Manali

Got a room at DMAS, the trek prep starts now. Met the folks at the office to check the position on weather and status of the passes leading into Lahaul and beyond. They also guided me to Vishal Thakur who runs Paramount Adventures in Manali and was an instructor at DMAS earlier. Vishal was a great guy, helped with hiring horses and parted with some of his stock of kerosene which was not easy to come by in Manali town. Provisions would be bought in Darcha.

After a couple of days of trying to organise horses to take me across Zanskar into Ladakh, it was settled. A horseman with 2 beasts would be waiting for me at Darcha and I was to head out across the Rohtang pass into Lahaul valley next morning. I planned on catching the 0800 bus out of Manali. The last night in Manali was spend with eager anticipation for the great adventure which was finally taking shape.

Next morning I lugged my rucksack, tent, and 5L of kerosene in a jerrycan to the bus stand. From shock I went to a minor depression of sorts. At the stand, I found to my dismay that all the buses headed to Darcha come full up from the plains. The 0800 bus was full. So would be the following 2 buses at 0900 and 1000, and thats it for the day. I was defeated. I felt lost in the amassing and confusing crowds at the stand. I just stood around dazed for a while. How the hell will I get to Darcha? What will happen if I am not able to meet that horseman tonight? This heading out alone without a trek agency was a mistake. I was already a bit sore on the shoulders carrying the rucksack, tent, and the damned kerosene.

I dragged my stuff to the Nehru park at the end of the mall road and dumped myself on the bench to watch the early morning taekwondo class running. I felt low and lost. For the first time, doubts crept in about this whole Big Trek fantasy, quitting the bank, all this uncertainty. After feeling like this for about an hour, the mood turned to anger, at myself. Hell, snap out out it man. You feel defeated even before the battle has begun? What a shame. I snapped out of it immediately. Lugged my stuff back to the bus stand, determined to find a way to get to Darcha. Hell, I'd sit on top of the bus if thats what it took to get to Darcha tonight.

Fortune favors the optimist. I learnt that day - if you dont know what to do, hell do something! On the way to the stand, I ran into this local standing around the empty mall road. He was eyeing this character walking around all along lugging a huge rucksack and kerosene. I just instinctively asked him how I could get to Darcha. He informed me that a local chap operates a Sumo to Darcha and it should be leaving right about now from behind the bus stop. This was music to my ears! The spirits rose and the adrenalin was flowing again. The sack was not so heavy anymore. Amazing how this works, isn't it?

I got to the indicated spot and lo behold, there was a Sumo parked just like the chap on mall road said. I got hold of the driver and he confirmed that he's leaving for Darcha in 10 mins and he has a couple of seats available. Oh, the joy that coursed through my veins. I wanted to kiss the young man on the cheek, but figured that could cost me my seat. So i jumped into the battered Sumo and sat there with this big silly grin on my face.

The Big Trek was destined to keep rolling....