Sandakphu December 2019

A: Knock Knock

B: Who’s there?

A: Sandak.

B. Sandak…who?

A. No you idiot. its Sandakphu!! :) 

PS: Joke Courtesy PD

By far my best treks so far- my coldest trek for sure. Having done it from 16^th December onwards, it was supposed to be cold but with heavy snowfall on 13^th December, it got even colder.

We started at almost 1,950mt or 6,400 feets to go upto 3,640mt or 11,950 feets in 3 days before we began the descent.

It was a bunch of some 17 crazy people who decided to go for winter hike. I always wondered what was wrong with all of us to have tried something like this is that cold- but I guess some people in this world are designed a bit differently. We did not even bother about the rumors of things not being stable due to CAA issue. 

We started from the base camp of Indiahikes i.e. Jaubhari on the 1^st hiking day. Absolute delight to walk through the woods towards Tumling with tea and lunch stop in between. Lunch point was particularly interesting as the village was called ‘Meghma’ or ‘In the clouds’ and when we reached there it was literally in the clouds- the steaming ‘Dal-Bhat’ lunch there was just amazing and truly satisfied the soul in that cold. First day of the hike so everyone was quite charged up- enthusiastic and still getting to know the other and their names- we reached Tumling quite on time- it was a good hike with fair bit of climb- the lodge was good with all of guys in one room on the top floor. It was so cold and few of us could not sleep through the night including me but we went out quite early to get the glimpse of sunrise on the ‘Kanchenjunga’ and what a serene scene it was. Sunrise on the east and the mighty ‘Kanchenjunga’ on the west catching sun-rays on its nose and belly. It was so cold and windy- hands were literally freezing but the with the view it was totally worth it- all of us were so happy and excited like small kids.

Day 2: We hiked up almost 12 kms but odd 300mts to reach ‘Kaliphokri’. Criss-crossing between India and Nepal, the scenery was quite diverse today, starting with patches of snow, frozen leaves and bushes, wide open brown meadows to steep climb through the woods. At 3,170 mts, the lake was quite a scene with portions of water frozen totally telling us how cold it was up there. The lake looked quite mystic and desolated. We stayed in the tree houses which was freezing like pack of cards- but with two blankets we somehow withstood the cold- its so much in the mind and something which seemed so impossible- we could do it. The biggest pleasure was to sit around the fireplace, keep the hands folded around the soup bowl- with no mobile connection and hot water- in this situations you realise how little you need in life and how we take things like heat, water and food for granted back home.

Day 3 was the summit day where we had to climb 500mts to reach ‘Sandakphu’- the highest peak of West Bengal. The day was beautiful with clear blue sky with sun out. We walked through lot of snow and fair bit of climb towards the end to reach the peak. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy at the top to witness ‘The sleeping Buddha’ but we had our fair share of luck on the way up and then later while going down. The range seemed closer and closer- it was quite mind blowing to see the third highest peak of the world with such clarity. ‘Thupka’ at the top was the highlight- totally recommend it. Today was the first night in the tent- with two other trekkers- it was cold- it was cosy but slept quite well for that setting- now to think of it, it seems to be like a dream- something which never happened because how can anyone possibly sleep in a tent in winter- I am sure temperature was -10 degrees but again mind over body and we managed.

Day 4 onwards we were on return journey- not much of an overall descent but a long up and down walk to reach Sabargram- the landscape was again quite diverse- from snow to open meadows to foggy woods- its just amazing how weather can change so fast in the mountains and how vast the nature is- we are small insignificant part of the whole world and mountains have amazing power to bring humility to everyone- you don’t have an option but to surrender to the vastness and power of nature. Reaching Sabargram- immediate realisation was that its going to be cold here- like really cold- the happiness of seeing the popcorn and the fireplace on everyone’s face could surely rank as one of the happiest moment of respective lives. The way wind was blowing that day in the night sent shivers down the last piece of the bone- luckily the tents were strong enough not to fly away.

Day 5 morning was for me really the coldest over- got up and got out to see the sun- which was not there much but only for few seconds but man oh man- how beautiful it looked- freezing snow with orange sky and yellow tents- this morning will be fresh in mind for time to come. Post breakfast, we started descending, passed through bamboo forests to reach Gorkhey- the descent was steep and technical- I loved it- not too sure about others. The tea shop in Gorkhey was one of the best we came across- spic and span with some local wine on the display!

Day 6 we walked down to Sepi through a gradual descent, where Kumarji's direction helped a lot- not to get lost- the trek ended in Sepi with a nice wholesome lunch and one by one we all departed- having made great memories with some old friends (without whom the trek would not be so much fun), some amazing new friends and a huge sense of achievement.

I definitely managed to get ‘Reset’- which is the idea anyways- isn’t it. Thank the loved ones who pray for your well-being- submit yourself to the mountains- soak yourself in the beauty of nature- be humble- be kind- help others- crack some jokes of your own- laugh at some jokes of others- take it easy- realise how less you need to actually live and be happy- how important warm food and water is- how simplest of food can sometimes give more pleasure then food in the greatest of the restaurants- how sitting around the fire place can make you ‘really’ happy when compared to 100 likes on Instagram- how sometimes its good not to have the network or not having your phone charged- how making friends is easier offline then online- how you should just keep walking- sometimes on your own- sometimes with others- sometimes talking- sometimes singing ‘Coka Bura’- sometimes smiling and sometimes not saying anything- but most of the times just keep walking because only then you will reach where you meant to be- and if you don’t you were meant to walk- which is fun anyways!

