Baths/showers are for the weaklings. If you are from the drylands or plains (or cities) and want to live in the mountains, then, forget what a bath feels like. Because when you are up there freezing your exposed body parts, read toes and fingers (if not wearing socks or gloves. But why will you do that in December, I ask!) nose, cheeks, mouth, makingwater touch them will feel like saja-e-(thanda)-pani. As if drinking water to stay hydrated, as drilled into your brain by every trek co-ordinator, is not punishment enough. So lesson number 1 – Unlearn the notion of bathing. There’s sun bathing for whatever time the sun shines and you can remove the n layers you are wearing, to expose that covered part of the arm or leg. If you had any other ideas then please go to the beach to sun-bathe.
Wet wipes are the best thing to happen to trekker-kind after the evolutionary ability to breathe. In the high mountains you only hope to breathe fine as the air starts getting thinner by the day. The only other thing you should care about (if you belong to the cities and are not sure about maintaining hygiene in the mountains) is having/carrying enough wet wipes. This multi-purpose invention can be used to wipe your hands, face, clothes, unclean utensils or lunchboxes after an hearty meal, your rear or even the toilet seat made unworthy by previous user’s shaky coco-peat pouring skills.
Pee-buddies are the new best friends you could ask for. Imagine sleeping with 5 layers of clothing, inside a sleeping bag, inside a tent. Now imagine your bladder waking you up in the middle of the night. A pee-buddy in need is a buddy indeed. If someone can wake up at ungodly hours just to accompany you to the loo tent, then those people are special. Cherish them. Keep them close. Also, never lose sight of them. Literally.
I was able to charge my smart-phone on the penultimate day, thanks to the kindness of a fellow power bank owner. When I called up home to the delight of my folks, the first question that got thrown at me was ‘Have you had your food?’. Here I am telling aai (mom) about the beauty and adventure and the first thing she asks me is about food. I mean I am annoyed by this question 80% of the time. But at that point I was so glad that there was someone in this world who cared about my stomach being full at 9000+ feet. I cannot describe the joy I felt at telling her about all the different food I had eaten, not just on that day, but during the last 4 days. Moms are the bestest!
Learn from the children when it comes to embracing the mountain life. None of the 3 kids (age 8, 10 and 11) on our trek ever complained about layering up, feeling cold, walking too much or being hungry. They were always excited when they started a day’s trek. And the excitement did not wane when we reached the next campsite. With equal energy they would line up for stretches, chai, snacks, food and sleep! Kids = best things that happened to our trek group. (should actually thank their parents for bringing them along 😀)
Lastly as our trek lead told us, you don’t climb the mountains. The mountains let you climb. Specially the Himalayas. These inviting but rugged beings showed me the harsh and physical (literally) side of life. I learnt to respect my limits, my body and the mighty mountains.
2 thoughts on “Things I learnt from 6 days in the mountains”
Some of my favorite experiences over the past years have had something to do with mountains. And I intently believe, the mountain commands respect. I love this trip of yours, and it's on my bucket list 🙂
2 thoughts on “Things I learnt from 6 days in the mountains”
Some of my favorite experiences over the past years have had something to do with mountains. And I intently believe, the mountain commands respect. I love this trip of yours, and it's on my bucket list 🙂
Nice article thanks for sharing with us.
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