(From Mountaineer to Photographer)
It all started on 14 Jul 2007. During trek to Sudhagad, Joshi sir (age 50) delivered few sparkling words on the basic mountaineering course. Though I was very much aware about the course, his words somehow influenced me. There was always a potential in me to get burnt and just a spark was needed. It was up to me to allow it to spread and I decided to try my luck.
Immediately after coming back from trek I called up NIM (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering) and got reply from them dear, you can come next year. Somehow it clicked in my mind that there is one local mountaineering institute, Adventure World who have some reserved quota in NIM. After contacting them, came to know the quota is already full, however they will try best if they can convince to increase the quota. After two days got call from them, hard luck no admission available at NIM however they have managed to get two seats in Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI). The only thing is that I need to confirm in couple of days. Till this time I had only heard about NIM, after doing my research I came to know in fact HMI is the first mountaineering institute established in 1954 and who's first director was Tenzing Norgay. This institute is equally best as NIM. I made up mind and now one of the hurdles was getting leave. I went into Parag's (my team's Director) cabin with only anticipation of big NO. Initially Parag was also shocked after hearing duration of the course however he gave the green flag soon after discussing with others. I think its Parag's passion for photography which made a crucial part in this decision. He asked me to take lot of photographs on behalf of him. Thanks to him and the team.
To prepare physically is one of the major aspects before going to this course. Being a sports freak person though some activities were always going, I was not in the type of RYTHEM that I used to be in 2-3 years back. To get into that RYTHEM means persistent efforts of 3-6 months and I had only 2 and half months left before the course which was going to start on 17 October 2007. To utilize my office commuting time I decided to travel by bi-cycle to office on alternate days. One thing I noticed no matter whatever the traffic conditions {barring the potential danger of highway traffic} my commute time remained the same. Few times I needed to take help of Amol B to drop me back home after getting late in the office. Along with cycling I started jogging, trek to Sinhagad on weekends with 10-12 kgs on back etc. As the days progressed I went on changing my plans, schedules. For last fifteen days before the course, I and my friend, literally slogged by going to Sinhagad early in the morning at 4:00 AM on alternate days.
Finally the day had arrived about which I did not have a thin hint three months back and I was all set to travel to Darjeeling. I was reluctant to carry a heavy-weight book “Out of my comfort zone” autobiography of Steve Waugh for travel-time reading, instead carried already half read “The Path of Love” translation of Kabir's Dohe. However I was very much aware that sooner or later I will be out of my comfort zone.
On reporting day, I was allotted hostel room with things like glass, spoon, bed-sheet and pillow cover J. We were around 12 people in one room, so it was all back to hostel days fun. In the eve, instructions for tomorrow were given its 5,6,7 means at 5 break-up tea, 6 Fall In for PT (Physical Training), 7 Breakfast. Next morning all participants were enthusiastically standing in quadrangle for the adventure to begin. With warm up session the PT began which involved jogging 4-5 Kms, push-ups, squats, side seat-ups, crunches and what not. Mind you it takes everything out of you Jogging in mountains is a tough ask, on which instructor clarified if you run 5 Km in plains, its equivalent to 1 Km in Darjeeling and only 100 m at height above 14000 feet from sea level. Breakfast was in everybody's eyes after the exhaustive PT. Though this PT will help to climb the difficult trek, later I realized that no matter how physically strong you are, in Himalayas you can just surrender and pray for protection. One strong wind will leave you no where or a land slide will leave no traces of your existence such is the vastness and power of the Himalaya.
After breakfast we used to have rock climbing, rappelling sessions at Tenzing Rock and afternoon lectures on mountaineering terms, mountaineering equipments and their usage, various rope knots, tent pitching, ruck-sack packing etc etc. Ruck -sack packing (with load of 20 Kg) is very important aspect during mountaineering otherwise your ruck-sack turns into Dukh-sack J. During lectures, the medical officer educated us on symptoms and remedies of High Altitude Sickness, which falls into two categories HAPE ( High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and HACE ( High Altitude Cerebral Edema), frost bites etc. After five days of preparation, we had a trek of 25 Km with full ruck-sack loading to Tiger Hill before the actual trek and final medical test. One funny thing happened during this trek. Mizo guys used to outperform during PT sessions however they seemed to be exhausted after the trek. On which one of the participants asked “Kyon aap bhi thak gaye??” on that the Mizo guy answered “Hum bhi aadmi hai, yaar !”. “Hume sunke khushi ho gayi !!”, was the quick-witted reply of the other person.
