Into the Wilderness of Kashmir

Peak of adventure: From the right Sharan (me), Manjunath, Shreyas, and Vijay after reaching Marsar at 13500 ft. 

Earlier this year, a bunch of us adventure seekers within Siemens started to plan a Himalayan trek.  As I was planning my annual visit to the mountains, I was elated to know that a few colleagues would be joining me. At the end of May, we zeroed in on the seven-day expedition of Tarsar Marsar, named after two of the great alpine lakes in Kashmir's Pahalgam region. The excitement was building over the next couple of months as we waited for the start of the trip in August. It was going to be the first Himalayan trek for two in our group so every now and then we had "meetings" to discuss how to prepare and what to pack.

None of us were following a regular fitness regimen at the time. So, whenever us Bangalore folks came to the office, Manjunath persuaded us to join him in climbing all 30 flights of stairs of the World Trade Center! Maybe not the ideal way to prepare, nevertheless it put our legs and lungs to work.

As August approached, we hurried to cross off items on our packing list and wrap up office work before starting our vacation. The four of us met in Srinagar a day before the trek itinerary began and had a laid-back day, exploring the beautiful Dal lake and indulging in some local street food.

The following day, we joined our batch of trekkers and travelled to the Aru, a small quaint village near Pahalgam. The base camp was a modest hotel where our entire group of 22 got the chance to get acquainted with each other. All of us gathered in a small hall beside the hotel, where we met our trek lead and guides. They warmly welcomed and briefed us about the trek and their arrangements. As the light began to change in the evening, it started to rain and get chilly. So, it was quite cozy sitting down on the soft-carpeted floor and mingling over hot chai and dinner. That night was the last time we had a roof over our heads for the week.

Over the next six days, we trekked through muddy trails, vast meadows, jumping over hundreds of boulders, crossing river streams, and climbing up and down steep mountain passes, marveling at the sights with every turn of our heads. Apart from another bunch of trekkers and a handful of shepherds in the valley, we were completely cut off from civilization. During the trekking part of the day, we kept moving at a relaxed pace with rest stops. We would reach the camps in the afternoon, put our rucksacks in the tents, take off our shoes and relax around the campsite. After a hard day’s trek, the sensation of walking and resting my bare feet on the grass felt so good! We eventually had to cover up as the weather got much colder in the evenings and at higher altitudes.

While we were covering a lot of ground, the conversations flowed as well. Throughout these six days the group exchanged anecdotes, travel tips, stories from personal and work life, and topped it off with some banter too. In the camp site, we all sat together in the dining tent as our most hospitable trek staff brought us hot soup, chai, and dinner. Every evening, after finishing dinner, we, the Siemens boys, would convene inside one of our snug tents for a cozy gathering before retiring for the night and slipping into our sleeping bags.

All these aspects make a big impact on the experience of the trek, but what we were all primarily there for was the thrill. The thrill of doing the hard yards being surrounded by stunning landscapes, climbing up to take in the most spectacular views of the Alpine lakes flanked by mountains in its untouched, pristine glory. It is a privilege and luxury that we received not by paying steep prices but pushing yourself physically and mentally to keep going up and down the steep rises.   

Rejoice after completing the steepest climb overlooking Tarsar

Although we enjoy the trek together, the innate experience is different for each person. While we got to share all those amazing moments, there were just as many moments of solitude. Gazing out into the vast expanse, at times I found myself in contemplation with my trains of thought or just putting the thinking mind to rest. The challenges that one faces on these treks and the peaceful tranquility allows your mind to wander into new places and develop perspectives. Perhaps, you even allow yourself to just enjoy the stillness of it all. Living there in the complete wilderness and stunning landscapes, you absorb moments that stay with you for months and maybe even years.

I remember when we were sitting in the tent after the most tiring day of the trek, Vijay said “Whenever you plan the next trek, count me in!”. Even with our bodies exhausted, we were already looking forward to coming back to the mountains again. Whether you think you are capable of taking up the challenge or not, is all up to if you really want to. Shreyas keeps saying to our colleagues, “It is all in the mind. You just have to try.” It is up to you to break the mental barriers to see how far you can push yourself and bring out your adventurous side.

When we come back to our regular lives, there is a certain sense of upliftment and a newfound wonder for what the world has to offer. All of these experiences fill you up with vigor and optimism which we bring back to our careers and daily routine. And I think that changes everything.

Big high-fives to my fellow adventurers Manjunath, Shreyas and Vijay! I had great fun in your company. Here’s to future adventures and conquering higher summits, both in the mountains and in life.