[Photo Feature]: In Search Of Fresh Snow

[tourer_kashif]

Day 1: Noida - Shimla - Matiana

It was my dream to witness a proper snowfall.
Then one fine day I got lead about snowfall in Himachal.

So without wasting much time I got my bike serviced and started the trip to Shimla. I reached shimla by noon but to my dismay the snow had already started receding. So I decided to proceed towards Narkanda.

Just a few Kms after Shimla started long stretches of black ice. Being the first timer on black ice I had my share of fall.Actually 2 of them,one at very low speed and once while standing only.But this taught me lesson that kept me alert for when real things came.

The surface was extremely slippery.But the views were amazing.I could make till Matiana only by evening.this place is some 17 km before narkanda.I settled in the PWD guest house for just 300 bucks.I must say it was very good.

Just when I thought that I had enough of snow the caretaker told me that tonight it might snow.And if it happen you can expect the roads to be closed for atlest a few days.

At one hand it was a good news but staying away from office this week would be costly affair for me.With these mixed feelings I slept in my sleeping bag wearing 3 thermals and still shivering.

[Noor]

Thread approved

Some beautiful pics....

[sunny_]

WOW Kashif, great pics. Congrats for the trip.
I'm yet to visit a hill station and trips like this makes me think to go for it!

[rharish90]

Awesome pics bro! You must have enjoyed it to the core!

Post some in high res so that we can use it as wallpapers

[RedFlash]

Nice man !!

[Ananz]

arre kahsif bhai.. another trip so soon??? i donno what to say....
you're lucky....

Nice pics

[tourer_kashif]

Thread approved

Some beautiful pics....

Thanks Noor

WOW Kashif, great pics. Congrats for the trip.
I'm yet to visit a hill station and trips like this makes me think to go for it!

Go for it

Awesome pics bro! You must have enjoyed it to the core!

Post some in high res so that we can use it as wallpapers

Nice man !!

Thanks

arre kahsif bhai.. another trip so soon??? i donno what to say....
you're lucky....

Nice pics

Bhaisaab 6 mahine ke baad jakar 1 chotu sa ride kiya hai maine... I am dead busy for last 6 months. Even my bike had started rusting.

[tourer_kashif]

Day2 & 3

Day2: Matiana - Theog - Solan

Next morning was the most beautiful morning I had seen ever.
There was mild snowfall over night and everything had turned white.Simply brilliant.

The locals asked me to return before the snow gets worse.I started at 6 am in the morning and very soon it started snowing heavily and within few kms everything around turned white.
The surface became extremely slippery and there were small uphill sections where it took me almost 20-30 mins just to cover 100 meters.It was extremely difficult but amazingly beautiful.

At one turn I was as usual riding @ 5kmph with both feets down in the middle of road, a maruti 800 came from the back and started honking from far away,, I didn't had much choice as any quick move would have made me fall. The car came closer applied brakes at the turn and under zero friction it went straight and BANG it hit the snow wall.

That was really scary.

After 4 hours and 15 kms I finally reached Theog.
Road from Theog to Shimla was even worse.All the vehicles were returning after futile attempts to go to shimla.

locals suggested me to take alternate route from Theog which directly connects Solan. They said there will be bad road but no snow.

I thought to end my adventure here as I had to return to Delhi same day.

But then gods had some other plan.
Journey from Theog to Solan became the toughest ride of my life.
Just a few kms after theog I had a flat tyre. To add to that started heavy rains. It was the first time I was on a ride without rain gear.
Unfortunately due to bad weather all the tyre shops were closed that day.

At one point I saw 5-6 cars stopped.Actually there was small landslide going on ahead.
Just when it settled the drivers removed bigger stones. Two cars crossed while 2-3 spotter were watching for landslide. I started my bike to move and I heard bahago bhago....... bhaisaab my heart was in my mouth.My numb body that had frozen suddenly became super active.I ran like anything. it was shooting stones and then a big boulder.Next time when they cleared the road, I just prayed to god and crossed it.

50 kms of offroad with flat front, wet and shivering in extreme cold under continuous rainfall, landslide, I somehow managed to reach Solan in the evening.

Next challenge was to dry my clothes, I made full use of the room heater and spent 4-5 hours drying my clothes.

I would remember this 90 kms from Theog to Solan all my life.
I lived a 20 day ride in just 2-3 days.

[daredemon]

Awesome Trip there ...enjoyed reading and seeing the pics as well....white beauty all over..

[I.S.Avinash]

wow..,Fantastic ride bro kudos.. And also awesome pictures

[Sumit_B]

This is awesome stuff... nice pictures Kashif.

[rachitkohli]

freaaggggginnnggg awesome kashif bhai...
What a thrilling ride..!!
Am sure, the reality is way beyond & tougher then the words & pics..!! Brilliant ride there.. Hats off..!!!

[Hoodibaba]

Just unimagineable !!!!!

[beruoist]

Wow..Wow.Awesome ride Kashif bhai.

Cheers
Biru

[RoadZilla]

Effing awesome pics Kashif! Especially the bike all covered by snow.