Hampta Pass Diary – Chapter-2 : The days of Reporting and Acclimatization
Altitude of each location during this journey
Seobagh base camp - 1397 m. (4583 ft)
Jobra - 2786 m. (9140 ft)
Chhikka - 2997 m. (9833 ft)
Balu ka ghera - 3615 m. (11860 ft)
Hampa pass - 4280 m. (14042 ft)
Shea goru - 3933 m. (12904 ft)
Chhatru - 3317 m. (10883 ft)
Chandrataal - 4278 m. (14035 ft)
21-June-2025 - Reporting day - Kullu to Seobagh - 1397 m. (4583 ft)
Arrival at Base Camp
We reached the base camp in about 20–25 minutes—it
was still early, around 6 a.m. Some of the staff were already up and guided us
through the registration formalities. The men were assigned Tent No. 2 (shared
among 10 people), and the women were given Tent No. 6 (also shared by 10). Two
people were already in our tent: one from Batch 1 (scheduled to trek the next
day) and another from our own Batch 2. More on them later.
We freshened up, had some tea followed by
breakfast, and completed part of the registration. Some of us were missing
document copies, so we were asked to submit everything later as a group.
The Chilly Bath and Day Plans
Next came the infamous cold-water bath. A few
experienced trekkers had already braved it. For the rest of us, especially after
the heat in Chandigarh, it was a shock to the system. But we managed. Since we
had the day free, many decided to visit Manali. I chose to stay back—two
sleepless nights and upcoming trekking meant I needed rest. My wife, however,
decided to go—she’s mentally and physically tougher, I’d say. I stayed back in
the tent.
Tent Mates and Nap Challenges
While I was preparing to nap, another tent-mate
arrived. We chatted briefly before he stepped out. I tried to sleep, but house
flies made it difficult. I covered my face with a handkerchief and finally
managed a few naps, despite the heat, humidity, noise, and discomfort of
sleeping on hard ground.
Later, two more tent-mates arrived. We introduced
ourselves, chatted, and again, I drifted in and out of sleep. By late morning,
five of us were in the tent, all engaged in conversation rather than glued to
phones. Introductions, stories, and laughter continued until the lunch bell
rang.
Lunch was delicious—maybe too delicious, as I
overate a bit. Some wandered around, others rested. I returned to the tent and
napped again.
Tea Time & Solo Exploration
By afternoon, I was well-rested and looking forward
to tea. Though snacks were served, I was still full, so I just had tea—twice. I
planned a short walk to Seobagh Bridge, our original bus drop-off point, about
1.5 km away. One tent-mate initially wanted to join but got caught up chatting,
so I went alone.
The walk was refreshing. Birds like magpies,
robins, and bulbuls kept me company. On the way, I ran into Dr. Jayesh and his
daughter having snacks. After a brief chat, I continued. The Seobagh
bridge—small, just for pedestrians and two-wheelers—spanned the Beas River. I
took a few pictures and soaked in the views.
The Beas river and the mountains – Viewed from
Seobagh bridge
Evening Return and Final Registration
On my return, I called my wife—they were on their
way back from Manali and expected to reach by 6 p.m., just before the gate
closed. Climbing back up the trail made me realize how tough it would’ve been
to reach the base camp with all our luggage if we had gotten off at Seobagh.
Back
at the camp, more batchmates were arriving. My family returned shortly after,
and we completed our registration, submitted documents, and received our Admit
Cards. Once all the formalities were out of the way, there was nothing left to
do but wait for dinner to be ready. So, I suggested to the family that we head
to the river, and everyone was up for it. We made our way to the Beas River,
which was just about 100 feet from the edge of the camp. The water was freezing,
so we perched on some large rocks, snapped a few photos, and soaked in the
scenery. We also watched a few boats drifting by with people rafting, and we
all agreed to give it a go once we were back from the trek.
As evening settled in, the sky grew darker, and we noticed a cold
mist slowly creeping over the river's surface. After staying there for a few
more minutes, we headed back to the base camp.
The evening at misty Beas river with the Doggo as companion
Tent Dynamics & Campfire
Earlier in the day, Mr. Bhavik, from Batch 1, was
packing his rucksack. He asked Mr. Vikram for advice, who noted it was heavier
than ideal. After adjusting, Vikram joked, “You’ll remember me in a day or
two,” which got everyone laughing. Bhavik also mentioned that the next day
included a hike to a "waterfall" that often has no water.
Later, we attended the campfire ceremony for Batch
1. There were speeches, songs, and interactions for about 40 minutes—though not
everyone joined.
Instructions for the next day were announced:
morning tea, exercises, and an acclimatization walk. Though some were still
socializing late into the night, we tried to sleep around 9–9:30 p.m. Sleeping
in a tent—on the ground, with shared space and minimal cushioning—wasn’t easy,
but it was part of the adventure. And this was just the beginning.
Tent No. 2 – Meet
the Team (Batch 2)
- Mr. Vikram – A vegan and
experienced trekker in his 40s from Gujarat. Works in government service.
Calm, disciplined, and shares the trek with his wife, a beginner.
- Mr. Jovi (Joyce) – A young man
from Kerala, in his mid-20s. Aspires to become a professional trekker and
NGO worker. Kind and approachable, with basic Hindi skills.
- Mr. Suman Ji – A retired
Delhi-based government officer and author. A seasoned trekker with a
magnetic personality. Describes himself as “a 7-year-old with 70 years of
experience.”
- Mr. Tek Chand Ji – Another
senior citizen and retired officer, also an artist at heart. Long-time
trek buddy of Mr. Suman, with over 20 treks completed.
