Day 5: Trek from Jalgi Thatch (8500 ft) to Khora Thatch (9800ft)- 7km, 5hr

The trek started at 8 am and immediately we were climbing up a steep slope on a dirt track, through dense forest. There was a lot of huffing and puffing and the trail went up and up. Batch mates were taking frequent stops and rests. However, there was a lot of time and the trek has been planned in such a way that we always had time in hand.

Resting on the steep slope

Another rest point

New perspective to photography, lying down on the boulders

The Chennai gang was unstoppable - well except maybe after lunch

This dog (sheru/ jimmy) accompanied us on the entire trek, even over snow

Lunch point was another tea shop inside the forest. The two persons running the tea shop actually closed shop as we moved on and reached Khora Thatch, to open another shop already set up there, adjacent to the camp. This became a regular feature as the persons operating the tea shop at lunch point, also walked to the next camp and opened the shop there.

The entire batch was adjusting to the trek by now and the distances were not too much on initial few days. There were frequent and long rests and everything was well with us. The weather was clear and pleasant and we approached Khora Thatch. The camp in-charge was waiting for us above a particularly steep stretch and welcomed us. We waited for the batch to catch up and finally went to the camp together. By this time, tent-mates were more or less fixed in groups of 10 each. We were 40 male and 9 female participants and occupied the five tents with minimal fuss. My tent had a sizable depression which was quickly fixed, borrowing a spade from the camp staff. I filled in earth after removing the tarpaulin and the depression reduced substantially. As filled earth could not be compacted, the depression still proved uncomfortable. The arrangements made by YHAI are commendable but small items like leveling the ground or removing stones can improve things a lot.

Soon we were wandering to a clearing near the camp from where fantastic view of the snow peaks was visible. Group photographs and lot of posing, jumping into frames as pics were clicked and general laughter prevailed till the sun set.

Mafia was played on the open area between tents as we spread rain sheets and sat in a circle. Lot of fun and laughter prevailed as the players guessed and second guessed to take out the Dons. Lively discussions and defensive explanations were accompanied by hoots and chortles and we had a whale of time. The game continued after dinner in one of the tents and torches/ headlamps were used to play well into the night when a lights-out was declared by the camp in-charge at 945 pm. A star filled sky kept us engrossed for a while before we went to sleep.