Bhargav’s Review of Crossing the Sar Pass: Strong Mind and a Young Heart
I love trekking. Although a novice, having started with this sport just a couple of years ago, I can't deny the hold that it has on me. The first time I went for a trek was to the Kedarkantha top, and I was so overwhelmed that I almost burst into tears.
This time, I decided to be more daring and go on a trek with another friend of mine- to the famous Sar Pass. I realised it was time to level up the challenge as I can't be stuck at the beginner's level all my life.
By this time, I was a pro at packing rucksacks and using the trekking pole, but I did not know how difficult the route would be. When I had a conversation with Mr Pradeep from Thrillophilia’s team, he informed me that the route was moderately difficult.
As they say, the more one experiences the more one learns.
I was also getting good at this sport with each new trek.
A lesson on overcoming jitters
The Sar Pass trek was very hectic for me (however, I did not miss out on any opportunity to click good pictures). The ascent was still fine but the descent got my heart pounding so fast that I had to take breaks to catch my breath every five minutes. It was not out of strain, it was out of fear.
We did not expect rainfall on the day of our final descent, but when have the mountains ever followed any weather expectations…
So, what happened was, the trail got muddy and slippery. The first few kilometres were fine as we were coming down from Biskeri Thatch to Kasol, but the last few got me sitting even at that altitude. Physical exertion was minimal, and so was the steepness, but the sight of the muddy paths triggered god knows what and suddenly, a strange kind of fear started to crawl up under my skin.
Afraid that I would slip.
Afraid that I would topple down the edge of the road into the abyss and be lost forever.
Afraid that I would fall and injure myself badly.
All these thoughts were clouding my mind when I felt someone pat my shoulder. I jerked back to reality and looked at the person. He was one of the trek guides of Thrillophilia, and he understood that I was having jitters.
He said, “It's fine, it happens after a long trek. Just sit back and relax for a while. Forget about the trek, we have a lot of time to reach the Kasol camp safely.”
He asked me to sit on a nearby rock, sip on some water, and think about something else. Then he slowly initiated a conversation with me regarding my family and friends, and why I chose this trek. Then he said just one thing,
“You have come such a long way, almost on the verge of completing the trek, now do you want this temporary sense of fear to take over you? Or are you ready to look it in the eye and ask it to move aside because you have a trek to complete?”
I felt motivated, and a bit inspired as well. No wonder he was such a nice guide, helping all the people throughout this journey with amazing management skills.
I got up, and for the last 3 kilometres of the trek, I was unstoppable.
Going back to the start
Since the trek started from Kasol, me and my friend had plans to reach the place one day early to enjoy the nightlife there. And I must admit, it IS flawless.
We met so many people, some from Israel as well, and danced and partied with them in Chalal all through the night. Then we watched a beautiful sunrise over the Parvati river, had some kadak chai with freshly made kachori, and then retired to our hotel.
The next day when the trek started, the guides seemed very friendly, of which we saw enough instances throughout the trek. Starting from food arrangements, camp stays, sleeping bags, and mules, Thrillophilia managed this trek in an impeccable manner. It was my first time going on such an adventure with them and I would recommend their services to anybody who asks me.
And to talk about the best part of the trip- it was definitely our ascent to the Sar Pass from Nagaru. The trail was covered with scattered ice and the mesmerising beauty of the Biskeri thatch seemed enhanced due to this.
At the top, there was a cliff, overlooking which stood a crowd of snow-capped mountains stretching into infinity. The sky was clear and we could witness the beauty of this grand sight with eyes wide open. I felt no touch of tiredness or lethargy, rather, I felt like I could conquer the world with the energy and zeal that ran in my bones at that moment.
It was bliss, sheer bliss.
The route to the Icy Idyll…
…was covered with lines of Rhododendrons when we started on the trek through Grahan from Kasol. Eventually, the scenery dotted by the tall trees transformed into that of shrubs, and gradually to vast green meadows of Mung Thatch that knew nothing but to make each trekker happy. The view was so pleasant and calming that I immediately kept my bags in the already-set camps and started to run into nothing with my arms wide open! I reached an edge and stood still admiring the majestic Himalayas that stood in front of me.
It was as if the peaks were communicating with me like my guardian angels, offering me hope, strength, and resilience. Soon, my friend also joined me and we both sat at that very spot for long enough to get our guides looking out for us.
I don't know what treks mean to other people, but for me, it's a treat to the soul. And I want to hold on to this feeling, this hobby, for my whole life.
Read More: Thrillophilia Himachal Trek Reviews