- Mr. Bhavik – From MP, in
his late 20s, here with his wife. A first-time trekker from Batch 1.
Others Met That Day
- Dr. Jayesh – A Gujarati
doctor from Surat, in his 40s, trekking with his college-going daughter.
Both are seasoned trekkers.
22-June-2025 - Acclimatization and track
A Serene Start to the Day
After a restless night of intermittent naps, Mr.
Vikram’s alarm rang at 4:00 a.m. He finally got up around 4:15, and so did I. I
stepped outside, drank some water, and stood in the calm, still compound. The
world was silent except for the soothing sounds of birds and the nearby
river—nature’s perfect morning symphony.
I freshened up and settled near the kitchen area
where breakfast preparations were underway. The staff was already busy, and one
of the kind gentlemen offered me a cup of tea meant for the kitchen crew. I
gladly accepted. By 5:00 a.m., I was sipping hot tea, watching the first light
spread over the mountains.
Soon, others began waking up. I stayed outside,
enjoying the sights and sounds—magpies, whistling thrushes, parakeets, bulbuls,
mynas, and crows, all surrounded by rolling clouds and misty peaks.
Morning Run and Farewell Ceremony
At 6:00 a.m., we were asked to assemble for our
morning walk—more of a light run—with trekking shoes on. We jogged up the road
toward Seobagh Bridge, stopping at a point about 1 km in before returning. Back
at the camp, we moved to a ground area for warm-up exercises: joint rotations
and full-body stretches.
Glimpse of the exercise session
Our instructor then explained the farewell
ceremony tradition. As Batch 1 prepared to depart for their trek, we formed
two lines, sang the national anthem, and clapped in a rhythm (2 claps, then 3),
cheering them on as they walked out of base camp. It was a powerful moment.
Rucksack Check and Acclimatization Walk
After breakfast, we were told to collect our rucksack
bags for the acclimatization walk. We were encouraged to pack them as we
would for the actual trek. I packed mine with most of the essentials to assess
the weight and consulted Mr. Vikram for feedback—he agreed it was wise to test
it in advance.
At 8:45 a.m., we gathered with our bags and
trekking shoes. Some had forgotten to wear theirs and were quickly sent back to
change. Then we started off in a single line down the same road but turned off
onto a trail just 100 meters ahead. The path was narrow, surrounded by shrubs
and trees, and a bit slippery—but manageable since the weather was clear.
To our surprise, a local dog began walking
with us. Someone explained that in hill areas, it’s common for a dog to
accompany trekking groups—a kind of silent guardian. It felt like something out
of a storybook.
The acclimatization walk/trek
A Scary Moment and the Trail Ahead
Midway through the climb, just a few hundred feet
from the top, my youngest uncle felt unwell. He became dizzy, dehydrated, and
briefly unconscious. Thankfully, he was already seated, and my cousin caught
him in time. We cooled him down with water, and he slowly recovered. The
incident became the talk of the day, but it also highlighted why these
acclimatization walks are essential—to test our limits before the real
challenge.
Once things settled, we continued the trail through
fruit orchards filled with plums, apricots, and pears. Some of us respectfully
enjoyed fallen fruit, but a few got carried away—shaking trees and causing a
local woman to scold the group. A necessary reminder: we’re guests in someone’s
home.
The view from the top
The Waterfall Without Water
Before heading back, we took a detour through a
narrow village path, then veered off into thick brush for a forest trail. Our
loyal dog still followed us. Eventually, we reached a
"waterfall"—though no water was flowing, it was a peaceful, shaded
spot deep in the woods.
Our instructor handed out an electrolyte drink to
mix with our water bottles. It was much needed and refreshing. Then came the group
introductions. We were a diverse bunch of 34 trekkers—from 18 to 77 years
old—representing every walk of life: doctors, government officials, IT
professionals, students, retirees, and aspiring adventurers.
Key roles were assigned:
- Master of Ceremony (MoC):
Aditya
- Group Leader: Jovi
- Co-Leader: Dr. Jayesh
- Environment Leader: Isha
With that, we began our return journey, enjoying a
few plums along the way (this time, respectfully) and stopping at small local
shops. A light drizzle began just as we neared base camp—perfect timing.
The waterfall (without water)
Afternoon: Luggage Sorting & Final Prep
Back at camp, the next steps were laid out: lunch,
tea/snacks, handover of additional luggage, dinner, and the campfire ceremony.
After lunch, we sorted our belongings—one bag to
carry on the trek, the other to leave behind. It was more challenging than expected,
especially for first-time trekkers. While the experienced folks breezed
through, we others fumbled, repacked, and asked each other for advice, laughing
through the chaos.
Luggage sorting
Tea was announced with a whistle. After snacks, we were told to bring our additional luggage to the covered kitchen area. Each bag was labeled with our names and batch numbers, then moved to a separate storage room near the staff quarters. A few participants went missing, so we helped carry their bags as well.
Later, we stepped out to buy a few last-minute
items—support sticks, a notebook, a pen (for journaling during the trek), and
other essentials from a lady selling supplies near the gate.
Campfire Ceremony – High Spirits Before the Trek
After dinner, we were asked to assemble for the campfire
ceremony—this time for our own batch and the next one arriving. It was a
memorable evening.
- Mahi (Dr. Jayesh’s daughter) wowed
us with her singing—fitting for the name Mahi Mangeshkar.
- Aditya (our MoC) and Tek Chand Ji joined in with songs.
- Even the camp leader and a lady from the next batch performed.
- A few heartfelt speeches brought the group closer.
We ended the day in high spirits, knowing tomorrow
was the big one—our trek from Jobra to Chikka.
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