Dates
11th and 12th September, 2014.
Day 1
Islamabad to Muzzafarabad on Skyways Coaster 12:00 noon to 4:30 PM. Fare Rs. 300 per person.
Muzzafarabad to AthMuqam, Neelum Valley on Hiace 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM Fare Rs. 220 Per person
Night stay at Murree Hotel AthMuqam @600 per night.
Day 2
Woke up at 6:00 AM. first bus to Kel was already gone so had to settle for the next bus which was to leave on 7:00 AM. Had tea from the same hotel and waited for the bus to leave.
Athmuqam to Dowarian on Rocket bus 7:00 Am to 8:00 AM. Fare Rs. 70 per person. Reached Dowarian at 8:00 Am. Started looking for the jeep to cover most of the Trek uptill Domail. But the jeep driver told that due to recent heavy rains a bridge has been damaged and the jeep can go no further then 5 to 6 KM on the trek (total trek is approx 18 Km from Dowarian to Lake). We took the jeep @ Rs.2000/- for that patch of 6 KM and return from that point to Dowarian. Reached close to the bridge and started trekking at 10:00 AM after little breakfast from a small hotel which was the only one avaliable on the Trek. Jeep driver also decided to go to the lake with us.
After Trekking for almost 4 hours we reached Domail at around 2:00 PM and reached the lake at around 4:00 PM. As soon as we reached the lake it started to Raining + Snow. Rain was getting heavy. We had no Raincoats so we were getting wet and cold. Started our return journey from the lake at 5:00 PM. The trek was very wet and slippery now. We were completely wet and very cold. We kept going and reached back at Domail at around 6:00 Pm. stayed at domail camp hotel for a cup of tea. it is also worth mentioning that we had no torch etc. Started our Return journey from Domail camp hotel at around 6:30 Pm. It was getting dark so used the Mobile torch on this trek with complete darkness and slippery trek due to continuous Rain. Had to walk on Glaciers for 15 to 20 minutes just to cover up some time for the first part of trek immediately after domail.
Finally reached out jeep at around 8:30 PM in complete dark and cold weather. went to the same hotel and got ourselves warmed up with some fire. Took tea and started our journey back for Dowarian on jeep. Reached Dowarian at 9:30 Pm. Waited for the bus by the side of the road and took bus at 10:00 Pm. After tough journey on bus cos we were wet, we reached Muzzafarabad at around 2:00 AM. We find out that no Bus, Wagon or Coaster will leave for Rawalpindi until the next morning at 5:00 Am. The bus driver was kind enough to let us stay in the bus and rest until the Coaster to pindi was ready to go.
we slept in the bus for an hour and the coaster person came and told us that the coaster is ready. We took our lugage and shifted to coaster. Coaster started its journey at approx 5:00 Am. Reached pindi at approx 9:00 AM. from Faizabad we took taxi and went straight home.
This was the most tiresome yeh most amazing journey we ever took. It will always be a memory to cherish for the rest of our lives.
<3 Never Stop Exploring <3