Decided to visit Nathia Gali (NG) on a day trip with the family. It turned into quite an adventure. Plan was to go till NG and have lunch there. Weather was good and roads were clear of snow until we reached a point just a few kilometers beyond Ayubia. It was all snow covered (infact slush) and the road was all downhill for about 1 km. Too late now as we could not turn back as there were no turning spaces. Went all the way downhill till the snow cleared and decided it was not wise to go any further so turned around and started the now uphill snow climb only to find the road blocked by 5 coasters of LUMS students going to NG. Now things got worst as when I stopped on the uphill track the car lost all traction and refused to move in the snow (wheels started spinning). Local guys pushed it for a little while but it again got stuck. I decided to put on snow chains, which a local guy was offering (smart business minded people, these locals, i tell you). Things got better after putting on snow-chains, as the car started to move under its own power and after about 1hr of snow adventure we were home free. Paid Rs 700 to the chain guys. My advice to anyone traveling in snow is to carry their own snow-chains.