The trekking route was in West Sikkim, the first camping point was at Yuksom ( meaning “Meeting place of three Lamas”) [5500 feet] old capital of Sikkim. Though the distance is only 120 km from Darjeeling it took more than 10 hours to reach by mini bus, which gives you an idea how the road is tricky. The journey was beautiful through mountains (which do not fit in bus window frame) and alongside turquoise blue rivers Tista and Rangeet. Seeing children, waving their hand with innocent smiles on their faces was moment to remember for lifetime. In that moment between two very unknown faces, the human element was throbbing to the highest.
After overnight stay at Yuksom, next day morning we began trek to next camping point, Bakhim (meaning. House of Bamboos) [9000 feet], distance 14-16 Km. The path was through deep jungle of Kanchenjunga National park crossing many streams. Acclimatization trek with no load up to 11500 feet and back to Bakhim, took place on the next day. The hardest of the trek from Bakhim to Dzongri (meaning “where Man and Mountain meets”) [13400 feet] distance of 12 Km was covered in 8 hours. During this trek we crossed the Tree Line and felt the scarcity of oxygen and atmospheric pressure. On following day, we trekked to Base Camp 14600 feet distance of 15 km. Base camp at Chowrikhang (meaning “grazing place of yaks”) is situated in between Singhlila Range, Latpanchar range and Shangari Range, surrounded by picturesque peaks. The flicking mood of nature gives you different colors of surrounding peaks. Six days of stay in base camp include acclimatization, glacier training, snow crafting training and summit to one of the peaks.
It all started on 14 Jul 2007. During trek to Sudhagad, Joshi sir (age 50) delivered few sparkling words on the basic mountaineering course. Though I was very much aware about the course, his words somehow influenced me. There was always a potential in me to get burnt and just a spark was needed. It was up to me to allow it to spread and I decided to try my luck.
Immediately after coming back from trek I called up NIM (Nehru Institute of Mountaineering) and got reply from them dear, you can come next year. Somehow it clicked in my mind that there is one local mountaineering institute, Adventure World who have some reserved quota in NIM. After contacting them, came to know the quota is already full, however they will try best if they can convince to increase the quota. After two days got call from them, hard luck no admission available at NIM however they have managed to get two seats in Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (HMI). The only thing is that I need to confirm in couple of days. Till this time I had only heard about NIM, after doing my research I came to know in fact HMI is the first mountaineering institute established in 1954 and who's first director was Tenzing Norgay. This institute is equally best as NIM. I made up mind and now one of the hurdles was getting leave. I went into Parag's (my team's Director) cabin with only anticipation of big NO. Initially Parag was also shocked after hearing duration of the course however he gave the green flag soon after discussing with others. I think its Parag's passion for photography which made a crucial part in this decision. He asked me to take lot of photographs on behalf of him. Thanks to him and the team.
To prepare physically is one of the major aspects before going to this course. Being a sports freak person though some activities were always going, I was not in the type of RYTHEM that I used to be in 2-3 years back. To get into that RYTHEM means persistent efforts of 3-6 months and I had only 2 and half months left before the course which was going to start on 17 October 2007. To utilize my office commuting time I decided to travel by bi-cycle to office on alternate days. One thing I noticed no matter whatever the traffic conditions {barring the potential danger of highway traffic} my commute time remained the same. Few times I needed to take help of Amol B to drop me back home after getting late in the office. Along with cycling I started jogging, trek to Sinhagad on weekends with 10-12 kgs on back etc. As the days progressed I went on changing my plans, schedules. For last fifteen days before the course, I and my friend, literally slogged by going to Sinhagad early in the morning at 4:00 AM on alternate days.
Finally the day had arrived about which I did not have a thin hint three months back and I was all set to travel to Darjeeling. I was reluctant to carry a heavy-weight book “Out of my comfort zone” autobiography of Steve Waugh for travel-time reading, instead carried already half read “The Path of Love” translation of Kabir's Dohe. However I was very much aware that sooner or later I will be out of my comfort zone.
On reporting day, I was allotted hostel room with things like glass, spoon, bed-sheet and pillow cover J. We were around 12 people in one room, so it was all back to hostel days fun. In the eve, instructions for tomorrow were given its 5,6,7 means at 5 break-up tea, 6 Fall In for PT (Physical Training), 7 Breakfast. Next morning all participants were enthusiastically standing in quadrangle for the adventure to begin. With warm up session the PT began which involved jogging 4-5 Kms, push-ups, squats, side seat-ups, crunches and what not. Mind you it takes everything out of you Jogging in mountains is a tough ask, on which instructor clarified if you run 5 Km in plains, its equivalent to 1 Km in Darjeeling and only 100 m at height above 14000 feet from sea level. Breakfast was in everybody's eyes after the exhaustive PT. Though this PT will help to climb the difficult trek, later I realized that no matter how physically strong you are, in Himalayas you can just surrender and pray for protection. One strong wind will leave you no where or a land slide will leave no traces of your existence such is the vastness and power of the Himalaya.
