Triund Top Trek
When around Dharamshala & Mcleodganj, it was THE trek to go for. Cricket fever had gripped the region as the hills hosted five ICC World Cup games and we (six cricket crazy buddies) were lucky enough to attend the game between Australia and New Zealand. With the game done, our focus turned to the hills the next day.
Due to the cricket fever a lot of prominent names from the cricket world visited Dharamshala and made this trek. Notable amongst them was Naseer Hussain and Michael Atherton, and then Rahul Dravid and his team of support staff. Hence, this had gained much visibility so it was a given that we would make this trek. Basic research and feedback told us that this was a moderate trek. Which means, you do not need any special mountaineering skills. A normal fit person can complete this trek quite easily. The distance to be covered would be 7 Km one away, that made it 14 km overall. Moderate meant terrain would not be too steep and hence it would be a normal 14 Km walk up and down a hill. A dream to trek in the Himalayas was about to come true. On the time front, we were told it took 3-4 hours one way. Since, we would be descending the same day it was thus important that we start early since it was mandatory to return before sunset.
We had booked the same cabs which we took to the stadium the previous day to drop us at the base of the trek at Gallu devi from where they would pick us up again in the evening. We started the trek from Gallu Devi with full motivation. One of the shops out there were offering sticks on rent for fifty rupees. The trek did not seem to be one where one would need it. However, we took one set. The only stick I would be carrying was my tripod stick so I let it go. I would say this was indeed a necessity. There were many groups on the trail so it promised to be a great run up to the top. Despite thinking myself to be fit for my age, I maintained my poor ‘trek’ record, that of falling behind the group. Soon I got the first view of a snow-capped peak of the Dhauladhar range. And bumped into a sweet bunch of school girls from Haryana who were on a week-long outdoor excursion. They were already tired but relishing the challenge thrown at them by their sir. One of their teachers pointed towards the direction of the peak and mentioned that is where we will reach the Magic Café which was the half-way point of the trek. Not bad, I thought.
I picked up pace and in another twenty minutes I was at the Magic Café. I thought wow, this trek is just a cakewalk. As I reached, I saw that the boys were already enjoying their honey lemon tea and enjoying the view. There are a couple of more cafes out there where fellow trekkers were taking a break before continuing the second half of the trek. We met interesting co-trekkers including a group of young girls from Karnataka with whom our Bangalore boys gelled well. A point to be noted is that this is the last point where one would get mobile network. So, one must do all the photo sharing on whatsapp groups over here before going offline for the next few hours.
We set-off after a well-deserved break and some great tea. The weather was gorgeous and sky was it its best with white clouds floating on the blue. This is when the difficult part of the trek started. The slope became steeper and rocky surface made it challenging even though it helped getting a good grip on the surface. Many foreign tourists were in attendance. One of the guys said hello to us, mentioning that he was at the stadium the day before wearing a “Glen Maxwell” jersey. We immediately recalled and reciprocated the wish. At every step, out came the sweat and the panting and gasping for breath. This was the real deal. Finally, I reached another milestone. Well, it was another shack on the way which felt like an oasis in the desert. Our boys were already there. It was time for some glucose rush now, or rather sugar rush so we had gobbled up a couple of 5-Star bars. We thought that would carry us through to the summit. On asking the shopkeeper and other trekkers, how long more to the summit, we heard some vague and reluctant “one hour” as the answer. The terrain had become steep and uneven with trees around. It would be best if he took rest or headed back, I thought. It was well past that “one hour” which was mentioned at the shack and there was no sign of the summit. Thrice I heard “one hour” even after covering lot of ground and height. The shopkeeper pulled a mickey on us to give us a psychological boost and not to get bogged down. Soon the returning trekkers mentioned “Just half hour more” for the next half hour probably, which felt like eternity. Now the clouds and mist had engulfed the place lowering the visibility. Finally, one fellow trekker said “three minutes more,” which sounded like music to the years. In the next five minutes, I huffed and puffed my way to the summit or the Triund top.
Our boys were busy with their lunch. There is a shack up there named the Dhauladhar café, where the most popular dish was Rajma chawal. However, I stuck to my customary Maggi. While it was fulfilling to stand next to the board which said “Triund Top 2875m”, it was bit of dampener that the clouds had completely engulfed the place denying us a blockbuster view of the Dhauladhar peaks which we had spotted from a distance down below. Surely, it was not something to fret about. There were camps put up for the people who would be staying back and all were busy posing for photos proudly documenting their achievement.
After the euphoria of the conquest of the peak had set in, we now had to hurry up and plan for the decent. It would be taking minimum of three hours so 2-30 PM was the cut-off time to start the decent. The decent for far more difficult than expected. In all major mountaineering expeditions, it is always a known rule that decent is far trickier. Most accidents happen during decent as there is a great chance of slipping and falling. I realized the same as I descended in that rocky terrain. The rocks and the uneven surface were an extreme pain. Every time the foot landed, I could sense a torture on the ankles and the knee. Added to that there was an extreme risk of injury. You are just one wrong step away from a sprained ankle. And one wonders, the impact of even a minor injury like a sprained ankle in that terrain. How on earth can one be carried back? What was assumed to be a cakewalk at a brisk pace turned out to be longer than even the ascent as every step had to be taken with extra care. I reached Magic Café after what I felt was eternity. The others were already there having their tea. We began our last stretch. This stretch in the morning seemed like a cakewalk. Surely it will be much easier than walking up, I thought. The rocks and stones were such that it was impossible to pick up pace. The same rocks were helping during ascent providing a good grip (thus activating Newton’s third law of motion effectively) and thus a good push to move upwards. Now they were a hindrance. Added to that it was getting dark. Other had moved forward so I had to pick up pace before it would be zero visibility, thus increasing the risk of a wrong step. The never-ending trail finally ended with me reaching Gallu Devi safe and sound with the gang waiting.
