Cycling in the mountains is breathtaking experience



Highest mountainranges in the world, Snow Capped Mountains, Amazing Lakes, Barren Desert Mountains, Passes, Bad Roads, Mountain Bikes, Helmets, Gloves, Knee & Elbow pads, falling stones and gravels sends the spine-tingling experience to any individual says D.S.D.Solanki, an Ardent Adventure Enthusiast of Mysore


I had gone with my three other adventure enthusiasts from the city to participate in “Height of Adventure” organised by Youth Hostel Association of India as part of Centenary celebration of IYHF and Diamond Jubilee celebration of YHAI India.

The team comprised of 112 male and 5 female from across the country and it was ably led by Mr.Hrishikesh Yadav an Everester and Chairman of YHAI Maharashtra State Branch.

Sharing his experience Master Shreyas said it was in 2007 when we were driving towards Ladakh we met two Swiss citizens pedalling in the region and all the three of felt that we too should pedal in this region.

We were looking for a break through and Alas! Our dream was realised by YHAI. Though we were advised to practise before embarking for the expedition as usual time constraints we just jogged, walked and hardly we pedalled and we were anticipating tough times ahead.

We left Mysore despite huge down pour and got down at Bangalore and to be greeted by down pour and we just flew to New Delhi to be welcomed by strike by three wheeler (Auto rickshaw) from their we thought there is some thing wrong and we landed at Amritsar and we paid our obeisance at Golden Temple but I think lord Indra was testing us and again heavy showers also greeted in this place too, but we took a train to Pathankote and woke up only to realise that we had missed the station and we have crossed almost 15 kms and we got down had the privilege of travelling back to Pathankote in Phat pati.

We just took the Toy train to Joginder Nagar and believe it or not its life time experience for me to pass through the mountain ranges, tunnels and Bridges. As we got down at Joginder Nagar, we took a bus to Mandi to reach Kullu, it looks like lord Indira was not happy and there was land slide en-route and we had to literally abandon the bus and take a taxi and reach Kullu.

After seeing those 120 cycles and other colleagues from across the country, I literally forgot our agony of the journey we took to reach our base camp. We pedalled about 20 kms uphill for Acclimatization and acquaintance with the bikes.

It was D-Day the Mountain Bikers were flagged off by Shri.B M Nanta, Deputy Commissioner of Kullu-Manali and we pedalled with lot of enthuse, eating Apples from orchards and cheering by the villagers en-route just boosted the morale of the bikers where in Manali the bikers was received by the Sub Divisional Magistrate and he wished the bikers and the bikers pedalled to Solang Nala.

On the first day we pedalled about 53 kms from Kullu to Solang Valley and by the time we duo reached the Solang Nala it was almost 8pm and we were cursing ourselves for not practising and also the organisers for keeping such a long distance on the first day itself. But cosy accommodation at Skiing institute in Valley really relieved us from the pain we underwent on the day.

On the second day we pedalled about 23 kms to Marhi, by the time we reached it was 4pm and the yummy MTR BisibeleBath just relieved us from the day’s pedalling at the shacks near Beas Kund.

On the Third day we were informed that it’s just 16kms uphill and 23 kms descend on the road which is full of gravels and lose stones, but after 4 hours of pedalling when I reached ROHTHANG PASS which is at a height of 13,051 ft. my tears rolled down out of happiness. It is dangerous because of unpredictable snowstorms and blizzards. The name "Rohtang" is a Persian word meaning pile of dead bodies. From there we just descended to Sissu, but en-route the curd served for the lunch at Shacks was simply which is not imaginable at that height. It was simply luxury.

On the Fourth Day we pedalled about 58kms we encountered various peaks and convergence of River Chandra and Bhaga at Tandi, which is also the last filling station for motor vehicles. We were greeted by Mr. C.PAUL RASU, Deputy commissioner of Keylong at the entrance of the last Dist of HP and further down we went to WET canteen had some MTR ready eat stuff we had and in between we saw a State Bank of India at Gumeru, which is the only bank after Keylong towards Ladakh and next bank is only at Leh. We spoke to the manager there and in the evening we had surprised guest of Gumeru Village, they were Medical, Dental, Manager and his assistant descending at JISPA camp.

