SAR PASS TREK - DAY 1

Though the trek is 5D/4N.The whole package was for 6N/5D.You must ask why? Well, one day was acclimatization day in Kasol.This was the difference in the packages of other trek groups.So,this was 6D/5N package at only ₹7500.Yes as compared to the other treks which were offering for 5k-6k, this was a bit higher.And the reason stated earlier,we chose this because of the extra day.And yes it was worth it.

So,the trek group was "Kailashrath treks". Amazing people.

The trip started a day earlier as I stay in Kolkata and had to reach Delhi.Flight was the only option as getting an extra leave is a tough affair.Our bus from Delhi to Kasol was from ISBT and man! How we caught our bus 🥲.

"Agar 5 mins mei nahi aaye aaplog,toh ja raha hoon main,rukte nahi hum aise madam",these were the exact words from the bus ppl 😹

We reached in another 5 mins, got on the bus, waived our cousin a very bad goodbye as we were in a hurry,hope he will excuse us for this.But ya, a sigh of relief that we finally boarded the bus!!!

The journey was a 12hr one with three stops ,bus was clean, seats were comfortable, blanket, water bottle and ya charging port was available,so ya, Laxmi holidays bus was a 5 star for me.

The dinner spot was as if we were at some fort,"Vivaan" was it's name.

We reached Kasol at around 7 in the morning.The journey from Delhi was smooth.We located our base camp at Kasol which was just 10-15 mins walk from the bus adda.Kasol was cold.

The base camp had Swiss cottages, kitchen and dining area and also washroom facilities.Made full use of it as for the next 5 days, it was going to be tough 😁.Had breakfast at camp and after the first brief, we went to Manikaran Gurudwara which was 4km away from our camp.Shared cabs are available in Kasol for Rs 50/pax.

Gurudwara was good, right next to Parwati river.Had langar and went back to our camp as the acclimatization walk was supposed to start at 2.

Brief for the 2 hr hike which also included everyone's introduction acted as an icebreaker.The walk was also to identify the type of walkers in the group and self aware as I am,I knew I was a slow Walker and as they say...slow walker decides the pace.So we started at around 3 and finished it by 4:30.Demotivated as we were as we knew we were zero at our fitness.Not everyone, but some.

Hike trail was fresh,full of greenary.After the walk,we went exploring the market and has some banana muffins from a German Bakery near the bridge.

Another briefing ran for like 45 mins by Pushkar and it was amazing and was a much required one.'We will be on our own and we all were the only ones with each other',this message was loud and clear.

Went for another round of market hopping and bought the last minute stuffs- gloves,meds, raincoats but sadly we didn't get thermos flask.No worries, we already made many friends.

Got a scolding from trek leader for going without permission but since it was not late night, the intensity was less.Very punctual these people were which again was for our own good.

Night was cold 🥶 but sleep was important.Charged all phones, gadgets and power banks and went off to sleep.Sleeping in a sleeping bag is no fun.

I was not alone,as I had my sister and my trek partner/ex colleague/friend(all in 1) with me. We three and the rest seventeen. The only thought was,"Was it a good decision or a bad to bring my sister along 🤔?!".