Monday, March 24, 2014

nagtibba


The trek to Nagtibba is a generic easy trek if weather favours you and a slightly ardous one if you are not in favour with weather gods. That being said, a motely group of 15 started with all the right intentions from Delhi ISBT towards Dehradun at 11’O clock (night). An ice breaker stop at the BIKANO followed by a early morning tempo trip to Pantwadi saw us welcome the Saturday morning chill.
The walk from Pantwadi is a gradual climb and an easy one but with first timers it’s a slightly awkward experience as they start getting used to tightening back straps and the frequent need to sip gulps of water( of course due to dryness and the sun). We started a bit late ie around 1100 so the ‘lunch break’ was more of a snack pitstop with some rice pulao and dahi.
It took us almost 5 hours to reach the camping ground ..an undulating slope with the right angle so as to afford maximum open space without the wind chill factor.

Since most of the beginners were tired , it was an effort to pitch in the tents and make the camping grounds ready. However this was followed by a rewarding plate of piping hot pakoras and tea. As the group intermingled, the sky played host to changing weather patterns which was a uninterrupted show of myriad colors. Settling down around a quickly assembled campfire , soon the dinner was ready. Hunger mixed with tiredness gave a welcome taste to the chicken and paneer dishes that our cook Raju churned out. Water was a luxury ..and more so warm water,but nevertheless a learning expierance for all the first timers. Ankit Punia was the star of the campfire night with Aman pitching in with oneliners and the ever careful Pankaj keeping a watchful eye while regulating the routine with clockwork precision. Soon fatigue overtook us and we slipped into the cosy sleeping bags with a prayer that weather gods should continue to smile on us.
Day three started with a crispy albeit warm sun . A few bites of breakfast with great tea and we were ready to braeak camp to move towards the Nag temple followed by a onward climb. We encountered snow real early on and decided that we cant camp high up. So the porters had to be sent back to the original camping ground but not before we were presented with warm dalia for lunch. We started the climb towards Nagtibba at approximately 2 o clock(a bit late by our calculations.

Within 4PM we were in sighting distance of the peak. However the snow depth was increasing by every feet and light was beginning to fade. Around 100 meters from the peak , we had to take a call as to either continue with the climb and risk a late return or return back safely in time.
Pankaj came to our rescue with a brilliant brain wave that we should cover as much peak distance as possible till 4:30 and return back dot at 430 from wherever we have reached. Pushing on with his josh he was all around pumping in the already tired junta. And as on cue , the entire team was filled with a wild desire to reach the top. Ploughing through more than three feets of snow, the first of the guys reached well within 430 with the rear being brought up within ten minutes.This was followed by jubiliation and cheering and lots of hugging(as if we were on Everest itself). It was a team effort and somehow the team came real close at that precise moment.
A few minutes at the top was followed by a quick descent to our base camp. All along thanking the rain gods for not paying us a visit.
At the camp…warm soup awaited us as the team changed the already wet gear and freshened up. A campfire was waiting for us and the tents were already in place. A welcome sight for the weary team.
An animated campfire which included some pretty philosophical gyaan continued through out the night. The next day morning we marched down to Pantwadi followed by a dinner at Moti Mahal restaurant.. sponsored by Pankaj.With our bellies full and tired yet happy bodies, we boarded the busto ISBT Delhi.
A great trek to start the trekking season, which was elevated to a happy gathering thanks in no small part to Pankaj,Aman and Ankit.Till we meet again…!!



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