4 Trekkers Testing Their Limits Part 2 – The Wrong Turn

Welcome to the second part of the blog. In this blog, we will continue the story of Manvinder’s trekking adventure with his three friends. The group started their journey with long hours of driving and no rest, as you may have read in the last blog. Due to this, the condition of one of their friend got worse, and he fell ill.

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This occurred due to the mountain sickness when they ascended from 10500 feet to 13500 feet. While the sudden change in altitude can be uncomfortable for some people, as it was with Arvind. Situations like this can be considered common. Arvind also skipped his evening meal due to his poor health.

Continue reading this blog, as we will talk about how things became complicated when they made a mistake and got into further problems. Join us as we explore this exciting story further.

The Big Decision

The group had no option but to stay overnight at the Vasudhara Falls campsite because of severe rainfall. The constant rain made it difficult to move forward while trekking and navigating. Because of this, they decided to stay an extra day, hoping to continue their trekking when the weather cleared the next day.

The Next Day

The following morning, as the sun began to rise, they decided to move on to the next campsite, Laxmivan. Laxmivan is 1000 feet above Vasudhara Falls at a height of 14500 feet.

Although Arvind and Manvinder had downloaded offline maps onto their mobile phones, their main drawback was that they lacked a compass. This meant that the path shown on the maps could occasionally be inaccurate and confusing, particularly in the middle of the mountains with many turns. This was exactly what happened to them. Instead of taking a left turn over a glacier, they went straight towards an enormous glacier on the Alkapuri side, built over the Alaknanda River.

The Wrong Turn

As soon as they made a turn in the direction of the glacier, they saw Laxmivan. Despite their prior research, they were surprised that the forest region wasn’t as lush and green as they had anticipated. After wandering for an hour and then two hours, they still didn’t see any sign of a lush green environment. This made them wonder if they were on the wrong path.

The Challenges faced

They discovered the terrain they were walking on was difficult as they continued the trek. Below them was a glacier, followed by sand and then stones. The sun continually shone down on them, making them feel worse. The heat burned their feet and seeped through the stones as they walked up the tough path. They could see the rocks around Neelkanth Mountain and Chaukhamba range when they looked up. The chilly mountain air relieved them from the heat, but the journey was exhausting.

The trek was tiring them out with the chilly air above and the heated stones beneath their feet. They were getting increasingly tired as they made their way along the zigzag trail with its alternating rise and fall. The dry ration they had carried with them, mostly made up of dried fruits, served as their only source of nutrition. The four of them were alone, traveling across the difficult terrain.

While trekking, exhaustion wasn’t the only thing on their minds. In addition, there were ongoing concerns about whether they were on the right path and what would happen if they could not reach Laxmivan. Being compelled to turn around was unpleasant, and the idea of becoming lost was much more alarming, knowing that they had no way to get help. There was no SOS facility nearby and no mobile signal. As they continued, Manvinder’s mind was occupied with these thoughts.

Condition of Each Member of the Group

The most experienced trekker in their group was Ravi. He had previously been an instructor. Ravi took the initiative to lead the search for the correct route and guide his other friends. However, as they walked further, he felt pain in his left leg. Despite the discomfort, he continued, but the pain grew more severe. They took a break to eat, drink, and rest, but the pain continued. It was apparent that Ravi’s pain in the leg was becoming a concern for everyone.

Now, let’s talk about Arvind, a second trekker with a minor illness at the previous campsite. Arvind was energized at the time, but as they moved further and could not see their destination, their enthusiasm faded. Arvind had fully recovered from his previous illness, but the long and uncertain route had begun to wear them down once more. Then Manvinder started to slow down as he was getting tired.

The fourth trekker in their group, Sandeep, needed help on that specific route. The heat rising from below forced him to stop every two minutes. They were all experienced hikers, but this terrain was unlike anything they had ever seen or experienced. The Scree and Boulder route refers to this terrain in mountaineering and technical terms. The routes they had previously traveled were between 100 and 200 meters shorter. The 10-kilometer area, however, needed twice as much effort and stamina.

Leading the Group

Ravi took the lead as he was better experienced in recognizing directions. Thus, he moved forward to look for any indications of a campsite or try to search for the next campsite, Chakrateerth. They relied on Ravi’s knowledge and started following him.

