Umesh and his Wife’s Goechala trek in Sikkim: An Unmissable Story of Firsts!
You name it, you have it.
That was Umesh’s motto for going on any trek.
Himachal, Uttarakhand, and the Western Ghats, he had covered it all in the last seven years. The only one that remained was the northeastern trails. For quite a few days, he had been researching the treks in this part of the country, knowing they would bring him a new perspective on the sport.
He had the name stuck in his mind, the place he wanted to start his northeast series of treks with:
The Goechala Trek in Sikkim.
This trek was special to him for two reasons. It was his first time visiting Sikkim and the very first adventure with his wife. Since he had yet to learn about the place, he thought it would be wise to contact a trek operator this time. He had heard a lot of good things about Thrillophilia, that they organise well-planned trekking routes, so he decided to get in touch with them.
It was his wife’s first time trekking, and he did his best to make her understand what to expect or how to prepare. But he knew it would do her better to hear the same from another person, so she got on a call with their assigned trek operators, Shashank and Kumkum, who gave her a detailed idea about the trek and its trails. The second part of the conversation caught Umesh’s interest as well, so he could not help listening to them speak so expertly about the place with such passion.
Rose Glasses and Unknown Roads
Umesh was so excited to go on a trek with his wife that he later realised that he had never felt excitement kick in until he saw a glimpse of the mountains. But this time it was different. They both were giggling and laughing all through the flight journey to Bagdogra.
They had to reach Yuksom, the starting point of the trek. Thrillophilia had organised the trek in such a way that all those who were travelling by flight were suggested to book a car to Yuksom together, and the same for those coming by train. Thankfully, they were all added to a WhatsApp group, so coming to a common point for hiring the vehicle was easy.
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After crossing more than 150 km, they reached their mesmerising destination, Yuksom. The lofty green peaks and the clouds forming different shapes in the sky. At times, they attempted to climb the slopes of the mountains to reach the top but ended up getting lost among the thick clouds.
The village was small, and the locals were very friendly. They realised that the village had a lot in common with Nepal. Yes, they lie in very close proximity, but the language, dressing, food, and utensils all resemble the Nepali culture a lot.
They were to start the trek the day after, so without any more delay, they went to sleep, thinking they would have plenty of time to explore this village after the trek.
Refreshing Memories, Stumbling Upon a Lovely Surprise
Crossing a dense jungle of ferns and rhododendrons that had just started to bloom, they walked beside the swift Rathong River and reached Paha Khola Bridge. The views from the bridge were too good to be true. The space was narrow, and there were beautiful sceneries to their left, right, up, and below.
When they arrived, the chefs had already started to prepare dinner. The tents were also pitched on the site by the time they arrived.
From Tshoka to Dzongri, then to Dzongri top and downhill to Lamuney, they kept on going beyond the best of horizons, only to discover better ones. The trek to Dzongri top was the most difficult part of the journey, and Umesh could see his wife struggling. The ascent was so steep that their knees almost touched their chests. It was a challenge to reach each turning, let alone click pictures of the stunning panoramas that shed blessings on their eyes, minds, and hearts.
The experience was quite different from that of Himachal or Uttarakhand, although these mountain ranges were a part of the same Himalayan range. Umesh was in awe after witnessing how starkly different the landscape was in Sikkim. The slopes were more rugged, almost untouched, and he felt as if it was his first time trekking. The experience was so new. As for his wife, she was enjoying the trek a lot after the Dzongri climb, something he had never expected.
But who does not like surprises coming from a loved one?
And to be honest, he knew she was the perfect partner because they made an unbeatable team on this journey. They were a power couple, and Umesh did not shy away from expressing this fact to the whole world. They were the perfect support for each other, with the perfect compatibility, the right amount of compassion, and a sprinkle of love.
Lamuney was a paradise, with the expansive valleys glowing in red and orange hues during sunset. The next day, they were to reach Goecha La.
The Land of Snow
Goecha La was spectacular. They had already found patches of snow on their way to Lamuney, which just thickened as they made their way to the Goecha La pass.
The majestic Mount Kanchenjunga stood right before their eyes, painted yellow in the glow of the rising sun.
After so much struggle and so many hurdles, they had finally achieved what they had set out to do. And what a view they were rewarded with. The sky was clear, and they could not think of anything that could bring their spirits down. They were both soaring high above the Kanchenjunga from within, in love, happiness, or perhaps a blend of both.
They descended from a different route, Goechala to Kokchurang, then to Tshoka and finally to Yuksom. But on their last night of camping in Kokchurang, something big happened.
They saw a shooting star in a sky full of glittering stars. None of them had seen such a clear sky for such a long time, and it literally felt like the universe was calling them to gaze up at it for hours.
And so they did, sharing moments of romance and laughter and promising to freeze how they were at that moment for the rest of their lives.
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