Just one of those days
Sarchu was the last pitstop where we could call ourselves healthy, or rather alive. Samrat,Subir and Uday took the hit for AMS.We were debating which place would be best for us to stop for the night,Debring or back in Pang. Debring , looked debatable , as the locals called us that there is nothing to cal home.Pang appeared to be the best option, as it was merely 25 Kms from Sarchu.Given the way all our riders were hit, even 25 Kms looked a daunting task.
Notwithstanding, we proceed.With Swooning heads and shivering fingers , we set on a mission to find shelter
There was nothing to be called as a legally approved road there.We were lucky we found something to be called as a flat surface.The light showers, the setting sun and the drowning spirits made it all the way more difficult. Asses on fire,we slugged on... Destination PANG!! Thank Heavens for mine and Subir’s phone,we navigated our way through in the dark until PANG.We were desperate,cold,hungry and scared that one of us may give up any moment.
Life tip : Mountain Dew does not help in these times .
Finally, at 7.30 pm in evening, we see lights, we see civilization.Probably the first time in entire day when we breathed free. Without further ado, we set out to find accommodation and were pretty lucky to secure a tent for ourselves.It was nothing, but given the situation outside, it looked divine.
The rickety beds and the filthy blankets were a welcome sight.The sudden urge to relive myself was taken care of, and, never in my life I felt so thankful to my parents for creating a female child.Well, i had the luxury of a so called toilet, while the other male members did not .Finding someplace to poo without someone seeing you, is quite a luxury in those times.Even if it was a hole dug up in the ground, passing through as the sorry excuse of a toilet.No complaints though !
Settling in for the night, muttering silent prayers,we pray for a better 9day for the next dawn.
The morning greets us with a beautiful sunshine.Fresh morning, piping hot tea and maggie, we gear up to our journey . Everything in Ladakh is a world record. At least when it comes to altitudes. And the Army does not want to be left behind on this. They claim to have the world’s highest transit camp at Pang – at 15,640 feet above sea level. Located between Sarchu and Leh, this camp has been set up as a stop for the armed forces who take this route between the areas bordering Pakistan and China and the rest of the country.
Moving ahead, we cross Meroo, Debring and set foot into the heavenly Moore Plains...!!