Chadar- ना ओढ़ी जाये,ना समेटी जाये Frozen zanzkar river at temperatures well below -10 degrees . Much hyped about , on the bucket list of many would be and even seasoned trekkers . It is promoted as the mother of treks by the locals and by people who have done it . After oggling over it for a few years , the self styled indomitable ‘J’ decided to give it a go . There is a very high degree of uncertainty and only 15-20% of batches complete the trek . The moment you land at Leh after jet setting over the mighty gorgeous snow laden Himalayas, the subject of uncertainty is hammered into you . Three days of acclimatisation at Leh makes sure you enjoy the spoils of a city which is lovely in winters , bond with fellow trekkers and jump to greet the fellas who arrive in tempo travellers after completing the trek , some with broad smiles , some with not so broad smiles and some forlorn with bags heavy on Their shoulders 😀. Buddies - lucky to have some guys and gals , much younger and full of energy , very amicable and fun loving . The days in Leh passed in a flash . Some of them were well past half century and seasoned trekkers and adventurists with loads of stories 😀😀. Altitude : not much , though you are always on the high 😀😀. Temperature : plummets to well below - 15 and some times to minus 20. Didn’t bother me much , except when I removed my gloves for clicks , which was once too often 🙄, and when ice which found its way , god knows how , into the safe sanctuary of my warm boots , to melt and re freeze on my toes 🥲. Was apprehensive about toiletry needs , but if u hurry , there shouldn’t be any problem 🤣🤣🤣. So the motley group began its journey to the famed chadar. Over the myriad and gorgeous sheets of ice and incredible scenery, always in flux . The enormously slippery surface and in top of that the gum boots . Long trudges on ice , at places inclined which tests your balance and fitness to the hilt. Fall 😀😀, yes we will come to that . Lucky at places where the Surface was comfortable with fresh snow , into knee deep waters to cross the broken chadar at places . Steep climbs onto moraine filled mountains which is usually easy in trek shoes but in Gum boots , it’s an entirely different scenario 🙄🙄🙄. Temperatures plummet to minus 25 at night , and if don’t eat the food right out of the cooker or take that sip of tea late , you gonna have to chew on frozen food and drink tea slush😀😀. As we moved forward day by day , at a point chadar was totally broken and deep, with no way around . The area was a virgin slopy mountain as far as a camp was concerned , so we worked gloves hand in gloved Hand🙄 with the team and cleared the area of rocks and pebbles to lay out tents . Slept in freezing -28 that night on slope with our booties sliding left right and downwards as per the slope 🤣🤣. Morning arrives with a gorgeous sunrise and out leader shouted ...’ do we make an attempt ‘ as we nibbled dejectedly on our breakfast . So we hurriedly packed up our tents and moved ahead . Disaster .... As we approached the last camp of the trek, the chadar broke again with no way ahead . We pleaded , shrugged our shoulders , arguments and counter arguments, all hit a stone wall . I don’t blame the leader , he had his own compulsions and a large group to think of ,it was decided to move back 😞😞😞😞 Not before we hugged each other , some with tears frozen in their eyes , we consoled each other with a promise to try it again . With bowed heads we moved back , the same back pack now heavy on our shoulders, But Not before I crossed the river at the same place without a rope and without help , with wary eyes of the leader upon me 🙄🙄🙄. As Mathew said -22.8-14 Many are invited, but few are chosen.” Maybe it was not our time . तेरे गिरने में तेरी हार नहीं तू आदमी है अवतार नहीं गिर, उठ , चल , फिर भाग क्योंकि जीत संक्षिप्त है इसका कोई सार नहीं ‘ On our way back , with heads held high , we penguin walked into an entirely changed scenery 😊 with the most incredible views you could see . Motivated as we were , we finished it off with a dip into the horribly cold river .... On my second dip, the body turned numb, I could feel no pain , no cold , just the warmth of the river which took me in its lap and blessed me 😊😊😊. # I had the sole distinction of culminating the trek without a single fall😀😀, except the one which we were required to demonstrate for record purposes 😀😀. With just a deep cut in my foot as I jumped into the river on to sharp pebbles , numb fingers and toes , my aging body came out unscathed . ‘In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer’ Albert Camus
