A long weekend off was approaching and I was no dumbhead to put it down the drain in Delhi's ubiquitous and viscous pollution. And scrolling down Himachal and Uttarakhand trek pics on my Facebook feed since ever, any other plan was impossible.
But I let Arpit's polite tone and warm assurance, a few interactions with fellow female travellers and my instincts, to make me board the bus to Mcleodgunj (the base).
Scenic guest house location, hot shower, steaming tea and vibrant co travellers perfectly warmed my chilling bones in McLeodganj.
Trek to Triund was easy, alu paranthas and laughter fuelling us up to the peak. Last half hour trek was snowy and slippery, but group's support and enthusiasm was the ultimate walking stick.
Then came those two days which will remain engraved on my mind forever - the days of our stay at the Triund peak. It sounds all the same, yet it feels unique - personalities introduced, stories told, food shared, stars counted, warmth exchanged in a chilly tent, laughing till tummy ached.
Our enjoyment was immense but our gratitude was only modest till an experienced fellow trekker who is a certified mountaineer told us that a stay in those couple of government certified guest houses on the peak is great luxury. We feasted on chicken and paneer, biryani and curry, pakode with tea, but only with our friend's help did we realise how ardorous it was to trek up anything and everything from Dharamshala to Triund peak, and how dedicated the organiser must be to make us comfortable and satisfied.
We forgot our disappointment of not trekking to Laka Snowline - due to plethoric snow and inappropriate shoes, as we rappelled at Triund, and felt special, cause apparently rappelling is not available at the peak and one has to carry the ropes and equipments from the base all by themselves.
The moments passed in a blink yet it felt like spending a lifetime, rejuvenated with new energy and hopes.
Thank you Being Rover :)
