Sarah: Back from the Trek! & Itinerary Update
Sarah and Cam
We're back after a wonderful 8 days in the mountains! All semester Frank has been talking about taking a zip line over a roaring river... this is how our trek began. We loaded any combination of four people or backpacks into a rickety old wooden box approx. 4ft x 4ft, and 3ft tall, and sent the box zipping over the Indus to the opposite bank where we met Dorjee and Dorjee and our horses.
We were quite the entourage--10 students, 3 leaders, Namgial our local coordinator, Pemba the Nepali cook, the two Dorjees our horsemen, and "the boys" Norboo, Samten, and Stanzin. Our days varied from strolling through villages in the Markka Valley to route finding up alternative passes where we battled both heat exhaustion and whiteout blizzard conditions within the span of 10 minutes. "Take the snow out of your hats and put your down jackets on everybody!" shouted Erin as we neared the halfway point of the Kangmarula pass.
With Caroline and Katie recovering from the 12 hour stomach bug that had hit Erin, Momo, and Frank a day earlier we were concerned that first the heat, then the snow might be too much for our sickies (on top of the STEEP snow covered 18,000ft climb!). They were determined, as was the rest of the group to make it over the pass. After a four and a half hour climb the last batch of us reached the top. It is amazing how the energy level rises at the top--we were literally dragging our feet and clinging to the side of the mountain just meters before those prayer flags were in sight! Feeling the effects of 18,000ft, we only had a quick bite to eat before we began the decent.
About 20 minutes down the other side of the mountain we saw the horses and the Dorjees waiting for us. This was odd because they had reached the top nearly an hour before we did. The problem was that we all had to cross a snow field which was too dangerous for the horses to traverse without a path. Cam, Erin, and "the Boys" were the first to make the path. The rest of us waited while the horses attempted to cross. These horses looked like bunnies as they hopped, first their front two legs and then the rear two, through chest deep snow with 100-200lbs of luggage strapped to their backs. One horse tried to head straight down the mountainside. Three of the Ladkhi men ran to stop him and shouldered him back up to the path with all of their might. At this point we were out of radio contact with Cam who was within eyesight, but couldn't be heard over the howling wind, so we were all a little nervous as to what was happening below. After a successful cross by all, Cam and I headed down the valley to find the best route through the rocks and snow. About 40 minutes down, we found our first water source and decided to break for some more food. The second half of the day was as incredible as the first. We continued to walk through landscapes that varied as much as the weather--undulating snow covered frozen rivers, muddy rocky snowmelt, and incredible green and red rock canyons...The scenery was something else! I walked the last hour with Knight, Melissa, and Lauren who stopped every hundred meters to take a photo of the colorful walls. We got to camp that last night and everyone was BEAT!
The following day we only had a 2 hour hike to the road where we were met by our "mini bus." Everyone hiked these last two hours solo in order to reflect on the past three months we've had together (well, two for me and Cam). I just cannot believe we're in our final week. It has been such a fantastic semester, and such a pleasure to lead this group! They are all such individuals and yet work so well together. On top of that, they are the most intellectual bunch that Cam, Erin, or I have ever led, which has allowed us leaders to learn so much. We sit down with them and feel like we are back in a college classroom. All three of us are getting nostalgic already and we haven't even left!
The students are spending one last night in Phey with their homestay families.
Here's the plan for our final days:
May 6--Last day in Leh.
May 7--6am fly to Delhi. Omelets at our favorite roadside omelet stand with Amit. Exchange luggage at Peter Sonam's house to pare down for our two days in Rajistan. Leave on the 3pm train to Jaipur, Rajistan.
May 8--Sight see/explore/shop/try to stay cool in Jaipur, all planned by our "Rajistan Committee" Caroline, Katie, and Liz.
May 9--More exploring and sweating. Leave on the 4pm train to Delhi. Arrive in late evening at the Likir House in Lajpat Nagar.
May 10--Last free day in Delhi.
May 11--Final moments! Afternoon surprise for the students, and a late night of dancing and goodbyes before heading to the airport at about 3am.
May 12--Reunion with families and friends back in the States!
Hope all is well back home!
Jullay,
Sarah