(Sleeping in the warm dining area in Dughla after a nice hot chocolate and trying to make up coherent sentences:))
We left Pheriche at 7 am- walking through the river bed, passing what they call a winter house( Wait, THIS ISNT WINTER YET!!!) and can see some landslide slopes. Of course the moment you step out , you're surrounded by mountains and as the day passes, its beautiful to watch the grey- white peaks kiss the azure skies. See more and more mountains as we round the corner. Today's the first day that we're wearing almost all our clothes. One base layer tee, then the thermal, then windstopper jacket, then the fleece jacket and then the down jacket!Nose is leaking( happens coz of the cold dryness and altitude it seems and not coz of infection). I am covered from head to toe- even my eyes get covered with shades in a bit. Its a pleasant walk but i start feeling the altitude. The packs are so much lighter coz the clothes aren't in it...but they feel heavier than the day before. Short walk later we reach Dughla. Just 2 houses opposite each other just above the river and there's a training arena for horses by the side..
We take a room and check in. Come out and meet the Canadian couple and a lot of other people. Dughla is the lunch stop for all headed to Lobuche. And ALL those who started with us are headed to Lobuche.
Yet, we are adamant, we have no porter and we do NOT want to have to walk down:). We had seen a lake on the map and decide to explore that instead of relaxing around there. Chola lake apparently. Less than 45 minutes of walking over steep terrain and scree, we reach the lake. Its cold and there's that COLD wind blowing. But all that's worth it when we see the serene and beautiful turquoise lake.
Funny that it's not mentioned as a side trip either in McGuiness's guide or even the Lonely Planet!We didn't want to leave. There was nobody around. One of the most beautiful places I've been yet on this trek. Grey white mountains flanking the still turquoise lake. Didn't want to leave. But we saw the clouds coming in plus we were at the top of the mountain so the wind was strong and cold! After clicking some pics , we turned back.Sipping hot chocolate:D and continue to read on K2....
No comments:
Post a Comment