A Trek to Dokriani Glacier, Uttaranchal, India

What started as a college excursion to a small hillock a year back became a challenging affair. The trekking bug caught me when I was 15years. later a wild- aimless- adventure ended me up with 5 friends in a Dokriani Glacier beneath the white peaks of Drapawdi ka Danda (18740ft) and Jaonli (around 6500 m).. A Himalayan dimension got added to the wanderlust. Ever since-the passion has been to satiate mind-body--soul in the lap of the King of Mountains. Me Girikumar from Bangalore Persuing Mtech in Design Engg in IIT Roorkee (Uttarakhand , India).. As hobby started to trek to Himalays finally it became my real loving sport ... An attempt here to collect and share some of the experiences, thoughts and glimpses.

Day 1 Acclamatizing Day

Here we go ... Started our journey from IIT Roorkee at 4.30 am on Saturday morning on 15 th march 2008 it was about 9 hrs journey to Uttarkashi, the district headquarters. The town of Uttarkashi is right under big hills. It is low for the region - only 1158 metres - but all around it, there is sharp height-gaining. This lack of altitude also makes Uttarkashi relatively warm, and a decent choice for a base where you can spend nights and explore the region. The road from Roorkee to Uttarkashi touches Haridwar, Rishikesh, Chamba, Tehri to name few of the significant ones. The chage in relative relief becomes clearly perceptable at Rishikesh as the plains suddenly changes to steep terrain and serpentining roads. I was yet to acclamatize having gained 1500 m in less then 10 hrs. got a accomadation at Hotel Satyam jus opposite to GMVN guest house. Since we were tired we had nice veg food in Satyam restaurant and slept.

View of Theri Dam Back waters Enroute to Uttarakshi

The Blue Reflection of Bhagirathi

Day 2 Trek via Bamak Peaks

Early morning Satish a local guide with 2 porters came to our room to take us to Bukki the Near by village where we starded our trek for 6 days to the Glacier. Ride to Bukki The distance is 37 Kms of cirss crossed road on the banks (true right) of Bhagirathi river. From Bukki road to Bukki (actual Hill top village ) is 2 Kms up hill . A suspension bridge led to the other side of Bhagarathi at Bhukki where the trek started. After an hour of steep climb we crossed Bukki village, the last habitation where people lived year round. The trek was more steep...more or less cirss cross climb ....we probably gain just a few hundred mtrs over Bukki . If I am not wrong- its alti is about 1650 mtrs. We took around 3.5 Hrs to reach Thela Base… passed all up hill climb with lot of bamak trees with red coloured eye catching flowers on our enroute to Thela base Tela was a small patch of not so flat land with small "Bugyals"( high altitude medows). Finally reached Thela base at 4.30 pm in the evening. Later at late 9.30 pm roti and dhal was prepared by our cooks Vishwanath and Ashish and Dinesh. That night was cold pleasant night . All of us had a good sleep.

The Real explorers on the move
Crossing Bhagirathi River (origin of Ganga .. Near Bukki )
Clip shot from Bukki village
Bukki village one of the high altitude Village in mighty Himalays

Day 3 Trek To Unkown Peak

The day started with the gentle trail towards Thela top and Buoo Top. Today's trek is through beautiful forests of Chestnut, Walnut and Willows. A gradual ascent brings us to the picturesque Thela Base Bugyals along the swift rivulet. we capture many shots. One of the greatest fun is that Me , Jeyanth , Abhi and Shetty were lost in the foot hills of Buoo top and it was 3.30 pm in the evening we were still trying to climb up .. But then as Jeyanth was shouting on us then we decided to descent but. Which way to go … complete lost the route... since the route was filled with snow … finally the Jaan the dog showed us were to descent … it was a thrilling experience for us .. Then we found Varun and Ashish waiting near buggiyal Of the mystique Himalyan peaks. with out food just 3 rotis in the morning we continued to trek for 7 hrs continuously. And we wer back again to thela base at 6.30 pm .

On our Ascent in mid way to Thela top

Too tough to balance right

Sunset in peaks

Steep descent

Totally exhausted roll towards Bugiyal

That night was eerie. None of us had a good sleep. I was experiencing palpitations, which I have never experienced before, In the midnight woke up and went on Bugyals. The sky was clear and innumerable stars shone in the sky. The frequency of shooting stars that one sees in the skies there are probably unparalleled. In that 15 minutes I saw two of them happening. Lost in my thoughts I think I saw stars shooting out into the sky. but I cant pinpoint it for sure. Whether it was an objective observation or combined effects of insomnia, altitude and the ethereal ambience. Early morning at 6oo Hrs we went for a morning photoshoot.The shot was worth the effort.