Games the mountains play!
I wanted to pack my trekking boots and put them away.
I looked at the sole to see if it needed cleaning, to my surprise the sole was shining. The Himalayan soil is so rich in minerals, that the rocks, boulders and the soil were lustrous. A beautiful sight, I could just not have enough of the glittering rocks that we saw on our expedition.
To my mind, my soul appeared polished too! For a lot of the dust and gravel from my life until now was given up to be a part of this expedition.
Going back...
We started the trek at 7:30 am on a pleasant Sunday morning from Auli which is the skiing destination of India. The lawns looked well manicured and looking at the green carpet albeit the snow made us cheerless.There has been no snowfall here in the last two years.
As we made our way up the slopes, the grass plot laid out seemed perfect. We were in wonder of the mountains surrounding us. Our eyes soaking and taking in every bit of the ascent. The weather played peek a boo, while we were warm when we started, just a a few minutes later we found ourselves walking amidst the clouds. A fabulous feeling that we would experience several times.
The lawns at Auli opened onto a wonderful pine forest, the view was stunning and unexpected.
The altitude can give you headaches and nausea like never before, combine that with all the aches and pains suddenly your mind magnifies the negatives.
I looked at the sole to see if it needed cleaning, to my surprise the sole was shining. The Himalayan soil is so rich in minerals, that the rocks, boulders and the soil were lustrous. A beautiful sight, I could just not have enough of the glittering rocks that we saw on our expedition.
To my mind, my soul appeared polished too! For a lot of the dust and gravel from my life until now was given up to be a part of this expedition.
Going back...
We started the trek at 7:30 am on a pleasant Sunday morning from Auli which is the skiing destination of India. The lawns looked well manicured and looking at the green carpet albeit the snow made us cheerless.There has been no snowfall here in the last two years.
As we made our way up the slopes, the grass plot laid out seemed perfect. We were in wonder of the mountains surrounding us. Our eyes soaking and taking in every bit of the ascent. The weather played peek a boo, while we were warm when we started, just a a few minutes later we found ourselves walking amidst the clouds. A fabulous feeling that we would experience several times.
The lawns at Auli opened onto a wonderful pine forest, the view was stunning and unexpected.
We hiked through deep valleys and open Meadows. We walked through rhododendron flowers of all hues.
At the gorgeous Gordon Meadows we went through a ledge few kilometers long which was just a foot wide. In hindsight we couldn't believe we crossed through same. Looking down at the valley made us woozy from the height and fear. The mountains appeared to be talking to us, cajoling us... at times taunting and many a time defeating us.
The sun sets very early at the mountains and it gets cold by 5pm. The thermals came out and never went back in. We sat by the bonfire ,never wanting it to end, the part of the body that was away from the fire, still shivering with cold!
The nights were just another experience. Pitch dark is the only description I have. We couldn't see anything ahead of us. You may think you are brave and that you dont fear the unknown. Yet at night, you would not dare step out of your tent alone, even if you had a light.
The wind buzzed in your tent and you could hear the jangle of the bells on the mules.
Several times I could not open my eyes due to fear, I would keep feeling that someone/ something is near my tent and keeping my eyes shut somehow protected me!! The animals would suddenly run and the heavy hooves is what you would hear in the dark. Probably the mules saw or heard something, maybe an animal, maybe some other threat . No guesses on how I felt, since the only thing between me and the outside was the thin tarpaulin of the tent.
Dawn was always welcome and in a sense you felt safe with light.
You think you conquered the night - the mountains can break into a harsh rain and dark clouds at its wish and bite you back with the cold.
You think you ascended and achieved, the mountain shows you how laborious the descent can be.
You enjoy the warmth of the sun,and in a few seconds you could well be shivering in the cold breeze.
You may think you exercised and you are "All Set", wait until the ranges test your knees and give you the aches and pains you have never felt before.
If your perception is antagonistic, the sierra reflects the same to you in abundance.
You may be famished yet the nausea due to the altitude will not let you enjoy a bite or even a sip of water.
The wind buzzed in your tent and you could hear the jangle of the bells on the mules.
Several times I could not open my eyes due to fear, I would keep feeling that someone/ something is near my tent and keeping my eyes shut somehow protected me!! The animals would suddenly run and the heavy hooves is what you would hear in the dark. Probably the mules saw or heard something, maybe an animal, maybe some other threat . No guesses on how I felt, since the only thing between me and the outside was the thin tarpaulin of the tent.
Dawn was always welcome and in a sense you felt safe with light.
You think you conquered the night - the mountains can break into a harsh rain and dark clouds at its wish and bite you back with the cold.
You think you ascended and achieved, the mountain shows you how laborious the descent can be.
You enjoy the warmth of the sun,and in a few seconds you could well be shivering in the cold breeze.
You may think you exercised and you are "All Set", wait until the ranges test your knees and give you the aches and pains you have never felt before.
If your perception is antagonistic, the sierra reflects the same to you in abundance.
You may be famished yet the nausea due to the altitude will not let you enjoy a bite or even a sip of water.
You place your foot on a rock, just to realize you slipped and fell face forwards.
You tried to get a hold in the snow, to find your self waist deep in the snow unable to come out without help.
You stand beside the best place at the bonfire and suddenly the wind blew the embers right into your face.
There really isn't much that you have control over and the only way to be is to let go.
The altitude can give you headaches and nausea like never before, combine that with all the aches and pains suddenly your mind magnifies the negatives.
You got to tell yourself, this way is no fun and perk yourself up. If you didnt do that,the loser would only be you. The beauty, the enormity of the mountains and the company seems insignificant in our own problems.
Every single day is different and you can plan nothing. You just have to give in to what nature tells you and go the way you are directed. At best you can only prepare yourself with, the food and clothes that you carry.
As long as I allowed the negative emotions and the magnified aches to take over my being, I could not enjoy the journey. I could complain against the best of things in my life.
Essentially I relish being in nature and rustic surroundings, they seemed inconsequential in the pain.
The antagonistic me didn't last too long, I was back in form in a short while with the wisdom that, It was indeed up to me.
Much similar to our daily lives. Our perception is indeed the gateway to how we lead our lives and how we look at the people around us.
The mountains akin to our lives and emotions play games. Show you that you are but a small speck in the universe. What matters is the eyeglass with which you choose to play the game.
Every single day is different and you can plan nothing. You just have to give in to what nature tells you and go the way you are directed. At best you can only prepare yourself with, the food and clothes that you carry.
As long as I allowed the negative emotions and the magnified aches to take over my being, I could not enjoy the journey. I could complain against the best of things in my life.
Essentially I relish being in nature and rustic surroundings, they seemed inconsequential in the pain.
The antagonistic me didn't last too long, I was back in form in a short while with the wisdom that, It was indeed up to me.
Much similar to our daily lives. Our perception is indeed the gateway to how we lead our lives and how we look at the people around us.
The mountains akin to our lives and emotions play games. Show you that you are but a small speck in the universe. What matters is the eyeglass with which you choose to play the game.
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