Day 3: 05 Sep 2015 ? Day Trip (Rama to Trishing & Ropal Valley back to Astore)
Then we decided to visit Trishing Valley on 5[SUP]th[/SUP] September, we packed up from Rama and started our track towards Trishing Valley. After 15 to 20 Mins of drive right after Gorikot there is a junction, on the left the road is leading to Chilam/Doesai and on the right the road is leading to Trishing and Rattu Valley.
Right on the junction there is a bridge on a water channel coming from Chilam/Deosai side very beautiful color of water channel, very crystal clear and drinkable as well. We stopped over there for a while as this water color really attract to both of us. Took some pictures there and again we were on the way to Trishing. Before turning toward Trishing there is another road on the left which leads to Rattu Valley another beautiful place (but unfortunately we didn?t visit Rattu). I noticed that Trishing Valley is Max 1 hr. drive from Astore. I was quite happy that we will have lot of time to spend over there.
Trishing Valley, one can see broadest view of Nanga Parbat here, lush green potatoes field were all around there. After spending some time in Trishing we started headings towards the Ropal Valley.
Trishing Valley, broad view of Nanga Parbat
In-front of Nanga Parbat
Potatoes field
CAT (Caterpillar)
Adventure of Ropal Valley
Trishing & Ropal Valleys are separated by huge glacier coming from Nanga Parbat. Local have made track on the glaciare to cross it over, while was going towards the Ropal on that track which is completely made of flat stones and different sizes of boulders. I was going in Low 4x4 Gear (4Lc) in 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] gear. My wife was bit scared while going through the track. Then I spotted naked piece of glaciare and I pointed my wife to see it. She saw it and said to me that are we going right on the right track (kya hum sahi ja rahay hain na). As she spoked this sentence suddenly stones from the track under right front tyre made a sinkhole (hollow) and all the stones under the tyre were disappeared in blink of an eye while I was watching from the window and the front tyre was completely in the air. The track is made upon the glaciare, because of melting the stones from the track could not hold the pressure & weight of the Pajero and started slipping in fraction of second and made a sinkhole (ditch/hollow). I quickly pushed brake and pulled handbrake. Al Hamdoulillah I was completely in my senses and was not scared at all. My wife screamed but I controlled her quickly I asked her to get out of the Pajero. I locked brakes and came out of the Pajero. I analyzed the situation and concluded that there is no way that I can do it my own to pull it back. If I would have moved a single inch ahead or back, it could have been stuck more critically. I decided not to move at all. There were two men passing by and the saw it and said if few of the helpers are here we could fill this hole and can pull it out of it. I requested them to bring few men from the village and I will pay them too. My wife was so much scared and started crying, I tried to make her understand that we are stuck and we couldn?t move further or go back without any help.
Then I saw two local girls were coming from trashing side, I requested them to take my wife with them so I could try something myself or wait for the help. She went with them halfheartedly as she didn?t want me to leave all alone in the wilderness. But I forced her to go so I can do something to pull it out. Being member of Islamabad Jeep Club and being very enthusiast of off-roading I have learnt many recoveries while off-roading with club members/friends and many of learnt from youtube videos as well. But the hollow was so big that I couldn?t have done anything all alone by myself. I was all alone there and praying to Allah that He is the one will send help and to pull my Pajero out of it. As my wife entered in village along with local girls she requested few older men and boys on the way.
I was sitting on the glaciare and waiting suddenly I saw 2 men coming from Ropal village, I thanked to Allah that finally the help is arrived. They came and analyzed the situation, as they are used to do tackle these kind of the situations they quickly started filling the hollow. In fraction of few minutes 15 to 20 more men were gathered some came from Ropal and few came from Trishing as well. They all were very kind and helpful everyone participated filling the hole. I was taking the pictures and making few video clips as well. One of the guy was saying that ?see his jeep is stuck and he is making videos?. Hahahah. I told him that I?m relaxed not tensed at all, coz I knew that it will be pulled out once the hole is filled. Well in not more than half an hour the hole was completely filled and they asked me to sit in and go in reverse. I sat in and put 4x4 in low gear and jerked backward. Oh?.. Alhamdoulilla and the finally It was out from the hole. Then all of them started to fill the hole completely to make the track as it was before. I thanked to all of them as they all were very humble and helping. Then I requested all of them to gathered in-front of Pajero so I can take a picture of them. I took the picture and requested them for Nara-e-Takbir. Then they asked me not to go further because "agay sirf Toyota jeep ja sakti hai (hahahahaha)". I told them that is 4x4 it came till here can go further as well.
One more thing in these areas you guys will listen from the local drivers or locals if you are bringing your own Prado, Pajero, Safari or any 4x4 which is not conventional local jeep. They will always say ?oh jee idher say sirf Toyota jeep ja sakta hai aap ka gari nahin jaeyga. Banda pochay yaar hum khotay par aye hain. 4x4 vehicle hai kisi bhi terrain main ja sakti hai.
As my wife was in Ropal village I had to move further. 20 meters of the track from hole point was very difficult but Alhamdoulillah I manage it very easily. I reached in village where my wife was waiting with the local ladies, they requested both of us to have a cup of tea with them. So we decided to have tea with them. We sat there for some time they were very hospitable, kind and loving people. They served us with tea, boiled potatoes and local chipati which was very delicious. We then beg leave from them and moved forward till the last point of the road of Ropal village. From that point one can move further towards the Ropal face of Nanga Parbat view point which is 1 hr. trek from there. After spending some time we decided to move back before the sun set. We came again to the same point were our Pajero got stuck but there were no sign of anything like before, I move forward very slowly and finally the galciare was left behind.
Almighty Allah saved us and our vehicle without having any single scratch. Alhamdoulillah.
It was dark when I reached main road and came back to Astore and stayed in Army Mess.