After breakfast we used to have rock climbing, rappelling sessions at Tenzing Rock and afternoon lectures on mountaineering terms, mountaineering equipments and their usage, various rope knots, tent pitching, ruck-sack packing etc etc. Ruck -sack packing (with load of 20 Kg) is very important aspect during mountaineering otherwise your ruck-sack turns into Dukh-sack J. During lectures, the medical officer educated us on symptoms and remedies of High Altitude Sickness, which falls into two categories HAPE ( High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and HACE ( High Altitude Cerebral Edema), frost bites etc. After five days of preparation, we had a trek of 25 Km with full ruck-sack loading to Tiger Hill before the actual trek and final medical test. One funny thing happened during this trek. Mizo guys used to outperform during PT sessions however they seemed to be exhausted after the trek. On which one of the participants asked “Kyon aap bhi thak gaye??” on that the Mizo guy answered “Hum bhi aadmi hai, yaar !”. “Hume sunke khushi ho gayi !!”, was the quick-witted reply of the other person.
The trekking route was in West Sikkim, the first camping point was at Yuksom ( meaning “Meeting place of three Lamas”) [5500 feet] old capital of Sikkim. Though the distance is only 120 km from Darjeeling it took more than 10 hours to reach by mini bus, which gives you an idea how the road is tricky. The journey was beautiful through mountains (which do not fit in bus window frame) and alongside turquoise blue rivers Tista and Rangeet. Seeing children, waving their hand with innocent smiles on their faces was moment to remember for lifetime. In that moment between two very unknown faces, the human element was throbbing to the highest.
After overnight stay at Yuksom, next day morning we began trek to next camping point, Bakhim (meaning. House of Bamboos) [9000 feet], distance 14-16 Km. The path was through deep jungle of Kanchenjunga National park crossing many streams. Acclimatization trek with no load up to 11500 feet and back to Bakhim, took place on the next day. The hardest of the trek from Bakhim to Dzongri (meaning “where Man and Mountain meets”) [13400 feet] distance of 12 Km was covered in 8 hours. During this trek we crossed the Tree Line and felt the scarcity of oxygen and atmospheric pressure. On following day, we trekked to Base Camp 14600 feet distance of 15 km. Base camp at Chowrikhang (meaning “grazing place of yaks”) is situated in between Singhlila Range, Latpanchar range and Shangari Range, surrounded by picturesque peaks. The flicking mood of nature gives you different colors of surrounding peaks. Six days of stay in base camp include acclimatization, glacier training, snow crafting training and summit to one of the peaks.
During the course photography did not happen to me Naturally. Though eyes were looking at the picturesque surroundings, due to extensive physical exertion brain was ceased to process further. It was weird feeling of joy and pain together. Few photographs which I took during few breathing moments, hope you enjoy. At many occasions I have not captured the landscape, as survival instincts were more dominating than desire to take photographs.
After spending three days in the Base Camp fighting against nature, climbing in region where no life exists (except Psychrophiles, microorganism capable of living at high altitudes and cold temperatures) strange thoughts sprung into my mind. A mountaineer has only one goal in his mind, a peak and with head bogged down watching his own steps he inches towards it. He can not afford to look around or nor he can stay on the peak. What is courageous to go against Nature or to go with Nature? In search of answers to these questions I decided to come down aborting my glacier training. I can not express in words the exact thoughts that popped up in mind, it was decision based on inner instincts because of which I had reached there. 1 to 2 years back these thoughts would not have crossed my mind. Photography has brought this change in attitude, which has taught me to SEE things rather than GO/REACH for them. Though to back off is a failure in Mountaineer's eyes, for me mission was accomplished. Mountains teach you awareness, endurance, discipline and to respect which are very important things in life. {In a nut shell you can say that I am getting old J} Also tribute and thanks to Sherpas. From my point of view, without them whatever history has been created in mountaineering was not possible. Anyway, I leave answers up to you. If you are looking for the real mountaineering stuff this is the place to look for. In mere Rs. 4000 you will get the world’s best mountaineering training.
While we were in the base camp after seeing vivid colors of nature I got exclamatory remark from friend “ Yaar, we are in heaven”. After fighting to adverse conditions, when we came back down to Darjeeling, I got remark from one of the members “Welcome back to the Heaven”. They say “Heaven all the way”, true isn't it?
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