Kedarkantha Trek : A Tale of Triumph at 12,500 Feet

Introduction

Greetings, fellow adventurers! Allow me to introduce myself – I am Trupal, a 30-year-old daredevil weighing a whopping 95 kg. Oh, and did I mention I recently sprained my ankle? Despite my track record of walks lasting a mere 20 minutes, I have made the audacious decision to conquer the majestic Kedarkantha peak. Why, you ask? Well, all thanks to those captivating sunrise videos on Instagram, of course! Who needs practice when you have social media inspiration, am I right? It’s like those epic movie dialogues – “Zindagi lambi nahi, badi honi chahiye, Babumoshai!” (Translation: Life shouldn’t just be long, it should be grand!)

The Call of the Mountain :-My trekking background

Now, I must admit, I have always been an enthusiast of mountains. I have explored the wonders of Himachal and Uttarakhand, but I have never dared to venture into the realm of winter trekking – the extreme weather edition. My trekking resume? Well, let’s just say I have conquered Kheerganga, a trek that the elite dismiss as a mere walk in the park. Quite literally.

Considering my lifetime best of continuous walking lasting a mere half an hour, you can imagine the terror that gripped me when I decided to embark on a four-day hill climbing extravaganza. Was I scared? Just a tad. Nevertheless, on January 15, 2024, I mustered up some courage and enrolled myself in this daring trekking escapade.

Navigating Trek Booking Policies

And so, the saga of online trek bookings begins. Amongst renowned websites with rules longer than my 20-minute walks, I stumbled upon one that made me question if I was purchasing a trek or auditioning for a marathon. They demanded thirty days of walking, covering a distance of 4 km in 30 minutes – oh, and a BMI below 25, a statistic I hilariously fell far from achieving.

To make matters even more Humiliating, they had categories based on BMI like underweight, normal, overweight, and the cherry on top, “obee I” (yes, “obese”) and Obese II. And guess what? I fall under the “Obese II” category. Yep, that’s me, embracing the challenge with open arms. So, amidst all these strict policies, I stumble upon a brochure from Himalayan Hikers. Their words? Soft, light, compared to the other sites. It’s like they’re saying, “Hey, it’s about the journey, not the checkboxes.”

The Adventure Awaits

And so, with a hint of sarcasm, a sprinkle of humor, and a whole lot of nerves, I take the plunge and book my first trek with Himalayan Hikers. Because why not add a little adventure to life, right? Let’s see where this journey takes me – broken ankle and all!

Day 1:-  Dehradun to Sankri

Our journey began in Dehradun on January 17th. The next day, we hopped on tempo travelers and headed towards Sankri, the base camp village for our trek. Our group of 10 people came from different parts of India, but quickly became friends through our travel experience.

The adventure truly began as we hit the road at dawn. The curvey mountain roads brought on a rollercoaster of emotions, with some in our group even experiencing mountain sickness. Nausea and vomiting became all too common, and the fear of throwing up made us skip meals.

Arriving in Sankri, we were starving but had a meeting with our trek leaders Danish and Dhani. They shared stories of the challenging Kedarkantha trek, including the dreaded mountain cold and also informed us for the gears we need to carry to face those challenges. After a delicious dinner and some fun conversations, we went to bed, excited for what lay ahead.

As the mercury dipped to a bone-chilling minus 3 degrees at night, we realized this trek wasn’t going to be a walk in the park. But hey, that’s half the fun, right? Little did we know, the real adventure was just around the corner! As they say, “Picture abhi baki hai, mere dost.” And i woke up early in the morning with all the excitement.

Day 2 : A Twist in the Trail: Sankri to Juda ka Talab Adventure

On Day 2 of our Kedarkantha trek, we were all set to go from Sankri to Juda ka Talab, thinking we were ready for whatever winter had in store. But surprise, surprise! This time, there was no usual snowfall in January – strange, right? Yet, it was still pretty freezing in Sankri, making us bundle up like snowmen.

As we started walking, the uphill climb warmed us up real quick. I even started sweating in just 5 minutes! So, off came my jacket. But, uh-oh, 15 minutes later, I realized I might have underestimated the whole “be physically fit” thing. I was huffing and puffing every 5 minutes, thinking, “Maybe mental peace is good, but my body needs some serious pep talk!”

The trail had these little dhabas, sort of like mountain pit stops. They were a bit pricey, but hey, bringing food up here must be tough. We survived on some maggies and local juice – not exactly a feast, but it kept us going.

The path was tough, with lots of ups and downs, and mules carrying stuff making it a bit dusty. We got strict instructions to stick to the mountain side when the mules were around – apparently, they had a kick that could send us rolling down the hills!