On the Fifth Day we pedalled about 31kms amidst the difficult terrain to JING JING BAR, in between after sipping milk there at the shack, Jing JING Bar 3 km short of the camp site I fainted and by the time I opened my eyes I was shifted to the Camp in an Ambulance. Immediately I showed to the doctor and she advised me to take Diamox, but I didn’t bother to the advice and I slept and meanwhile in the evening the nursing assistant advised me to eat this medicine forcibly and I had to gulp it.

On the sixth day, I was feeling little tired and cursing myself that why did I take this decision of coming for such a arduous task, but never the less the ego in my mind pushed me further up to Bara-lacha-la is a high mountain pass in Zanskar range at a height of 16,040 ft.

According to legends it’s said that Chandra, daughter of Moon and Bhaga the son of the Sun god. To perform their eternal marriage, they decided to climb to the Bara-lacha-la and from there they ran in opposite directions. Chandra being active and smart easily, found her way and reached Tandi after covering the distance of 115 km. Soon Bhaga was found coming with great struggle through the narrow gorges to Tandi, where consequently both met and the celestial marriage was performed. Bhaga covered about 60 km distance, which was very difficult.

Here again tears of happiness rolled down and met few UK nationals on Motor Cycle and they patted us and asked us if we require any help. But we politely said no and descended to Sarchu which is the state Border of HP and J and K.

This was the same place where I was reborn, as the oxygen content here is less and in 2007 I was breathlessness for almost few minutes and had literally to go out of the tent at 3am to breathe fresh lease of life.

On the seventh day all of a sudden all the participants were asked get ready earlier then schedule, I got the jitters that today it is going to be tough one, But after pedaling 29 kms our friend Mr.Bhanu Mitra Naik said you will get 21 gata loops and then you will find the descend to Nakeela Pass.

We started to ascend Gata Loops by the time I could cross Nine loops, I saw my co-mountain bikers taking short cut and crossing almost 3 kms in distance I was also enthused to take the shortcut but believe it was really tiresome and I said myself there is no short cut to success. At the end of the 21 loops again the happiness and tears rolled down and we shot a picture at the 21st Gata Loop.

But after ascending Gata loops the information turned out to be other way around rather it was uphill again and no water, less oxygen on the route really tested our endurance and some of them had to be embarked on the Lorry to save them from getting dehydrated. Ha! We reached Nakeela Pass at last and which is at a height of 15547 feet, and again the wheels rolled down the hill to reach Whisky Nalla,

We were suppose to camp but due to lack of water and oxygen, the camp got a shifted to Pang, via Lungalacha Pass after literally shifting the cycles by 6kms we reached the Lungalacha La which is at 16,616 feet, the agony was more here with less percentage of oxygen and who pedaled 6kms out of sheer ego had to be shifted by Vehicle for next 19 kms to reach Pang, But we enjoyed the rolling of the wheels on the down hill, and reached Kangla Jal (15.999Ft), but to my expectation I found my dream mural which I call it “Gate Way to Heaven” has stood its testimony despite nature fury. I shot pictures and went down the hill to reach the world Highest Transit camp, Pang, that day after days agony we got nice place to relax, that was luxury for us, we simply went to WET canteen and hogged some noodles and went to bed without bothering what is being served for Dinner by YHAI.
On Eighth Day we had one surprise visitor to our morning Assembly he was Officer Commanding of the Transit camp, said in my two years of Stay here I have seen many white skin fellows pedaling but never seen Indians pedaling on this route.

We started the day as usual praying “Sunder dev” and we pedaled out of sheer excitement to reach Morey Plains, where the idea got generated by seeing those Swiss mountain bikers, Alas! After pedaling about 4 loops of about 7 kms we reached the Dream Destination “Morey Plains”.

Here in Morey Plains we spent talking, chatting and shooting pictures, and our heart was filled with contentment and at the same time it was again I cried literally to say GOD THANK YOU fulfilling our desires and we the wheels started to roll on the Dusty and windy plains.

We could see the person pedaling ahead of us but we could not catch up with him, which was the crux of plains. At the end of the day we halted at Debring.

On Ninth Day, it was day to reckon as we are going to pedal about 48kms to Rumtse via Taglang La at 17,582 feet is the highest mountain pass in World. We reached there and as usual shot pictures and I was really feeling contended and was feeling proud of myself that I could do it.

The wheels started to roll down again to Rumtse (14,000ft), where in we came in contact locals and enjoyed the Local Drink Chang, Butter Tea and Barley Bread. The team rested for an additional Day.