Regards
'Persistent' Pal

PS: Few words on Indiahikes- absolute professional 'no non-sense' guys. Everything was systematic, well organised, document and process driven which is amazing when there are so many trekkers in the group. Basically Indiahikes is an experienced lot who knows what they are doing. Trek lead Isha was just amazing in managing the whole trek with no sign of stress ever. Food was descent, fresh, hot and locally made- a bit boring at times but definitely good enough to keep you healthy and warm. Keep it up Indiahikes.

Purpose of Life- Just to be Happy

Purpose of life is not to earn money- definitely not- it is very clear that everyone has to die one day- on that day your body will lie like a bag of potatoes- people will move you here and there without you even noticing it, you will not feel anything for sure- because you are already dead by then- I am not sure if soul exists but mostly it does not- you are born out of biology- you live- you keep living and on some day some of your vital organs stop functioning and you die- you just die as you are too old to survive anymore- what do we take with us- actually nothing- for sure its not money- i have to talk to some rich person if they really felt happy about having a lot of money while dying- i guess will be that the person will be rather sad that he earned all this money for nothing- you could possibly leave a good name behind- your good deeds- your loved ones but frankly after you are dead even that wont matter to you anymore- so its only this life which you should be actually worried about- you are living because you are born and its our instinct that we want to live and hence we are living- and now ideally the purpose of life should actually be living- greater goal and purpose is good- but will it really matter to you once you are done- guess not- same goes with career and job etc so purpose of life is actually living- like really going through each day hoping there is another day to live because that's the whole idea- now how do we make most out of this living- i think its very important to stay happy and content- to be able to make yourself happy- happiness is true living- its when you are happy you feel this joy- that's life- that joy which helps you to keep going- search for that joy- actually whole of our lives we are just chasing happiness- and that according to me is the purpose of life- to live chasing happiness- and by chasing i don't mean keep running behind it without achieving it but to do those things which makes you really happy- not because you think it makes you happy but because you know it makes you happy.

If it makes you happy to climb that god damn mountain- that mountain calls you for months and then you go and climb it and when you are done with that- you feel happy- if it does- go get that happiness. Slog your ass off to get fit and stay fit and then just go and climb that mountain and if you cant go climb a smaller mountain and i you cant just go for a walk- but remember you are doing it for your happiness and not because everyone else is doing it and you should also do it- if playing playstation give you that happiness- i doubt though! But then go get that playstation.

If being with someone makes you happy- it can be your father or mother, your sibling, your friend, your colleague, your child or your partner- go and be with that person- but make sure that this person makes you happy- and it could mostly happen when the other person also feels happy with you- usually its a two way lane- so yes its good to find these people- also good to hold on to it but its also important not to chase it- it only works when two people are moving in the same direction- so its important to be clear in your mind- does that person feel happy with me- now do i feel happy with that person- if yes then go have a coffee with that person and you will be happy- some of the happiest moments could be time spent with a stranger or a friend because both liked each other and both felt happy with each other- so stop chasing people- go to the people who are coming to you but do go to those people- however far they are, actually world is not that big after all, whatever it costs- it actually doesn’t cost much- collect that happiness for yourselves when you still can- when you still know that you have someone who is waiting for you- go to them. But the only pre-requisite should be that makes you happy- you spent nights planning and thinking about those two days you will meet your friend- just do it- but meet in a place you get some good wine- or atleast a coffee.

Work- the most overrated way to spend time and life- i think it was invented because people did not have much to do after eating and sleeping so they got together and started working and making money. You can spend your whole life in a company but it will still be a myth like God. You keep running around it without even realizing that in reality it is nothing- its just a name or a common purpose for people to get together and make money for each other- money is important but in itself its not happiness- it can help you to buy some happiness and that's all it is worth for and you should not loose sight of that- so work for money- only for that money which can buy you your objects of happiness but after that stop- Working hard can give you happiness and its totally justified as you maybe finding happiness in solving problems or to use your brains or to see the results of your efforts or to get some tasks done- try to make a living by doing something what makes you happy if you can and if you cant make some money so that you can make your yourself happy outside work and when at work- sometimes try to do things which make you happy- you can keep running behind that promotion or a new job or something else but in the end its all the same- do it if you have to and if you can but stay happy even if doesn't work out because in the end you will still end up like a bag of potatoes- doesn’t matter if you have a tie on or not then.

So yes we all should find our source of happiness and keep pursuing them day in day out- yes pursue them but don’t chase them- work for it- try your best- try even different things and people and work and countries and circumstances- you did not know that coffee at 0 degrees will give you that happiness till you went to face that cold. So yes keep looking for source of your happiness, work on it and  hold on to it when you find it and keep repeating that and in the way find more source of happiness- no one else can do it for you- its not dependent on anyone or anything- it depends on your hard work and your dedication to make yourself happy-day in- day out to feel that joy- feel that child within you- obviously you will lot of times make mistakes and you will fall and you will be disappointed and maybe some sources of unhappiness you may even have to keep it with yourselves but even that at some level gives you satisfaction- which is also kind of happiness- so keep that but also collect your share of happiness in everything small- and everything big- that sunshine peeping out of the clouds or that rosgolla you like- its all around you- just keep collecting it- for yourself- for life- for living- for that joy and for that smile- to keep going- and to keep going happily.