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Day 2: Took MJ as the victim of riding exhaustion, day 3 was no less
Day 3: Joshimath – Govind Ghay – Gangaria: 20kms on bike and 16 kms on foot
I shall take up from when Shivanshu finished! Before that a few pictures towards Govind ghat,
A point to add in the hurry to leave to Govind Ghat we skipped looking for an ATM as I wanted to pick up cash (This was mistake no. 1)
This was the scenario, Shivanshu figures out that trekking is not his game and stops after catching hold of MJ (when Seema and I last met was leading the way) who was trying to take the short cut in the wrong direction! Here they exchange the luggage. In the mean while Seema and I had upped our pace to catch hold of MJ, after a couple of Kms figured out he was nowhere in sight and might be behind us so we waited for about 20mins for both Shiv and MJ! After that we concluded that both ain’t coming, as MJ was not really interested to come to VOF on end of the previous day and Shiv already had his lungs hanging off his mouth due to a habit he needs to Quit!
We sat at a shop and figured out what was that we had as cash reserve, Rs. 1100/- total!!! :-O But after a debate we decided we where 4 kms off Govind Ghat and we shall do what we had come to do, to see the VOF! To our surprise MJ caught up at around 5’o clock. What a relief! We sat and recalculated the cash in hand once again as Gangari has no ATM’s so we had Rs. 3100/- in toto. Ok now we had the confidence that we can survive! So carried on the trek and captured pics till it turned dark!
Taking the short cut!
As the lights where fading
The last of day 3’s Pics. The rest of the visual splendor has been explained in words below.
The initial trek up from govind ghat is flowed by the serene sould of the river making rapids in tango with the mountains. In the mean while we had people giving us looks as if we were mad people, I remember an elderly Sardar on the horse riding downhill called upon us to say that, we should consider taking a horse and that the route further up is not very safe and are known for the wild animals! Well we decided we knew better (Mistake No.2). As the day turned night so did the number of people we saw dropped. There was a point where it was 7pm completely dark when the paved path way disappears into thin air. We send MJ back to ask a Saint sitting by the pathway a few meters before! The answer was get off the pathway into the river bed, now I could recall the old Sardar on the horse. Well we did and found a couple of Sardars(youngsters) confused in the river bed as there was no path that we could figure in the night and worse they had no torch and we had one but a decent one! By the time figured out the way a few more buys joined us and the bad part is none of us had ever done this trek so we where 10 guys and a Girl in total darkness. The first place we find to get on to the original path we climb to find a few tents pitched in! but then again the pathway disappears back into the river then I could see why, LANDSLIDE! Even a pathway had a major landslide where the original rock cut path had disappeared into the river, we climb back down and a few hundred meters ahead we again find a path leading upwards, the same scenario few tents pitched in, but we find a good hearted local who comes out of his tent and shows us the route and Walla we find our way back into the rock cut path.
Now the trek was fairly simple and we decided to hang on to the group of guys as it made no sense to get lost alone. All of a sudden we find a set of five guys walking back at a frantic phase saying that there was no path further on and it was not possible to find the way another landslide has taken the path with it! Now the group decided we will see what can be done once we reach there. So we where 15 guys and a Girl in the pitch dark and 4 torches guiding us through the jungle, we reach the landslide area and all looking at directions to take, where we were saved by a Horse man with a couple of horses and a couple of guys sitting on it! So he points us the direction and moves on as he was making his way up to Gangari as well, but this guy was at a good phase so we were in no position to catch him. This was 9pm and the board still read 4kms to Gangaria our destination for the night.
Seema, Mj and I broke away from the gang as they were slowing down due to the luggage they were carrying. We sat at a point safe from animals and ate the last packet Borbone that was left as the rest we had munched on the way up at 9.30. This is where the real steep section starts off. I was personally starting to lose breadth but had to keep up as both MJ and Seema where pretty comfortable climbing. There was a point when I needed a break every 10 steps. The at 10.15pm the last of the boards show up saying 2 kms to Gagaria, at this point my lungs were starting to cry out loud and fatigue started to creep in and I was toiling for each step. Seema was feeling the fatigue creep in as I could see that her steps where no longer sure footed. The body weight was starting to get transferred to the walking stick which we had bought for Rs.15 each at Govin Ghat which proved to be a good investment. MJ who was fatigued by riding the previous day was having the last laughs(To be mentioned MJ was carrying the larger of the two bags which had the cloths of Seema and Mine for the past 6kms and I was carrying his bag which was prity small), as Seema and I were taking the toll of the climb, But we were still not broaken physically and mentally, at least not yet.
