Kumrat Valley and Katora Lake a Travelogue

[farooq05]

soooper going and great coverage!

[smileb4u]

Excellent coverage sir.

[imarshad]

Excellent coverage so far.... Purani yadain taaza ho gayeen. Will surely visit this thread again in a few days when you have completed your coverage....

[lastsoul]

This last part of the track passes through large black boulders, with a white stream rapidly descending as if water wants to get out of this area in a hurry. You get a strange feeling here, which is different from that comfortable feel of the green pastures of the banda. As if you are in some one else,s territory with much greater powers. And if you keep going, it will close the doors behind you.

I hurriedly covered this steep last stretch.

[lastsoul]

In the end there was a straight rock, which you have to climb like a rock climber, but it posed no difficulty. And then suddenly the lake was all in front of me. I raised a loud Allah-O-Akbar with the joy to reach my destination finally.

[lastsoul]

Gorgeous snow clad peaks, reflected in the sapphire blue waters of the lake, I was stunned to see this beautiful creation of nature. God is great, God is great.

[smileb4u]

Stunning beauty.

Gorgeous snow clad peaks, reflected in the sapphire blue waters of the lake, I was stunned to see this beautiful creation of nature. God is great, God is great.

[lastsoul]

We were on a raised edge of the lake. ahead of us was a drop of few yards which led directly to waters of lake. On the right was that waterfall type start of stream (outflow from the lake).

I took few snaps and then carefully went down to the waters of lake. It was only few feet of land.

Shaukat and I ate some chocolate to replenish our energies. Then I started taking pictures.

Most of these pictures are HDR. For an HDR image you have to take minimum of 3 images at different EV,s usually 1 to 2 EV apart. And the lens of my camera, at its full wide angle was unable to show whole of the lake. So for a panorama, I need to have 6 to 8 images (in two rows). That"s how an HDR panorama can be created. So for one complete picture, it is 18 to 24 clicks. Lot of work to do, so I started.....

An HDR panorama image of lake. It is made of 6 clicks. 3 pics for upper half and 3 for lower. Two HDR images created and then joined together for complete picture.

[lastsoul]

For comparison; here is a single click (non-hdr). It is processed to match exposure and levels. You can see that though looks similar, Their are no details in snow on the peaks and clouds are completely washed.

[lastsoul]

It was about 12:45 and clouds were gathering fast.

[lastsoul]

Perhaps it was time to say good bye.

[lastsoul]

While Shaukat Ali was doing his favorite work of taking rest, I placed my hand in the cold water of the lake and told her that I will come back. Be prepared with your white ornaments of snow, early next summer.

We climbed over the cliff and descended to other side along the stream.

[lastsoul]

Shaukat Ali took this final portrait of lake and myself.

[aghaabbas]

Superb coverage of the track sofar... thumbs up....

[lastsoul]

Yet another masterpiece by Shaukat Ali, he is not a bad photographer at all . . . . ??

[lastsoul]

The author of previous picture! Shaukat Ali.

[lastsoul]

Last one, promise.

[lastsoul]

I took a picture from this spot when I was going to the lake. The sky was clear at that time. Just after 2 hours, when coming back, same spot, but clouds had gathered and Light direction changed. It has completely altered the feel of the scene. That picture is on page 7, look and see the difference.

[lastsoul]

In about one hour we reached near Chota dand. My left knee was hurting, so I took some rest here and Shaukat had exchange of ideas with local folks who lived in a small hut here with their cattle.

[Shahbazzain]

outclass.... sir kya yaad kara deya aap ne