When the people of the State were gripping under the fear of the pandemic, few adventure buffs took a leap into the mountains as a stress-buster. It was pandemic time here in Karnataka and the State where we were visiting was abated with challenges like monsoon tragedies — cloud bursting, sudden surge of the waters in rivers, landslides, caving of the roads, falling stones, drowning of the trekkers in the rivers, banning of the activities by the State administration and rebuttal of the same —  all was bedlam, says Krishna Murthy, a Software professional from Mysuru.

As we left, there was fear in the eyes of people at home, asking themselves was it necessary to go for the expedition during this pandemic and the monsoon related tragedy in the visiting State, but here the goal was set to get out of homes to beat the stereotype lifestyles, says Adithi R. Rao, an architect student of Mysuru city.

On 21st July 2021, we left for Bengaluru airport and boarded the flights to Chandigarh, later to be followed by a tempo traveller ride to the Chheti Base Camp site in Naggar village in Kullu district.

On 22nd July, we went on acclimatisation walk to Roerich Art Gallery and Museum, followed by packing the ruck sack for the trek scheduled from the next corresponding day.

Next day, we boarded the vehicle for Jobri Hydroelectric Project from where we trekked amidst the Hampta Valley to the Chikka camp. The valley mesmerises any trekkers with lush green ambience and the gurgling sound of the Hampta River gives a soothing music to the ears. I was more mesmerised by seeing maple trees, oaks, birch and bhojpatra trees, says Manjunath Nayak of Mysuru.

Fear of rains was always haunting us, but fortunately Lord Indra was very graceful to pour his blessings on us only in the night times.

Drama in Streams: On 24th July, when we were trekking to the Balu Ka Ghera Camp, the path was full of yellow and violet colour flowers and we were wondering how it would be in the month of August 2021.

When we were seeing few participants struggling hard to cross the small stream, we were wondering what is this drama all about, thought they were just chilling in water, but when it was our turn, we were stunned by the chilling waters, it freezes the blood circulation of the body. So we wedged the hands of each other and moved slowly to cross the stream. As soon as we came out, we simply jumped on the ground to make sure that blood doesn’t clot in the legs. It was a chilling experience, says Harish Kumar Mage of Sakleshpur. On 25th July, it was the D-Day and the spirits were high as we were bound to climb the summit of the Mt. Hampta (14,100 feet) in Pir Panjal Range in Himachal Pradesh and cross the pass to enter the Spiti Valley. 

It was almost 10-11 hours trek to the peak amidst the lush green grass, streams and glaciers paths to climb and at the culmination on the summit, we hoisted the Tricolour. While descending the Spiti Valley to reach the Sheogaru, all the trekkers experienced the jitters of the descend on their knees. 

26th July was historic day (‘Vijay Diwas’ or ‘Kargil Vijay Diwas’) as we were crossing the stream again adjacent to the camp-site itself. It was chilling water down streams, but it sends shivers in the spine.  You have to experience all this things in the trek, says Manjunath Gowda, a photographer from Mysuru city. 

On the same day as we culminated the trek, we took a vehicle and drove to the Chandratal Lake which is at 15,000 feet and we again trekked to the lake; the bluish water lake can mesmerise any soul on this earth. It was like a feast to the eyes and icing on the success story of the Mt. Hampta pass which is at a height of 14,100 feet, says Nagesh Kumar of Hassan.

Trekkers went through arduous weather like rains, caving of the road, struck in the off roads for hours and removing the stuck vehicles, landslides, avalanches, falling of the stones. Though most of us were vaccinated with one or two doses, all COVID protocols were strictly followed during the trek, says DSD Solanki, adventure enthusiast and Founder-Trustee, Tiger Adventure Foundation, Mysuru, who led the seven-member team from Karnataka. The trekkers were Nagesh Kumar and Harish Kumar of Hassan, Manjunath Nayak, Krishna Murthy, Manjunath Gowda, Adithi R. Rao of Mysuru.