Alas, the board read 400mtrs Gangaria and the next step is a plain leading across a few beautiful tents and a clearing which gave out the magnificence of the mountains as the rain was by now constant and mild. WE took a break here for a few minutes right in the middle of a water stream as this was the only place that seemed safe as the last section was dense forest and we knew wild animals especially bears where common in this mountain.
I still remember these few minutes as if it was happening right now. We were sitting facing the wall of mountains, not too far to take away the magnanimity and not too near to spoil the view. It was just right; I could see the numerous waterfalls created by the rain as silver streaks on a moonless dark night, the mountains where a dark wall standing high against the cloudy grayish black sky! The vast plains ending into a river which had created a deep Gorge was all that separated us form this mountain. No matter what camera you had this was a view impossible to capture. Think of how nice this view should have been that my fatigued brain at that point could capture it so well I can still recall.
We got up to make the dash for the last 400 meters to our destination and alas my feet gave up. I was having a cramp the couple of years not visiting the gym was taking its toll, I was broken physically. Now MJ was showing off his physical stamina and I whole heartedly handed over my next bag for him to carry!
Then it was slow progress cause for a change MJ had to sit every 10 steps now 
.
There was a small climb with a hell a lot of horses and even more Horse Dung to cross before Gangaria. We reached by 10.40pm and figured we got just 20mins to find our self a place to stay as lights go out at 11.00pm there!
We went straight to GMVNL’s guest house which has always been the best all across Uttara Khand, but we where turned down due to unavailability of rooms so we ran back to the start of Gagaria where we saw a new hotel, we entered, order food and the lights went out! We had da food sent to the room for Rs. 50/- extra for room service
WE crashed for another day!!!!
From here on expenditure was sky high and we were running out of cash on day 4!
Day 3: Joshimath – Govind Ghay – Gangaria: 20kms on bike and 16 kms on foot
I shall take up from when Shivanshu finished! Before that a few pictures towards Govind ghat,
A point to add in the hurry to leave to Govind Ghat we skipped looking for an ATM as I wanted to pick up cash (This was mistake no. 1)
This was the scenario, Shivanshu figures out that trekking is not his game and stops after catching hold of MJ (when Seema and I last met was leading the way) who was trying to take the short cut in the wrong direction! Here they exchange the luggage. In the mean while Seema and I had upped our pace to catch hold of MJ, after a couple of Kms figured out he was nowhere in sight and might be behind us so we waited for about 20mins for both Shiv and MJ! After that we concluded that both ain’t coming, as MJ was not really interested to come to VOF on end of the previous day and Shiv already had his lungs hanging off his mouth due to a habit he needs to Quit!
We sat at a shop and figured out what was that we had as cash reserve, Rs. 1100/- total!!! :-O But after a debate we decided we where 4 kms off Govind Ghat and we shall do what we had come to do, to see the VOF! To our surprise MJ caught up at around 5’o clock. What a relief! We sat and recalculated the cash in hand once again as Gangari has no ATM’s so we had Rs. 3100/- in toto. Ok now we had the confidence that we can survive! So carried on the trek and captured pics till it turned dark!
Taking the short cut!
As the lights where fading
The last of day 3’s Pics. The rest of the visual splendor has been explained in words below.
