DAY 4 - Relaxation at Triund
Summary:
- Relaxation in morning
- Relaxation in afternoon
- Relaxation in evening
27 May 2013
I woke up with the sound of ice falling on my tent. It was barely 6 am. I took out my cam and excitedly opened my tent chain a little bit. I had seen ice fall only a couple of times in my life so i was very much excited. I could see that it was pouring cats and dogs outside. The size of ice granules increased gradually. I could barely take my hands out of my tent as the ice fall hurts a lot. I filmed a short movie from inside my tent only.
(Above: Ice fall at Triund)
By 7 am the rain and ice fall stopped, I came out of my tent and had a look at the Dhauladhars, The dark and thundering clouds were headed towards the snow capped range. I hoped none of the group was heading towards Indrahara pass today.
My guides were missing from the private guest house. The care taker, Kamlesh, told me that they were in the other shop at Triund drinking and playing cards all night. Kamlesh made me tea and a breakfast of bread-omelette. The Delhi group joined me by then. We had breakfast together. We bid goodbye to each other and they started there trek back for McLeod Ganj. I was not interested in going back to McLeod today itself. My train was next day at 22:30 from Pathankot, I could stay at Triund one more day and head for McLeod next day morning. It was better to spend the day on the green grasses of Triund hill looking at the snow capped Dhauladhars rather than renting a room in McLeod.
My guide returned by this time. They were still a bit high as a result of last night’s alcohol. They packed my tent and were ready to head down with me. I told them of my plans to stay here in Triund itself. I paid them the remaining amount of Rs. 2500 which was to be paid on reaching back at McLeod. I also tipped the guides a decent amount of Rs. 250 each, Bid good bye to them and assured I would return back safely to McLeod.
My guide returned by this time. They were still a bit high as a result of last night’s alcohol. They packed my tent and were ready to head down with me. I told them of my plans to stay here in Triund itself. I paid them the remaining amount of Rs. 2500 which was to be paid on reaching back at McLeod. I also tipped the guides a decent amount of Rs. 250 each, Bid good bye to them and assured I would return back safely to McLeod.
I rented a room at the guest house and spent most of my morning lazing in my bed. Rain was dripping intermittently all morning but by noon sun was shining again. I came out and sat on a rock absorbing heat from the sun. After a while I noticed a VIP caravan stop beside the guesthouse. The trekkers had still not reached Triund but their luggage had reached Triund on 3 horses. The porters were busy pitching tents for their customers. There were 2 sleeping tents, a kitchen tent along with 3 horses, 2 porters and 2 guides. The customers (trekkers) were 3 middle aged men from Pune on their first trek.
Apart from the VIP trekkers there were two couples who had rented a tent in front of the private guest house. They seemed nice people. I spent the whole day lazing around in my bed and in the Triund grass recovering from the fatigue of past couple of days.
Apart from the VIP trekkers there were two couples who had rented a tent in front of the private guest house. They seemed nice people. I spent the whole day lazing around in my bed and in the Triund grass recovering from the fatigue of past couple of days.
By evening I was fresh again. I decided to go for a small walk to the water stream which flows in the valley down the Triund hill. It was a 15-20 minute walk to the stream. I had hoped that the stream would be big enough to take a bath and hence I had taken a towel with me. But my plans flopped as the stream was very narrow and only a small amount of water was flowing through it. While returning back I collected some wood which for the evening camp fire.
As soon as the sun went down I started a fire which I had collected from the woods and spent most of my time besides its warmth. I had ordered a dinner of egg curry and roti. It was delicious.
As soon as the sun went down I started a fire which I had collected from the woods and spent most of my time besides its warmth. I had ordered a dinner of egg curry and roti. It was delicious.
(Above: Triund at Twilight)
Later on I was joined by the two couple who were from Bangalore. One of them was a photographer, one a videographer, other one a writer and one an engineer. We talked about our lives and our ambitions. I also entertained them with my Indrahara trek story. We all retired to our respective beds early by 10 pm. It felt good to sleep in a proper room and on a proper bed rather than inside a camp with a sleeping bag tied around my body