Hello all!
I have summited my first mountain, and the experience is unparalleled by anything in the world. This weekend, 22 of us climbed Nag Tibba (Serpent’s Peak), at 3,022 meters the highest peak of the lower mountains is Uttarakhand. The trek took three days, starting early Friday and ending Sunday afternoon (although it definitely had the potential for taking 2 days instead).
Day 1 of Nag Tibba: We started out bright and early, waking up at 5:30 am and meeting by Alter Ridge dining hall. Our pack lunches consisted of processed cheese sandwiches, synthetic mango juice, bananas and a chocolate bar. Oh boy…
After a three hour drive, including a stop for chai and getting directions from local villagers, we found our way to the base of Nag Tibba. We set out in bright sun, and this time, we carried all our own stuff instead of relying on porters. Even though we carried all our food and tents, I much preferred this to using porters. My feelings about porters are mostly centering on “I am so darn lazy I’m going to hire someone to carry all my crap up the mountain FOR me!”
Not something I feel good about doing.
Anyway, we walked slowly but surely up the mountainside, crossing over the gully of the stream about 15 times in the course of the afternoon. Some of us, thankfully not myself, got pretty soaked before the day was done!
Much hiking uphill followed, and we got our first glimpses of snow patches! Compared to last quarter break, the hiking was not nearly as long, but it was fairly intense.
We finally got to camp in the early afternoon, set up our tents and hung out for a good long time. Some of us went glissading, some exploring, some just sat around munching on trail mix. We also had an epic snowball fight with the little snow there was!
Evening, we had a roaring campfire and retired about 9pm, after a dinner of dahl, chapatti, subzhi and rice. We also found out why Rowan is named "Firefoot".
Packed & ready to rumble!
Raya, setting out!
One of our many river crossings
First snow!
Giaco
Mr Bowling found an antler
The bossest of potato peelers: yours truly!
Mmmm, fresh chapatti
Just for you, Aunt Sue!
Rowan may or may not be the figure jumping through the flames.
I'm just kidding, he totally is
Campfire light
Day two started out bright and early, with gaiters (snow leggings, pretty much) and packs on, ready to face a day of steep snowy hills. As we moved up, we got some amazing views of the mountain ranges surrounding us!
The distance beckons...
Up we go!
Trees in bloom
Gultaj and Liang-Yun, seniors on their last Woodstock trek!
Dem gaiters.
After a few hours of steadily deepening snow, we broke through the tree cover to our campsite! We were camping out at the site of an old bungallow. Unfortunately, we still had to sleep in our tents.
My tentmates, pretending to be models
Lunch of champions: PB, crackers, and yak cheese.
After a brief respite, it was time for our summit push, to the top of Nag Tibba, 9,970 ft! The way was pretty treacherous, very steep with very deep snow the whole time. We made it to the top in just under two hours. We had quite a time up there! Jumping into snowbanks, racing around the summit, photo ops and snowball wars with the chaperones!
Setting out
Punching through the first layer (that hole comes up to my hip)
I admit I was a little startled by the non-coniferous greenery that was surrounded by snow.
Come on, Liang-Yun! You can do it!
Going up
The mountains
From further away
The summit! The flag atop the summit!
Michael: shritless flagpoling like a boss.
Also, don't worry about the cold up there. Under the sun, it was baking at that elevation.
Giaco teaches us that, in a pinch, charcoal can be substituted as sunglasses.
Selfie on the summit!
The view from the summit of Nag Tibba was amazing: we could see Nanda Devi, the highest mountain in India, Bandarpunch, whose looming shodow followed us over 1/4 break trek, and we could see the Mussoorie signal tower off in the other direction. Mr Conrad claimed to be able to see his house!
And thus began the walk down, which took significantly less time as we were all slipping and sliding and jumping the whole way. I believe it took about an hour...
We made dinner, collected firewood, made sleeding tacks, and hollowed out snowbanks. A very productive afternoon if I do say so myself!
That evening, there was a whopping round of truth or dare, boot roasting (soaking boots suspended over the fire) and political arguments between myself, Rowan and Frederick. We got a bit of a late night, but it was worth it.
Coming back to camp
Practicing the Indian stace
Chopping the veg
Sunset
Boot roasting!
The slide
Sunset, later on.
The next morning we woke up to a pot of chai simmering on the stove. We definitely needed the sugar and caffeine to get us going that morning, considering the little sleep we had gotten the night previous.
This was the most walking intensive day. We looped around over the ridge and walked down the south (and sun-facing) side of the mountain, meaning that after about 10 am there was no more snow. I can't say I missed it terribly, as it did hinder us so, but it was helpful in cushioning our ankles if they rolled.
Liang-Yun brought with her some cosmetics. We made good use of them.
Crawling through the snowbank
Setting out
Michael Wiggins, the beast
Don't look down!
Turn the corner, and here we are...
Another one for you, Aunt Sue
We got to the jeeps at around 2pm, and had a 1 1/2 hour drive back to the school. Michael, Raya, Hope and I were in the jeep together, or, t put it another way, two americans, a canadian and an aussie. Much fun was had.
Hope and I also sang them lullabyes during the last hour of the drive. Good times...
Views coming down
Stopping for lunch
Finished!
Driving by the fields. I love the look of stepped agriculture.
Back at Ridgewood field!
Once Hope and I had finished unpacking and showering, we were whisked away by Tanuvee, whose parents were visiting for the weekend. We concluded our weekend with a jacuzzi, a sauna, and dinner at Rokeby hotel. We are the least hardcore of people, but I can't say it wasn't awesome.
This has been the adventure of Nag Tibba, where nothing has happened to me at all! Hooray!
Emily
PS: Best quote of the trip;
Fred: Ever think that when you have really bad luck, God is punishing you?
Mr Conrad: I'm catholic, when am I not thinking that?
