Manali

So the first trek of the journey ends. It was fun trekking with YHAI - the organisation is a blessing in this day and age where people prefer the comfortable, caustic life of the cities to the glorious mountains. Three cheers to the field director 'Tiger' Solanki for the Saurkundi Pass trek and all the people at YHAI who make the adventures possible.
The real test starts now as I head out solo from Manali across the Lahaul and Zanskar valleys and finally into Ladakh. A few days in Manali getting the logistics and provisions together, will be spent staying at DMAS(Directorate of Mountaineering and Allied Sports), Manali. I stayed here in Oct of 2000 as Negi(The General of Kinnaur) led a motley crue from FMS to the Beas Kund. If not for Negi, my life would certainly have turned out different. Thanks Negi.

But before all of this, a week in Khaknal and Manali with Bunts, the mountain goat. At YHAI, Khaknal, Dragon, Dillon's, the Bullet 500cc we hired, rode down to Babeli for rafting, the incomplete Solang Valley trek, gas on the hill, Yangkhor, what a week it was...