THE PITCH DARK AND ICE COLD NIGHT
Finally, I descended towards the camp. Someone had set up his phone on a tripod to record the time lapse. I set up my tent. It was freezing which was surprising. Mess tent was on the go. It is not only used for cooking but also gathering. Everyone was getting acquainted. To my shock the reference to the “Medicine” was reference to alcohol. One of the participant had brought atleast a bottle of cyan liquid. Which, he was open to display and share with anyone. Another participant joined him but short after, he was asked by the tour managers to take the bottle to his camp.
It was a complicated situation. Whereas they did not want to offend the bottler but also were aware that families might not join them in future. What I observed was that youth were much open to the idea of “giving it a try”. Somethings are avoided only because lack of access, availability or opportunity.
I went out for Isha prayer and now I was trembling because of the wind. After a lot of wait, food was ready. I got in to have my dinner and enjoyed the time with jokes and food. As I went to sleep, I realized that the tent I set up had two people inside it sleeping, and one waiting outside. A bigger person would have taken his bag and found another tent but not me. I got in the camp and woke the Dentist there up to introduce myself and a dozen problems with my teeth. I was still shaking and that is what I did for most part of the night.
I slept throughout, but it was not comfortable sleep. I felt the coldness of ground and since I was next to camp’s wall, from that too. Dentist was there with his friend, let’s refer him as Dentist #2. Based in Lahore, they came to Islamabad to attend a friend’s wedding and suddenly decided to come to this trip so they were bit under prepared. I saw his friend browsing through the shoes to rent earlier at Siri.
THE SUN CAME OUT
Morning was chilly, cook was preparing breakfast. There is no water source available at Paye meadows, two huge cans of water were brought which we were utilizing. There is a small pond but water was not usable. Horses drink from it and people capture Makra peak’s reflection in the pond water. Like the pond in Switzerland in which you can see Matterhorn’s reflection. It indeed was a good spot for photography in the afternoon as sun sets in opposite direction reflecting its light on Makra and the person next to pond. I decided to do that once I was back from summit.
Had a quick bite and packed the bag for the trek and left. Just as the meadows ended at a dried pond, there were two paths, one from our left side with gradual rise and snow ahead. Other one went straight up and then down several times. It was complicated because it could be seen easily that it involved several unnecessary ascends and descends but we were told to follow it. A local boy offered his assistance which we declined. But he told us to take the gradual path on the left. I spoke with the manager and they too agreed to take it.
Continued
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