The next big plan

I learnt quite a bit from my last adventure. I know my physical limits and my mistakes.
I think I carried way too much gear than I should have. I also think moving forward I will just carry a day pack and give as much gear to a porter as possible.

I also learnt running alone will not help me, I need to climb stairs so I have started a separate exercise regime.

I learnt the value of keeping all my gear in a garbage bag... it saved me.

I am now planning my next adventure. I called Budhi and we talked things over. I want to do something easier as I have a couple of novice friends who will come with me.

We talked about a possible trip to Humpta pass and Chandratal.

I plan to do more research on it and will keep you posted.

The Gear

Lets start by listing all the gear I have. I have always believed in the fact that buy the best gear you can; that is one less problem you will face.

As always this is a very very dry list of gear I own. I dont take everything every-time with me. In each trek I will share the details of what I take with me.

Again I am no expert this is stuff that works for me so try different things and find out for yourself.

1. Backpack - I use a Northface Profit 65 Large pack. I think this is a very large pack and I plan to soon replace it with a day pack + duffle combination. http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/prophet-65-pack.html
2. Poles - I am using a black diamond pole http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0033FGYOA/ref=gno_cart_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3EA0O0LHFFEDN I have purchased it with all the bells and whistles.
3. Jacket - As everyone else I find layering a good way to work.  I use a Northface tri-climate jacket. It has a Gore-Tex outer shell with a synthetic jacket. The two jackets are independent and I can hence wear only the required layer.
4. Fleece - I got me a Northface fleece.
5. Gaiters - I am using outdoor research M Crocodile Gaiters http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SOBUZE/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
6. Headlamp - I prefer headlamps over, we use a Petz headlamp.
7. Boots - This is the most important investment you make. I use Northface boots, the model I use has been discontinued but you can find something here http://www.thenorthface.com/catalog/sc-gear/mens-footwear-filter-category-boots#1374952250993
8. Crampons - I use Hillsound Trail Pro crampons http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004BN7FHS/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
9. Water bottle
10. Knife, Multi tool and Swiss Army Knife - I own all three of them but I am still trying to decide which one I like best
11. Compass
12. Map of the area
13. Gloves - Again my choice here is Northface
14. Sleeping Bag - I use a Cosmic Kelty sleeping bag, its a bit bulky but it is very comfortable http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004K1GQIA/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
15. Polarised Glasses - I use polaroid glasses as they reflect sun better. http://www.511tactical.com/All-Products/Eyewear/Climb-Polarized-Eyewear.html
16. Inners, Fleese, Pants, Rain Pants and Tees - These are from Northface summit series.
17. Cap
18. Pad - I am still trying to decide between a foam pad or an air mattress
19. Camera

Of course there are items of personal hygiene,, bags for crampons and so on but I wont mention them.
Trekking in India has the benefit that you can get porters to carry most of your stuff.

Chandrakhani Pass to Malana VII - The good, the bad and the ugly

This was my first experience after ages in hiking. I think I made a bunch of mistakes and I have learnt from them. I think I am going to reduce my gear. I also think my sleeping bag is heavy and I should get a lighter one under 500 grams.

I need to change my fitness regime, I run for half an hour and I though it would be enough what i learnt was that was minimum requirement. I need to be able to run for an hour.

I also need to start using a cross training or climb stairs to build up my thighs.

Chandrakhani Pass to Malana VI - Day 4 The end of the trek

We slept till late I think it was 8 AM when one of our porters woke us up.
We quickly got dressed and had a wonderful breakfast of Aallu-Paratha. Our trip for the day was to go through Malana village and climb down to Malana Dam where our jeep would be waiting for us.

Our guide Budhi warned us to stay close to him and not stray on to any path as it could displease the local people as the path towards the temple was forbidden.

The real Malana

 As we got ahead we knew we had to take some pictures and the walk through the village was a photo walk for Happy.

Our Hotel

The Village lost in time

Village Children - Be sure you do not touch them

Local Farms

 As we got down from the village our guide showed us the path we had taken to come down. I feel proud of me to have undertaken this journey.

 As we came out of Malana we had an easy descent again. There were streams and river so it was an easy descent.

 Signs of mordern civilization were appearing and we knew our journey was  coming to an end

Waterfall and me + this bridge

We end our trek at Malana dam

Happy with our staff

We finally reached the dam where our ride was waiting for us. I have traveled in many cars but this jeep was the most comforting ride for me ever.

Waiting for our stuff to be loaded

Goodbye Malana !!!

The jeep dropped us at Jari a small town near Manali. We took a Jeep from Jari to Manali where we had a big lunch.

We bought some stuff like wines and trek maps and went to catch our bus from the Manali busstop and borded a bus to Delhi.

Writing about this trek I can only remember my journey quite vividly and writing about this I want to go again. I think I will call Happy and find what his plans are.

Chandrakhani Pass to Malana V - Day 3 Walking on the slippery mountain

We woke up to an uneventful 17th June we had camped near a make do hotel and a shed for sheep.
The hotel guy had a make shift pluming for water which he shared with us.

We had porridge and bread for breakfast. We started early as the road ahead was long and treacherous. Our guide told us we would have a short climb followed by level land on the top of pass  eventually descending steeply into Malana.

In spirit of adventure we took the short route to Malana (also we had to get there in one day).