The initial trek up from govind ghat is flowed by the serene sould of the river making rapids in tango with the mountains. In the mean while we had people giving us looks as if we were mad people, I remember an elderly Sardar on the horse riding downhill called upon us to say that, we should consider taking a horse and that the route further up is not very safe and are known for the wild animals! Well we decided we knew better (Mistake No.2). As the day turned night so did the number of people we saw dropped. There was a point where it was 7pm completely dark when the paved path way disappears into thin air. We send MJ back to ask a Saint sitting by the pathway a few meters before! The answer was get off the pathway into the river bed, now I could recall the old Sardar on the horse. Well we did and found a couple of Sardars(youngsters) confused in the river bed as there was no path that we could figure in the night and worse they had no torch and we had one but a decent one! By the time figured out the way a few more buys joined us and the bad part is none of us had ever done this trek so we where 10 guys and a Girl in total darkness. The first place we find to get on to the original path we climb to find a few tents pitched in! but then again the pathway disappears back into the river then I could see why, LANDSLIDE! Even a pathway had a major landslide where the original rock cut path had disappeared into the river, we climb back down and a few hundred meters ahead we again find a path leading upwards, the same scenario few tents pitched in, but we find a good hearted local who comes out of his tent and shows us the route and Walla we find our way back into the rock cut path.
Now the trek was fairly simple and we decided to hang on to the group of guys as it made no sense to get lost alone. All of a sudden we find a set of five guys walking back at a frantic phase saying that there was no path further on and it was not possible to find the way another landslide has taken the path with it! Now the group decided we will see what can be done once we reach there. So we where 15 guys and a Girl in the pitch dark and 4 torches guiding us through the jungle, we reach the landslide area and all looking at directions to take, where we were saved by a Horse man with a couple of horses and a couple of guys sitting on it! So he points us the direction and moves on as he was making his way up to Gangari as well, but this guy was at a good phase so we were in no position to catch him. This was 9pm and the board still read 4kms to Gangaria our destination for the night.
Seema, Mj and I broke away from the gang as they were slowing down due to the luggage they were carrying. We sat at a point safe from animals and ate the last packet Borbone that was left as the rest we had munched on the way up at 9.30. This is where the real steep section starts off. I was personally starting to lose breadth but had to keep up as both MJ and Seema where pretty comfortable climbing. There was a point when I needed a break every 10 steps. The at 10.15pm the last of the boards show up saying 2 kms to Gagaria, at this point my lungs were starting to cry out loud and fatigue started to creep in and I was toiling for each step. Seema was feeling the fatigue creep in as I could see that her steps where no longer sure footed. The body weight was starting to get transferred to the walking stick which we had bought for Rs.15 each at Govin Ghat which proved to be a good investment. MJ who was fatigued by riding the previous day was having the last laughs(To be mentioned MJ was carrying the larger of the two bags which had the cloths of Seema and Mine for the past 6kms and I was carrying his bag which was prity small), as Seema and I were taking the toll of the climb, But we were still not broaken physically and mentally, at least not yet.
Alas, the board read 400mtrs Gangaria and the next step is a plain leading across a few beautiful tents and a clearing which gave out the magnificence of the mountains as the rain was by now constant and mild. WE took a break here for a few minutes right in the middle of a water stream as this was the only place that seemed safe as the last section was dense forest and we knew wild animals especially bears where common in this mountain.
I still remember these few minutes as if it was happening right now. We were sitting facing the wall of mountains, not too far to take away the magnanimity and not too near to spoil the view. It was just right; I could see the numerous waterfalls created by the rain as silver streaks on a moonless dark night, the mountains where a dark wall standing high against the cloudy grayish black sky! The vast plains ending into a river which had created a deep Gorge was all that separated us form this mountain. No matter what camera you had this was a view impossible to capture. Think of how nice this view should have been that my fatigued brain at that point could capture it so well I can still recall.
We got up to make the dash for the last 400 meters to our destination and alas my feet gave up. I was having a cramp the couple of years not visiting the gym was taking its toll, I was broken physically. Now MJ was showing off his physical stamina and I whole heartedly handed over my next bag for him to carry!
Then it was slow progress cause for a change MJ had to sit every 10 steps now .There was a small climb with a hell a lot of horses and even more Horse Dung to cross before Gangaria. We reached by 10.40pm and figured we got just 20mins to find our self a place to stay as lights go out at 11.00pm there!
We went straight to GMVNL’s guest house which has always been the best all across Uttara Khand, but we where turned down due to unavailability of rooms so we ran back to the start of Gagaria where we saw a new hotel, we entered, order food and the lights went out! We had da food sent to the room for Rs. 50/- extra for room service
WE crashed for another day!!!!From here on expenditure was sky high and we were running out of cash on day 4!
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