Trek to Thamsar..almost :)
The start was pretty normal, five of us plan and three make it..
Dont know why, but there was this slight bit of anticipation that this would happen.
Meenu and me would have marched on any way as we were really itching to go,specially after our last attempt where we had to come back because of Eddie(our dog)..Novi (our friend) and her dog Chaos (dogs name) too were totally desperate for an outing i guess..
So yes, ours was a gang of three,three first timers and Chaos-the dog.Co-incidentlly the two friends who dropped out were the most expeienced/seasoned trekkers..This meant the entire plan, route, number of days etc had to be re looked at..
We started our discussion with a few route options. Considering our experience,fitness and weather,we finalized a five night,six day short n slow trip to Thamsar pass n return from Bir via Billing..
From the time this route and date to go were decided, we had a days delay on account Novi's tent reaching Bir sent by a friend from uttranchal by post..Anyway, this never made it on time and she had to make a last minute alternative arrangement...The weather forecast too was looking far from ideal for our plan to fully materialize...We got some more depressing news that Thamsar was inaccessiable on account of bad conditions i.e. too much snow..
So after much contemplation and a fair bit of desperational /rational compromise,we decided to hike upto where nature permitted us..which in the end turned out to be upto Jhordi waterfall :)..Once again planned five and could so three nights in the end :)
While all of the above was getting addressed.We were also parellelley planning on supplies ...Our idea was to be totally self sufficient, right from food,tea,breakfast and all of it.However, by the time we actually set our foot out, all our ration was out as we had figured that food was availaible along the way. So we now decided to only carry a few snacks, and more than a few packs of instant noodles , tea and ofcourse a stove to cook all of this..And yes, the last addition was Novi's bulky 2 man 4kilo tent :)..the last bit was to keep Eddie with Novi's friend for a few days...
day 1:hitchike adventure :)Bone grinding stuff for meenu n Novi because of a ride we took from close to Billing..
As we started our trek from Billing to Rajgundha, Meenu n me were surprised to see a few vehicles pass us.Only just a couple of years back we used to be shouldering our bikes a few sections on this trail and even when Meenu last raced here, and now there is this slight bit of traffick,unbeleaiavable!
Anyway, ten minutes into our walk we saw a vacant jeep approching us. I quickly asked the group if they wanted to hitch a ride,ofcourse the first one to respond affermative was Novi whoze pack was the heaviest i guess :)
As soon as the jeep stopped to pick us up, we quickly justified our action by telling each other that it was rather stupid to hike a jeep trail :).
We jumped into the vechile and started our ride towards Rajgundha..Meenu,chaos and Novi jumped at the back and i chose to park my self in the front with the driver..Five minutes or so into the ride, i was smiling to be seated in the front,while the rest of the gang was getting crushed at the back on account of a very bumpy ride..
As the jeep kept climbing onroute Chaina , i checked with the guys if they wanted to walk or continue with the ride...The ladies and the dog were quick to jump of the jeep to walk the rest of the journey to Rajgundha..This was definately a good decision as the walk was much better than the jeep ride..
Anyway, post a beautiful walk on a nice gradual sloping trail, the going was super easy and all of us were awstruck with the beauty of chota bhangal/rajgundha...Nice winding trail with a clear view of Thamsar deep in the valley and barot to the opposite side....
We found a nice spot just before Rajgundga and decided to have our packed lunch there under a tree...
Post lunch we continued in the same direction until kukergundga where we parked ourselves at a local eating joint for a chai and checked if dinner was possible?
The person running this place is a kind Nepali gentleman,he very happy to host us.So from chai,food,drinks and bedding everthing was availible..He also pointed out a place for us to pitch our tents..
As soon as the chai was done, we started to make our camp as it was was time for a mid afternoon shower..Which came in later in form of a light drizzle..
This evening was spent loitring around the campsite, small walks around the village and later with a fantastik dinner, local wine and a bonfire all credit to the ladies)..
day 2) Rajgundga to plachak..
it was quite a lazy morning at rajgundga with none us in any hurry at all..i met a local at the tea shop at the time of breakfast,and he suggested that we should have been at plachak by this time :),i asked him why? what for? he didnt have no reason!
Anyway, after a nice hearty bfeakfast the three of us started on a steady march towards plachak.
The ladies went in for a quick dip on route a water body,they felt very happy to be refreshed for the rest of the hike..
We were there about just before the afternoon shower and to order lunch and set up camp..Yet again the timing was perfect, camp set, had lunch,followed by a passing shower..
Plachak is quite a scenic place with the valley visible from both ends and a good view of Thamsar,the mighty flow of the Uhl river and a magnificent view of the Dauladhar range.
There was us, the nepali family running the small eatery, one shephard herd with their gang of big dogs and an in transit resturant and store stuck at plachak due to bad weather i.e. inaccessable Thamsar pass..
This evening yet again wothwhile loitring around Uhl , talking to the local visitors followed by dinner and a good night sleep.
day3) Plachak to Jhordi and back.
Instead of spending a night out at Jhordi,we decided to keep our camp put at Plachak and do a day hike n return.
So post breakfast and packing a few snacks, off we were to Jhordi waterfall. This was the most scenic hike until now with the trail throwing a few challanges at us i.e. a few glacier crossings, some land slide zones etc..
All in all this was a pretty interesting hike.
Upon reaching back to plachak we were welcomed by a huge storm lasting thru the entire evening :),Novi along with Chaos decided to shift base into the forest rest house to spend the night,however, Meenu and me decided to stick to our tent..
luckily the sky cleared up in the night and we could be both dry and warm :)
day4) back to rajgundha n to Billing..
Return hike was swift, a quick hike to Rajgundha and a hitch to Billing from there..Novi decided to stay back in Rajgundha for one more day as we pushed on further back home :)
All in all, brilliant time spent with friends n a good practise run for our upcoming trip!
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