We took the path marked in red on day 3.

We started a bit early next day I think we were packed and ready to travel by 9 AM in the morning.

We started with a relative gentle climb. We were greeted  with beautiful views of the valley we had left behind us.

The climb was easy but I was looking forward towards walking on flat land that I had been promised for last two days.

 Finally we arrived towards relatively flat areas with moderate climbs and moderate descents  Little did we know what laid ahead.

Me trying to take a stroll in the park

Happy taking pics like a pro

You do not get pictures like these in the city

The final push before we all fall down

 Chandrakhani pass has a nice way of greeting all visitors the moment you enter the pass there is a small pile of stones which forms a small gate and the pass welcomes you with open arms into its  beauty.

The entrance to Chandrakhani pass

A view to kill and we almost were killed

The views in the pass were to die for and we wanted to absorbe the beauty of the area. Words do not do them justice so I will let these pictures do the talking.

Me with All the staff - Great heros who help make these trips possible

Not to mention our second guide, whenever I would fall behind she would keep coming for  me

Marker Stones

They help people to find there way around and are also a tribute to the gods 

Our guide and me

Happy and me

 We cam across this strane structure and our guide informed us this is a shrine and we should keep outside the rocks with permission from our gude we took some pictures and thanked the gods who had helped our trek and made it into an uneventful journey.

Shrine

 As we moved ahead I saw snow and I wanted a picture in it.

 We now started with the most difficult stage of our trek the descent into Malana. I got an on the job training of lead climber. I think I slipped around ten times that day. Our guide slipped thrice the only people who did not slip were the porters. This was a difficult trek and our guide stayed with me every step till we reached Malana safely.

 While most skilled people were ahead of me and on most days I was just walking behind them during the descent I was walking at a speed which was almost four times as slow. My buggest issue was I did not know which rock would slip and which would hold, a skill mastered by the local people.

The steep descent with rocks ready to fall

The descent from a distance, there route was carved out from our skills. Would suggest using ropes here

Happy waiting for me. 

Happy waiting for his perfect shot 

 I was tired by the time we were in Malana we had decided on our way down that we will sleep in a hut and not in tents. We got to Malana and took a nice shower. I think I just came into the kitchen and crashed. I did not get up until it was dark.

Me ready to die

Malana people do not like outsiders they think they are a pure Aryan race and do not care for others. 

Our hotel was outside the village. As night fell some people with cattle came in Happy wanted to drink some goats milk and our guide Budhi tried to get the some and ended up getting interrogated about his and our races, if we had any westerner in our group and so on. When the lady was satisfied she gave us a pint of milk which we all enjoyed.

Happy having a glass of goat's milk after we proved our ethnicity

The goats outside our hotel

As we dosed into the night it started to rain again and we were glad it did not happen when we were climbing down which could have resulted in some broken bones.

Chandrakhani Pass to Malana IV - Day 2 the sun shone

It was 16th of July next day, we woke up around 6 AM. I felt refreshed and could not hear the rain. I knew this will be a great day to trek.

We were still in our bags for another half an hour when one of our porters came up to wake us. After our morning routine we realised the sun was shining and we left our clothes to dry in sun.

 We had a great breakfast of bread and omelette with some tea and started to pack our bags. My porter was there. We were given boiled eggs and chocolate for the day ahead.

We had not been able to take pictures the day before so Happy spent some time clicking.

My Porter with his nephew

 We met some local children and gave them some chocolate and they posed for some pics for us.

Local kids

 With our gear packed and mine being carried by a porter we started off again. An experience like this humbles a man. We learn how week a luxurious and sedentary life makes us. I run for thirty minutes every day and it became hard for me to climb on day one with my pack and even on day two when I did not have a pack I was still lagging. I will change my fitness regime to be a better hiker.

Me trying to soldier the next day

Happy and Gaurav

 People ask hikers why do you hike; its difficult to explain in blogs and pictures you have to go there  and see it for yourself.

The View

The View continues

We continued our ascent on day two and I was promised the campsite was just beyond the tree line; the tree line was far away.

Me climbing

 We kept trekking and I was the last on the group. I did get some consolation that I was able to complete it and this was not an easy trek.

The Campsite is just beyond the tree line

Me posing for a pic

The mountain and me

The mountain range

Happy "The Pro"

The deceptive tree line

 I think we got to the camp site around 4 PM and the temperate dropped soon we had tea followed by soup and some snacks.

The view from the campsite

Happy relaxing on the campsite

View from campsite

It got chilly

 I was on a course of dimox however we thought it would be prudent to do an acclimatisation climb.

Climb high sleep low

 Happy saw that some prayer flags had come loose so we climbed up some 500m and fixed them. It was also a good thing for me as I learnt how to decent which was needed starting next day.

The prayer flags we fixed 

We met an unofficial guide who stayed with us till the end of trek she kept running back and forth ensuring no one was left behind.

Our unofficial gude - she stayed with us till end of trek 

In the evening we saw some local women caring some herbs which they were kind enough to show us.

some local herbs

As it grew dark our guide Budhi pointed us to Manali and we took some pictures of the town in night.

Manali at night 

Today was a good day for hiking; I had climbed on my pace and I felt great. Next day was a new set of adventures as we would go over the pass and decent to Malana but for now sweet dreams....