Day 1: started from Sankri. It was a 5 hour uphill climb. Within the first 30 minutes, my legs started aching and all the old memories came back. After a point, all of us were walking silently. Each with their own demons. It was a very tiring climb. Came close to giving up at many points, but I realized that it was more mental than physical. I can feel that I'm more fit than the last time, but still nowhere close to doing this effortlessly.The voices in my head mocking my fitness, linking this to all other instances in my life where I have failed... Pulling out incidents long forgotten... Made me realize that of all the demons we face, its us that we should fear the most!
Reached the Juda ka Talab campsite in a legs trembling, quivering mess. Sank down next to a tree and just breathed for some time. A good lunch and a nap later, the trials of the morning seemed far away. Enjoyed the scenery.. being digitally cut off from the whole world... The BH was calm. His knees were not giving him any problem as he feared. Mowgli was running around as usual, high on energy. Surrounded by tall trees, mountain dogs for company, my loved ones near me (missed Bambi though).. I wish I could just bottle up that feeling and keep it with me always. It was if my heart slowed down. All the worries seemed insignificant... Just being in the moment
Day 2: started from Juda ka Talab campsite. Warm up and stretches done, we started our next climb. It was a very short trek compared to the previous day. And the highlight was the snow. All of us had fun sliding down and playing with it. I have now realized that the first 30 minutes are the hardest as thats when my body protests the most. After that its more of not thinking too much and just putting one foot in front of the other.
We reached TaalKhetra by 11 am. A beautiful campsite surrounded by snow capped mountains. We walked, played, talked, relaxed.. All the while sneaking glances at the majestic Kedarkantha peak. Nobody voiced the thought that was foremost in all of our minds.. We are going to climb that? In the evening, we had the technical demonstration for the crampons and the getters, things to remember while walking in the snow, the 4 am start the next day. My mind froze at this point. I had to tell myself to breathe. All my fears came back. The BH was as always calm.. continuously motivating me.. telling me not to overthink this. Mowgli was excited at the prospect of climbing in snow.
After a point of time, in my mind there was no more fear. I was calm. I knew its going to be difficult.. That I'll struggle. I'll lose my breath and the demons in my mind will come rushing out ready to pull me back.. to somewhere safe.. within my comfort zone.. but what of my dreams? what of me? the old impulsive me who was ready to go anywhere.. face any demon... I kept telling myself that I cant give up now. I'm a dancer.. I can walk 5 km in 43 minutes.. New labels that I needed.. that give me strength.. I can do it.. Yes, I could have done this 10 years back when I was thinner, healthier,.. but its okay. I'm doing this NOW.. at the cusp of 40.. overweight.. But, its fine.. I am lucky to get this opportunity and I'll climb.. One step at a time.. with the BH holding my hand.. I'll climb
Reached the Juda ka Talab campsite in a legs trembling, quivering mess. Sank down next to a tree and just breathed for some time. A good lunch and a nap later, the trials of the morning seemed far away. Enjoyed the scenery.. being digitally cut off from the whole world... The BH was calm. His knees were not giving him any problem as he feared. Mowgli was running around as usual, high on energy. Surrounded by tall trees, mountain dogs for company, my loved ones near me (missed Bambi though).. I wish I could just bottle up that feeling and keep it with me always. It was if my heart slowed down. All the worries seemed insignificant... Just being in the moment
Day 2: started from Juda ka Talab campsite. Warm up and stretches done, we started our next climb. It was a very short trek compared to the previous day. And the highlight was the snow. All of us had fun sliding down and playing with it. I have now realized that the first 30 minutes are the hardest as thats when my body protests the most. After that its more of not thinking too much and just putting one foot in front of the other.
We reached TaalKhetra by 11 am. A beautiful campsite surrounded by snow capped mountains. We walked, played, talked, relaxed.. All the while sneaking glances at the majestic Kedarkantha peak. Nobody voiced the thought that was foremost in all of our minds.. We are going to climb that? In the evening, we had the technical demonstration for the crampons and the getters, things to remember while walking in the snow, the 4 am start the next day. My mind froze at this point. I had to tell myself to breathe. All my fears came back. The BH was as always calm.. continuously motivating me.. telling me not to overthink this. Mowgli was excited at the prospect of climbing in snow.
After a point of time, in my mind there was no more fear. I was calm. I knew its going to be difficult.. That I'll struggle. I'll lose my breath and the demons in my mind will come rushing out ready to pull me back.. to somewhere safe.. within my comfort zone.. but what of my dreams? what of me? the old impulsive me who was ready to go anywhere.. face any demon... I kept telling myself that I cant give up now. I'm a dancer.. I can walk 5 km in 43 minutes.. New labels that I needed.. that give me strength.. I can do it.. Yes, I could have done this 10 years back when I was thinner, healthier,.. but its okay. I'm doing this NOW.. at the cusp of 40.. overweight.. But, its fine.. I am lucky to get this opportunity and I'll climb.. One step at a time.. with the BH holding my hand.. I'll climb
