested to consult with a doctor on the way at Pang. Helping our motorcycle friends to dismantle and packup their tents pushed our start schedule quite ahead. After finishing all other thing along with food packing, we finally could able to start by 10.15 AM from Sarchu.
 |
| At Sarchu near to the Dhaba |
 |
| Landscapes of Sarchu |
 |
| Some important data |
 |
| Jammu-Himachal border checkpost |
After crossing the check post at Sarchu, the road became boring and frustrating with the sand and gravels. On top of that some sound from my front disk and Vijesh's seat post were the most annoying thing that had to happen today. Till then we were just discussing about Ghata Loops and there was no sense of it. In the middle we scrubbed Vijesh's seat post a bit and tightened some screws on my front wheel. Luckily that solved both the issues. For few kilometers, it's even rained. Lot many obstacles, specially when we were late.
 |
| On the way to Ghata Loops |
 |
| On the way to Ghata Loops |
 |
| Brandy Bridge - Talli Bridge |
 |
| On the way to Ghata Loops |
 |
| Whisky Bridge |
 |
| On the way to Ghata Loops |
 |
| On the way to Ghata Loops |
In sometime we crossed Brandy Bridge and that's where the Ghata Loop started. Roads became too narrow, bad and dusty. Suddenly from some where a long queue of vehicles started coming from the other side. It was up hill, we were short of energy and stamina; we had no choice other than stopping our self and letting those giant vehicles pass. It took more than half an hour to clear up all the vehicles. The condition was too dry and dusty with a high quality off road. It had all those parameters today to drain our energy and will power. But the curiosity to proceed further, to experience made us climb further and further. Suddenly we found the road was blocked due to land slide and that was the reason too much clustered vehicles passing by. We made a wise choice and settled down our stomach with the packed food.
 |
| Santosh taking a shortcut again |
 |
| Santosh taking a shortcut again |
 |
| Posing Time |
 |
| Ghata Loops |
By the time we finished our food, the road was cleared at least for cyclists to move. But that was not the ending, we just realized that we underestimated the Ghata Loop, No the great Ghata Loops and still way to go. Time along with water was running out of us. Many four wheel travelers along with some army personals helped us time to time recharge our water containers. That was not the only one problem that moment, we were even started freezing at that altitude; the sun had already packed up for the day. Out of happiness and lack of terrain knowledge, we even celebrated sometime as end of Ghata Loops. We were wrong and we still had to cover a lot of distance. We were exhausted and wanted to settled down some place, but we were out of food and water. Staying at that altitude with out food and water would have been a very big mistake. We spoke to some motorcyclists and travelers to understand the distance and terrain condition. We got control over our hormone to keep our self calm and determined to reach Whiskynala in any condition.
 |
| Excitement ... On a Cliff |
 |
| Ghata Loops |
 |
| Exhausted and still No Clue about how far to go |
 |
| Still To Go |
 |
| Ghata Loops |
With many stops, we kept riding and finally reached the Nakeela Pass. That's the highest pass for today and we had to ride down three kilometers to reach Whiskynala. Big relaxation and relief made us show our gratitude by making stone pillars. Even if I do not believe in god, but that time it was just to thank the unseen lord.
 |
| Finally at the sumit |
 |
| Vijesh so joyful at the summit |
Our happiness got doubled, when we saw Jinji and Bram waiting for us at the Dhaba and they welcomed us so gracefully. It was the best feeling when some one appreciate your effort and energy for achieving something.
By the time when we reached, it was horribly cold and more over we were starving badly. Hot momos and soup very much helped us to restore our energy for a while.
No comments:
Post a Comment