Summit Day - Khayar Lake

Day 7: 14 Oct - The Summit Day! (Khopra Ridge)

Freezing Morning

Big day today! Going to Khayyar lake

We were feeling so cold - had a tough time getting out of bed & getting ready. When we try to brush our teeth or wash face, the water was freezing cold.

Somehow managed to layer up - with gloves, balaclava, beanie, thick jacket, everything & was ready at 5:30.

They served porridge and a boiled egg for breakfast. George’s stomach was not very well - so he did not eat the porridge, only the egg.

Alpine Glow & Yak Encounter

As we started the hike, sun had almost risen and we didn’t need the headlamps. And the Dhaulagiri mountains came into view - majestic, beautiful, magnificent. We could see the alpine glow on the mountain.

As we were enjoying the sunrise views, a herd of yak came towards us - it had a ‘shepherd’ an old man. It was awesome to see the yak - big and small - up close.

The Team

Out of the 15 in the group, Pratibha, Nihar, Boni, Tinku, me, George, Roshini & Prakash (8 of us decided to go). Others stayed back at Khopra Ridge. They would do smaller hikes nearby.

The Struggle Begins

We continued the hike (at 12,000ft elevation) and climbed and climbed. At & after an hour or so, it became very difficult - every step felt heavier and heavier.

George gave his phone to Azmer and he started taking photos and videos - they turned out to be Awesome!

The Breaking Point

By 9 am, I was exhausted - physically, but more than that, mentally. I just couldn’t continue & wanted to go back.

I asked Asmer & Praveen if I have the option to go back. They said yes, they will send a guide with me. I didn’t want George to lose out on the opportunity to go to the top, but he didn’t agree. He said we came here together; we will go everywhere together.

Micro Steps & A New Goal

Asmer said told me that I could try micro steps, take deep breath and try to walk some more. I could hear my heart beat loudly and every two steps I took, I wanted to give up.

He said the Khayyar khola was 20 min away - maybe 40 min for me. So I decided to go till there and not go to the lake. It was steeper climb (70% gradient, 1000ft more).

Roshini and PC also decided to do the same. So the four of us started walking together.

The Final Push to Khola

It was TOUGH! We climbed for 30 min or so & at the top I thought we could see the khola. But no, we had to go down & then a vast plain marsh land & then turn a curve. There were many places to cross the stream.

Finally at 10:55 am, we reached the khola.

Khayar Khola - My Summit

Boni’s group had reached an hour early and had finished having food & were getting ready to go to the lake.

I knew I won’t be able to go to the lake, but I urged George to go. He said he also didn’t want to go. So he, me, Roshini and PC stayed back. Others went up.

We had some good food - omlette, roti & tea.

Then we waited for almost an hour for the sherpas to have food - they had to cook the food and eat.

The Emotional Moment

By the time I reached the khola, it was so emotional. Asmer was coming behind with PC. So I waited for him to reach and hugged him with a big thanks. Without him, I wouldn’t have reached the khola.

He gave me the confidence & support to continue and the freedom to go back. I chose to continue till here. I am grateful to him.

Personal Victory

It pushed my limits - body and mind. But it also showed me what I can do when I trust myself and take it slow. I love it.

This was the pinnacle moment of this whole trip. The highest point was 14,200ft.

The Lake Group Returns

The other group reached the lake by 1:15 pm (they started from Khayyar khola at 11:30 am)

We started the descent from khola to tea house at 1:30 pm (so we spent 2.5 hrs at the khola, mostly waiting for the staff to finish their food)

The Descent

For some time, the view was clear & beautiful, but quickly the fog set in & everything was foggy.

It was great to walk with Roshini & PC and got to know them 1:1.

Sagar’s Song

When we were an hour away from tea house, the sherpa boy Sagar started singing - he sang a Nepali song, I sang a malayalam song Ambalappuzha and everyone loved it.

Evening Celebration

We reached the tea house at around 6:00 pm. It was dark by then & the Alima/Bushra gang was waiting for us.

We had some snacks and started singing songs. Another group from New Zealand/Australia joined us and it was fun.

One of the guys in the group started playing the beats with two steel spoons - yeah! just two spoons. They sang their folk songs. Another group guy sang an Irish song. Then we sang many songs together.

Renjith Baby played the guitar for Papa Kehte Hai. Bushra & Anushree danced to the lunji dance song. It was fun! fun! fun!

The Lake Team Returns

The khayyar lake folks reached the tea house by 7:45 pm. Couple of them (Tinku & Nihar) reached 15 min later.

Boni said it was the toughest thing he ever did. So cool! I don’t know how they did it - so proud of this gang.

Nihar had a tough time, he said at one point, he looked up and got dizzy. He looked down & felt dizzy. So he started looking just at his shoes - one step at a time. They did it!!

We all had dinner together and slept as early as possible. Everyone was dead tired.

The Other Gang

To do: get a run down of what the Alima/Bushra gang did. They walked around, played chu-chu train, they had fun with the junior sherpas - bada mummy, chota mummy

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Tomorrow: Descent to Paudwar and reflection ceremony at Gorge Gorge viewpoint