In the meantime, Manvinder decided to get a little more rest as he was tired. Surprisingly, he realized his recovery time was faster when he gave himself more relaxation time. He was able to recharge his energy at a faster pace.

Manvinder had a pattern where he would take a two-minute break, walk for ten minutes, and then take another break. He took the task of helping Sandeep along the way. All three friends decided to carry Sandeep’s bag alternatively.

The day gradually turned into an evening as the group continued their trek. They knew it would be dangerous to continue the trek after sunset. Their worries rose as they continued to trek for at least eight hours and still hadn’t discovered the appropriate way. They only had dry rations to eat while trekking, and they hadn’t expected the trek to take so long. They needed more time to prepare a decent meal, and finding a good place to set up camp got harder and harder.

Sandeep and the rest of them started the trek, ascending again after a long break for rest and refreshment. A large open field surrounded by thick trees that seemed like a potential campground for the night caught Ravi’s attention.

Ravi continued despite feeling pain in his leg. It was already getting close to six in the evening, and the sun set rapidly in the mountains. They couldn’t afford to stop for too long. The rest of them followed closely behind Ravi as he quickly looked for a path toward the field while relying on his instincts. They still wanted to get to Laxmivan, but they trusted Ravi.

Significance of Chakrateerth

They discovered a campsite that turned out to be Chakrateerth, not Lakshivan as they had first assumed, owing to Ravi’s assistance. Ravi showed great bravery in doing this. Chakrateerth has great historical significance because Arjun, the legendary archer, gave his life there. Even if they accidentally reached that place, it is significant in history.

As they got to Chakrateerth, they discovered from their readings that a stone was there, which Bhima had set on Arjun’s body after he had been burned. They went in search of that stone with excitement. They were relieved to find it standing upright and undamaged, precisely where it had been positioned. This confirmed that they had arrived at Chakratirth.

Journey Towards Final Destination

Even though they could see their destination, it still took them at least two and a half hours to cross the difficult trek and arrive at their next destination.

Ravi quickly returned to others after securing his backpack. In barely two and a half hours, he had arrived at the location, set down his stuff, and then come back to lead us. He showed them the way with steady determination, asking them to follow him along the route he had found. Due to Ravi’s assistance, they were able to reach that place.

Manvinder was second after Ravi to reach the campsite. He then decided to go back, assisting Sandeep, who was in front, to get his luggage and join them. They moved forward towards Chakrateerth together, navigating the difficult terrain. The route pushed them to the edge of their physical and mental capacities. Despite the long trek, they persisted because they were keen to arrive at the final destination.

The New Campsite

After the challenging terrain, they finally arrived at a huge area of open, beautiful fields surrounding Chakrateerth. The abundance of water sources added to the area’s natural attractiveness. Their spirits rose as they were filled with excitement. They congratulated one another on their successful arrival while enjoying the feeling of finding the campsite in each of them.

After that, they kept all their luggage and stuff at the campsite. They talked amongst themselves and reflected on their past achievements of ascending challenging climbs and mountains. However, they all agreed that they had never done a trek as difficult as the one they had just completed, which had pushed their skills to the ultimate test.

Inspirational Unity

They were all united by their common goal to assist and encourage one another. According to Manvinder, the three key concepts that everyone should keep in mind when they face difficult circumstances are:

First and foremost, it is essential for all the trekkers to locate a decent campsite before dusk and set up a base in that region. This guarantees that everyone has a secure location to rest and recharge.

Second, they operate under a similar system to the military’s principle of leaving no one behind. They must ensure everyone in the group is there and taken along on the journey. Even if a person gets tired, they walk together and support them. They should always come back to help them rejoin the group and offer help.

Finally, they should keep inspiring and motivating one another along the way. They would be aware that the campsite may appear far away, but with cooperation, they should move forward with determination. They must maintain a positive attitude and encourage one another to keep going by providing support and a constant reminder that the destination is identifiable up ahead.

Summing Up

To sum up, the second half of this blog showcases the fantastic experience that the four trekkers undertook as they pushed their limits and conquered different challenges along the way. Their journey was more than just a physical endurance test; it was also an inspiring example of the persistence of the human spirit and the strength of self-belief.