The mountains are calling

Updated On: 09 January, 2022 03:49 PM IST | Mumbai | Jane Borges

While trekking in the Himalayas with a bunch of strangers, we learnt that sometimes, the best way to find yourself is amidst gentle giants

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The toughest part of the trail was crossing a glacial mountain stretch—one had to be careful about avoiding the ice, placing our feet on the rocks, as we could risk falling right down

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It's on Marine Drive, drenched by an unexpected shower, that I made up my mind—almost—to go to the mountains, and alone. I cannot remember now, if it was the rain, or my foggy mind, my instinct, or a conversation with a close friend who had just returned from a similar trip that triggered this decision. But, less than 72 hours later, I had booked myself for a four-day trek to Kuari Pass in the northeastern region of Garhwal, Uttarakhand. At the outset, I must confess that I didn’t think this plan through. The reason I chose Kuari was because it was the only “pretty” and “easy” winter trail that caught my attention on Indiahikes, the Bengaluru-based trekking organisation, where I had made the booking. The planning followed.

Akhrotghetta (9,265 ft) has one of the most breathtaking views of the snow-capped Mt Dronagiri—the massive walnut tree, lying barren in the autumn cold, was the perfect foreground