On the eleventh Day we just zoomed on the cycles to Upshi.
Ha you should see our faces we were seeing some civilization and reminiscence of 2007 brought some cheer and some satisfaction on faces and I stumped with shoes saying that I have done it.

From there we pedaled to Karu visited the Trishul War Memorial and had nice filling lunch at karu and just zoomed of till we reached Thiksey Monastery and I think Lord Indra was gracious enough for last couple of days and he again he opened his eyes and the down pour till choglamsar.

We were camping at the Sindhu Ghat, Choglamsar, and as we camped we saw water seeping into the neighbouring tents and the visit of the Mr. Harish K Saxena and he advised the tents to be shifted to the opp area and we were shifting our Dera like Nomads, But the sky was not clear and nobody anticipated what will happen tomorrow Morning.

On the twelfth Day the wheels rolled down to Leh it was just 8kms and we joined the Ladakh Festivals and sat just in the middle of the Ground as though we special invite for the function.

But believe it or not friend’s afternoon food was yummy with Kashmiri Pulava, Kimchi Salad, Fruit Salad and Carrot Juice.
In the evening we had a surprise visitor Mr.Vipul Kumar, IPS Former Superintendent of Police of Mysore and Present Asst Director of NPA, he spent chatting with us and went out to Café jeevan to sip evening appetizer.

Then he went to his Guest House, His visit to our camp site was just homely feeling like some kith and kin visiting us in the far away place.

Never the less we hogged on to the mouth watering Veggie Pizza, Salad and Juices. The day ended with calling home and speaking to your loved ones.

The Thirteenth Day we were suppose to leave at 7am as per the original Plan, but there came a surprise decision saying that we will be leaving this place by 11am and after strong persuasion the organizers agreed to get it flagged off by the Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora at 9am and reached South pullu by 4pm.

On the fourteenth day rather the Lord Indra said having pedaled so much he didn’t wanted us to pedal to the Khardungla and it was snowing since morning the mission was postponed and to the next day after sitting in the tent for more than 24 hours the stiff chairman Mr.Harish Saxena wanted the mission to be continued but Mr.Heera was reluctant to take the risk and mission Height of Adventure concluded on 4th Sept at South Pullu.

But, I rather along with many of them decided to quit the expedition as most of them saw weather will not clear till next two days we quit and saw a surprise visitor again it was really shocking to see Mr.Vipul Kumar on Wheels and he rode towards Khardungla and had to retreat 1km short of the Khardungla as the snow fall was more and the bike sliding and he came back to south pullu, but after small break he again went for another attempt and god knows whether he did it or not?

But by the time we quit south pullu and came back to Leh and checked out and checked into Hotel Horzey the licensee youth Hostel and had hot water bath after long time and we drove directly to Café Jeevan had nice yummy food and retreated back to the hotel.

Then on Sept 4 we drove in Tata Innova to Tsomoriri or Lake Moriri it is Tsomoriri Wetland Conservation Reserve in the Changthang area, is a High Altitude Lake (HAL) with an altitude of 4,595 m (15,080 ft) in Ladakh, India and is the largest of the High Altitude Lakes in the Trans-Himalayan biogeographic region, entirely within India. It is hemmed between Ladakh in the North and Tibet in the east and Zanskar in the west; the Changthang plateau is the geographical setting with snow peaks that provides the source of water for the Lake. Accessibility to the lake is limited to summer season only.
On the way we encountered hot water springs near chumathang Village and further we encountered a Tibetan Nomadic village and a sumdo Lake, Bar-headed Geese, the lake is a home for Black necked cranes and it is well preserved by ITBP and locals.

After spending some time we retreated back to the Leh and next day we had Dosa in Leh for breakfast and went around the city and spent time shopping and retreated for the day

The next day Morning we took the flight and flew to Delhi and later Mohan departed to Bangalore and me and Shreyas went for lunch to Hotel Saravan in Cannought place and we watched movie and on Monday the Sept 7 we did little bit of investigation in NCERT to find out the status of NTSE scholarship of Shreyas and later came to know that college was sitting on the scholarship for more than three months.

We just came back ate south India meals and drove straight to Air Port to catch a flight to Bangalore, little champ Shreyas face was to be seen he was just for a shock and he couldn’t believe it that he was going back home two day in advance and as soon as he landed in Bangalore he was just freaking out.

The journey ended with we took a bus to Mysore and landed at 1 am midnight to home sweet home.

Comments

  1. This is my very next destination on cycle.Thank you Mr.Tiger Solanki for this informative post...

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