Day 3 - Now this was a long walk

We woke up around 8:30 AM and rounded up everyone after our morning chores and breakfast and started off towards the glacier.

Most people who trek to Laka glacier break it into a two day trek, on first day they trek upto Snow line caffe and the next day they go up to the glacier. I am not sure why anyone does it as the trek is not very hard although we met a number of people who wanted to go up to the glacier but returned after the snow line caffe so it was Happy, the boys and me.

Happy's back was still giving him trouble and I could visibility see his performance going down to a level where I was climbing faster than him. I have to admit I was worried. The good thing was we were sharing a pack and I had enough in me to carry it. I look at it as a thank you for all the times he has bailed me out.

Our first stop was Snow Line caffe, we stopped there for couple of minutes to regroup and started off again, the tarrain keeps changing we went down hill then level pastures with sheep till we cam to the base of the glacier which is rocks. It took us around four hours to get to the ice.

We filled our bottles with fresh melting water.

We then tried to find our way towards the Lakes caves which we could not but eded up climbing some rough and rather dangerous terrain a rather un-required and stupid adventure.

Around 1 PM (I think) we started getting down the wether had started to get colder and there was fog. We hurried down until we were almost to Snow Line caffe, I requested Happy to carry the pack for a while with which he obliged and I got a bit of time stretch myself. We finally dashed towards our hut from the Snow Line caffe and entered as it started to hail.

I was exhausted and so was Happy. Happy however wanted to go down to Dharamkot post lunch and I was not prepared primarily because I was exhausted however we decided we should and I agreed. While it hailed happy slept and woke up rather refreshed.

Around 4 PM I think we started down. It was mostly uneventful down trek but it was now my turn to be tired. I had a heavier pack and was heating up. I think it was a little over 8 PM when I crashed at Gallu Devi Temple.

I had given all I had and needed a cab to Dharamkot. I put my foot down and Happy obliged we reached Dharamkot where we looked for accommodation, had dinner and slept.

Next day we went to McLeod Ganj, but that is more of our adventures in the city.

This experience has only one negative experience for me, I have learnt that a number of Indian men approach people from different countries rather shabbily leading to them not ready to mingle with Indians. I have a lot of overseas experience and have made friends of all countries, however I could visibly see people uncomfortable around Indians in our own country.

Day 2 - Too many issues before we trek

We reached Dharamshala around six in the morning. It was clear weather warm and pleasant. We had to goto the forest office to get our permit so we got off in front of the police station cum post office.

The foerst office is behind it but unfortunately opens around 10 AM, so we had plenty of time to kill (read bored). We sat in there sitting area and waited for the staff to arrive.

Me at the forest office

Around 10 AM the staff arrived they are very pleasant people and helped us with our permit and lodge.

Once our formalities were done we could not wait to get started, our destination to start would be Dharamkot a village couple of miles from Dharamshala. We boarded a bus to the Dharmshala bus stand and took a cab from there.

A trekker has two options start the trek from Dharamkot or move a bit up by a cab up to Gallu Devi temple, we chose to start from Dharamkot as we had all the time and energy.

For this blog the number of pictures will be only a handful because my memory card died on me and Happy took some pictures, so this will be an exercise to imagination.

We started from Dharamkot around 12 AM toward Trihund via Gallu Devi temple.

Me all dressed up and using zinc oxide instead of a sun screen

The trek to Trihund is well marked with milestones, I had made a mistake of wearing clothes warmer than required for this trek and I sweat like a pig most of the way. However I am now used to  perils of a trek and this did not affect me. For the first time I was able to pace myself while going up with Happy.

There are a number of rest stops along this trek, small tea stalls selling water, snacks and other items allowing you to trek up easily.

Even the most unprepared and unskilled trekkers can reach Trihund easily in 3-5 hours based on fitness. 

I think we took a little less than three hours as both of us were prepared and had some skill.

As you finally march into Trihund you are greeted by a small shop that sells food there is a stone near it on which people claim if you stand you get cell phone signal.

Once you move ahead you see a very large number of tents put up by people selling camping services, hence if you do not get a lodge form forest department you can still get accommodation.

The trek itself is simple but for the first time I saw Happy struggling, he has not been working out for a while and that was showing up but he was prepared for it. 

We had our lunch which started off with Maggie then some bread and omelet and some more stuff after which we wanted to get the lay of the land. We took a number of pictures walked up and down in the area and met a number of people.

We met a couple of boys from Delhi who also wanted to go upto Laka glacier next day. However Happy was not so sure his back was giving him trouble and he was not so sure if he would climb next day. 

We decided to take that up next day and after dinner slept.

The idea was to leave for the glacier by 9 AM and start off back by 2 PM.

Trihund and Laka Glacier - Part 1

So this time the plan was to get to Trihund and Laka. It is a great weekend trek to Trihund, you don't have to be in great shape to complete it and most people with absolutely no skills can get it done in under four to five hours.

Laka is a little more strenuous specifically if you wish to touch the glacier in summer for it recedes by around a kilometer in summers.

Trihund and Laka also form the entry into Indrahar pass for serious hikers, but that is a story for another day.

Anyways Happy and I had been planning this trek for about six months due to my travel plans and his life things kept slipping. In the month of September I was back in New Delhi, India and so was Happy. The dates 10th to 14th seemed to fit both of us. We planned a very leisurely trek for something that should be done in two days with plan to just chill it out.

The Gear List

The packing list was standard for a summer trek except that we carried down jackets and down sleeping bags for the evenings. However the complete list is as follows.

1. Backpack
2. Sleeping bag
3. Chocolates and cheese (for the trail and I forgot it)
4. Tees
5. Lowers
6. Underpants
7. Hiking poles
8. Boots
9. Socks
10. Down Jacket
11. Bandana
12. First aid
13. Hand sanitizer
14. Paper soap
15. Wet wipes
16. Toilet paper
17. Water bottles

Changes I made this time

I usually use a garbage bag as a liner, however the issue is things dont compress and spread into the bag. This time I used compression sacks (OR) to compress and was able to carry a much smaller pack.

I also wanted to use my hydration bladder but was unable to get it working hence left it home.

Back to the adventure....

So there we were two of us at ISBT Kashmiri Gate and boarded a bus to Dharamshala.