Focus

It has been awesome so far and I am ready for Gadsar Pass at an elevation close to 14,000 ft !

Day 4 – We start from near Vishansar Lake where we had camped the previous night. It’s a 1000 ft ascent to the tranquil Krishansar Lake that seems to change colour every minute. As we gain height, both lakes are visible and appear to be on the same level ! It makes for a beautiful sight.

It is a steep and tough climb to Gadsar. The trail is narrow and pebbly. The horses carrying the luggage too need to rest occasionally.

How wonderful to smile at and greet the many fellow trekkers on this bright and sunny day! 🙂

My eyes and mind are fixed on my destination – the Pass ! I think of just how amazing I would feel when I get there ! And that keeps me going. Finally, after a few hours, I am at Gadsar Pass !! Yes, it is thrilling to make it up here ! (with the help of a friendly hand-hold over the last hundred meters of slippery track).

The sense of achievement at being able to push myself up that gigantic mountain to reach my goal is awesome !!! 🙂

It’s windy and cold up here. Everyone is noisily clicking group pics to celebrate this milestone. The other side of the Pass is a steep slippery descent and then…

The most beautiful vistas are spread out in the form of seemingly never-ending alpine meadows. There are flowers all round, covering every inch of land in blue, purple, yellow, pink, lilac…such glorious colors!!!

I have never experienced such a sight before.

I go a bit crazy in this bewitching, magnificent and irresistible setting !!

Like a puppy, I roll about in the green grass, in the flowers, soaking in this beauty, trying to get as close to Earth as I possibly can. I am smiling, laughing, skipping around ! :)) I can’t believe this sight.

The atmosphere, the stillness, the fragrance, the calm, the beauty… there’s something magical in these moments. With such intensity do I feel a connection with Nature here that tears are rolling down my cheeks. I don’t want to stop them. How blessed I am to be here, experiencing this beauty. I am filled with a new level of gratitude for everything.

I want to stay back in the meadows but it’s time to head campward. The next stop is Gadsar Lake.

We spend some time watching the colours of the water change with the light. It is a long walk to the camp. This day will always stay in my memories and make me feel so good whenever I recall it. As will this whole trek. 🙂

The next 3 days too promise excitement and beauty.

Stay and enjoy them with me here !!

Do fill out this very simple form to receive a mail notification from me whenever I publish a fresh post !!

https://www.theroadwelltaken.com/fresh-post-notification-2/

Trekking is a fantastic multiple-day outdoor activity that is simply Magical!!!

I have just gotten back from a beautiful trek !!

The Kashmir Great Lakes Trek.

By definition trekking is a long arduous ‘journey’ amidst nature, usually involving different terrains, including mountains.

My Kashmir Great Lakes Trek was a treat to the senses with absolutely amazing sights !!

The personal discoveries of my strengths – physical, emotional and mental have been immense, delightful and eye-opening.

I got a lot of time with myself, often alone for long distances on the ascents and descents, just being one with nature, the majestic mountains all around, the meadows with their pretty flowers seemingly spread out just for me !

I discovered that I had that inner strength I needed to overcome mild high altitude sickness and could climb and reach those tall peaks. I discovered that I could cover long distances alone, and that I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the physical and mental confidence I built over those 7 days.

The group I trekked with was awesome too, with lovely people!

Read more about my experiences here !

Do fill click on this link below and fill out this very simple form to receive a mail notification from me whenever I publish a fresh post !!

https://www.theroadwelltaken.com/fresh-post-notification-2/embed/#?secret=UgNewXYICI#?secret=qOyV2gevdH

My Kashmir Great Lakes Trek was challenging, charming, and stimulating apart from being an awesome one overall !

The thrilling aspects of the trek:

Distance covered – 74 kms in 6 days (in mountainous high-altitude terrain)

Ascent to 14000ft (4200m)

Climb and descent of 3 Himalayan passes – Nichnai, Gadsar and Zaj

Steep ascents and steep descents every day

8 picturesque and beautiful glacier-fed lakes

Blossom-filled verdant meadows stretching as far as the eye can see

Gushing stream-crossings

Steep boulder climbs and extended boulder traverses

The Journey Unfolds !

Day 1 – We reach the base camp at Sonamarg, a very pretty place that means ‘Golden Meadow’. We spend the first night here by a beautiful river, getting to know each other, admiring the beauty all around, clicking our first pics, getting used to the wind, the cold, the tents, getting a feel of the days to come. It’s cold after sunset, I just can’t get warm enough in my sleeping bag, and barely sleep.

Day 2  –   The actual trek begins !! We start off to Nichnai. We have read that it is going to be a long and a tough day as we begin to ascend today. The meadows we climb up to are unbelievably beautiful, the shades of green are totally mesmerizing! The path also leads into a dark and deep-green forest. When we exit it, we have a really long stretch of walking on boulders along a stream for miles and miles before we reach our camp for the night! Yes, we get an idea of what the terrain and scenery is going to be like for the next few days and totally love it!  

Again, I cannot get warm enough and sleep just a couple of hours this night. I also seem to have a headache and slight nausea. Good Lord! These seem like symptoms of Altitude Sickness! I know I am fit enough and any sickness will be mild, but all trek days are long here. I should cope somehow and get over it!

Day 3 – Today we have to climb across Nichnai Pass at 13,000 ft to reach Vishansar Lake where our camp is. We start off at 7.30 am as usual and a bit later to my surprise, I find my heart pounding after I take just a few steps! This is something totally new to me and I am laughing because this feels funny and I wonder what is happening in my body!

A few more steps and I HAVE to stop, rest, catch my breath and walk again. My oxygen saturation is 90 % and I realize I have to take it easy, pace my walk, rest, and just keep walking as best as I can!

My trek mates are ahead and I realize I am lagging behind. But so what?! 😊

As I get used to this unusual ‘pounding of my heart’ I learn how to pace my walk, how to breath in deeply, and tell myself to be patient. I must allow my body to learn to get used to the altitude, and that takes some time.

I send positive thoughts of gratitude to my body and I rest whenever I need to, which is every few steps!!

I walk alone along the flowing stream… it is just me, my thoughts, the sound of flowing water… the wonderful mountains all around me…

I realize I must cover the distance step–by-step, breath–by–breath. That is all there is to it. It feels wonderful.

Yes, I am enjoying my first high-altitude trek!!

I reach the Pass an hour after my group does.

We descend now, and what a sight the descent presents!

Vast, green, rock-filled meadows filled with pretty flowers in the prettiest colours imaginable. The rocks all around are a contrast in shape, size and material to the tiny plants, yet they blend together so beautifully.

That evening, from the camp, it’s an exciting ‘hop’ over boulders on a fast flowing river to reach the first lake of our trip – Vishansar Lake! It is so peaceful there, the waters are a beautiful blue-green, the sky is a bright blue, the rays of the Sun striking off the surface on one end makes the scene amazing.

I am feeling a lot better by now. I sleep well this night, finally !

I know the next day is supposed to be the toughest. It is Gadsar Pass Day – ascent to 14,000 feet on narrow mountain-edge trails.  

I believe I am mentally ready for whatever this day has to offer.

Stay with me on the rest of my trek in my next post here!

Do fill out this very simple form to receive a mail notification from me whenever I publish a fresh post !!

https://www.theroadwelltaken.com/fresh-post-notification-2/embed/#?secret=UgNewXYICI#?secret=qOyV2gevdH