As we climbed, resting made me feel cold again. Now, I had to decide: wear the jacket and get sweaty or rest and feel cold? It was like a wardrobe dilemma in the middle of nowhere.

Finally, by evening, we reached Juda ka Talab base camp. But, surprise number two – all that sweating and the cold gave me a fever! I crawled into my tent, skipped dinner, and worried I might have to bail on the trek. But I was stubborn. I told myself, “At least reach Kedarkantha base camp!” A good night’s rest worked some magic, and my fever decided to take a break.

So, from Sankri to Juda ka Talab was a wild ride – a bit tough, a bit funny, and a lot unexpected. Lesson learned: mountains don’t follow the rulebook, but hey, that’s what makes the adventure!

Day 3 : Juda Ka talab to Kedarkantha Base camp

After a hearty morning breakfast, we embarked on our journey towards the base camp. The trail from Juda Ka Talab to Kedarkantha Base Camp led us through a mesmerizing forest, adorned with majestic pine and oak trees. As we steadily ascended to higher altitudes, the challenge of the climb became apparent. However, today’s trek was relatively short, allowing us to take frequent breaks and reach the base camp with ease by afternoon.

To my delight, an incredible lunch awaited us at the camp. Despite battling a fever the previous day, I felt remarkably better today. But the highlight of the day was an unexpected game of cricket amidst the mountains. As I huffed and puffed my way up, I somehow found an inexplicable surge of energy while playing. It was as if the mountains themselves were fueling my spirit, and I never once felt fatigued.

As the sun began its descent, the temperature dropped significantly due to our high altitude. Undeterred by the cold, we gathered around a campfire in the evening, sharing stories and laughter. The beauty of such group expeditions lies in the opportunity to meet individuals with varying levels of experience in trekking, hiking, and adventure. It’s a melting pot of like-minded souls, each with their own tales to tell.

That night, we retired early, knowing we had an early start the next morning. Little did we anticipate the bone-chilling cold that awaited us. Instructed to layer up with clothing, I adorned myself with four t-shirts, a cozy down jacket, three layers of pants, and three pairs of woolen socks. Yet, even this excessive preparation couldn’t shield me from the freezing temperatures. It was a battle against the elements, but we managed to survive the icy night, albeit with minimal sleep.

Day 4 :The summit Day

Before dawn at 2 am, our trek leader woke us up. We felt tired but excited as we got ready for the big day ahead. 

Today, we aimed to reach the top of Kedarkantha, a tough challenge that tested our endurance and determination in the cold winter. Wrapped up in warm clothes and wearing special shoes with spikes called crampons, we set off. Our leader reminded us to fix the crampons under our shoes for better grip on the snow. Despite the freezing cold, we got a sweet treat to boost our energy. At 2:30 am, we began our climb from the forest, guided only by the small lights on our heads. Even with all our layers, our fingers quickly went numb. We had to use hand warmers to warm them up.

The high altitude and freezing air made it hard to breathe, but the thought of seeing the sunrise from the top kept us going. After climbing steeply for an hour and a half, we were tired and hoped for a rest stop. Surprisingly, our leader told us about a place to get food, which encouraged us to keep going. After another tough half-hour climb, we found the place and had hot noodles to warm us up. Feeling refreshed, we continued our journey. 

By 6 am, we could see the peak, but the climb got steeper. My weight made it hard to walk, and the strong wind made it feel even colder. The path became slippery due to the lack of snow, even with our crampons. Some of us slipped, but luckily, no one got hurt. With our leader’s help, we got closer to the top. I felt like giving up, but our leader, Danish, encouraged me, and I made it to the summit by 7 am.

Reaching the top of Kedarkantha filled us with so many feelings. It was like a big warm hug in the freezing cold. Looking out from the summit, seeing the sun coming up and coloring the sky in shades of orange and pink, was incredible. It felt like a moment we’d never forget.  Watching the sunrise made us feel amazed and proud. All the tiredness from climbing disappeared, and we felt really happy about what we’d done. Taking a group photo together, we smiled knowing we’d all made it up there because we helped each other along the way. But even with all the happiness, we also felt small compared to the huge mountains around us. The wind was cold and strong, reminding us how tough nature can be. It made us appreciate every second we spent at the top.

Heading back down, we carried those feelings with us. Climbing Kedarkantha wasn’t easy, but it was worth it for the views and the sense of accomplishment we felt at the summit. Descending was easier, and we decided to stay at the Hargao campsite for another night to enjoy the peaceful mountains.

Over dinner, we shared stories of reaching the top and other treks we had done. We talked late into the night, happy about our achievement. The next day, after breakfast, we returned to Sankri, completing our journey. Conquering Kedarkantha was tough, but it was worth it in the end.

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