Tossing and turning throughout the night i finally gathered the will
power to open the tent flaps as soon as i could see some light, the wetness of
the tent flap was sufficient enough to register itself on my senses and that demanded
a considerable will power to proceed to next step of wearing the ice cold wet
slippers step out. The dial of my watch said 0515 hrs and the world looked as bleak
as i could imagine. I stood for a minute trying to understand what next and
finally decided to step back inside to the safety of the tent and warmth of the
sleeping bag. For the next hour just sat inside the sleeping bag as vague thoughts
kept drifting in and out of my mind as wisps of mist.
33. At around 6 after
two hot cups of tea i decided to begin the day and slowly started the process
of packing all the items. The clothes to wear were wet and i decided to use
them itself especially the lower trek pants. By 0730 hrs i was ready, cold from
head to toe but the resolution to move ahead had come. After a quick bite of biscuits
and tea we were on our way. The path lead across the Baishali glacial system
and as previous day the progress was slow and cautious. For next two hours we
kept traversing across the glacial river, our eyes set on Hanuman pass ahead in
the distance. Slowly in the absence of rains we made good progress and by 1100
hrs i laid my eyes on Mahapanth Sarovar at the base of Hanuman peak. Soon
Hanuman Pass was reached and on the other side lay Kedar valley, the mood was
jubilant as we could sense the end of the trek in a couple of hours. The path
to kedarnath Ji is all about descent and we descended sharply from 4400 mts to
3200 mts in two hours. The path was tricky and slippery but i concentrated and
made sure that walked at a reasonable pace. After three hours of descent through
rocks mud and i finally reached Bhairavnath ji . From here in another thirty
mins we were at Kedarnath ji and thus ended the trek from Raasi to Mandini and
then to kedarnath valley via four passes, 02 glaciers and traversing a height
of 4900 mts .
34. I was tired and
wet but had come this far, evening we paid our respects to Kedar baba and then turned
in for the night as tomorrow began an interim phase before we once again
entered the mountains, only this time we would be in the trans Himalayan region
and moving towards Satopanth, The Lake of Truth.
35. The next morning
by 0745 hrs we were moving and i think we set a blistering pace covering 17 kms
and reaching Gaurikund by 1100 hrs. There we learnt that the road from Gaurikund
to Sonprayag was closed for vehicular traffic on account of rock falls. Thus
the only option that remained was another walk of additional 05 kms and by 1230
hrs we were at Sonprayag thus covering 22 kms in the morning session. From sonprayag
we hired a trekker that took us till Guptkashi and then again we found one more
jeep going towards Rudraprayag which we boarded thus reaching Rudraprayag by
1600 hrs and finishing the day here.
36. In the evening
went for a stroll, feeling light and content. The climate was great with the
sun out and shining pleasantly, the confluence of Mandakini and Alakhnanda at Rurdraprayag
is worth visiting along with a visit to the nearby Shiva temple. So after a
light stroll and spending time on the hotel room balcony soaking in the feeling
of having accomplished something momentous i had an early dinner and turned in
for the night. Tomorrow was supposed to be an early start with the bus for Joshimath
departing at 0645 hrs but then that is another tale to be narrated someday
else.
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