The Milam Glacier trek

Jun 4-15, 1995

The Vehicle: My two-wheeler nicknamed "Khardungla" (Bajaj Chetek, 1984)

Itinerary

Day 1: Jun 4 (midnight of Jun 3-4)

Started from Chandigarh (Himalaya Hostel, P.E.C.). Munish Gupta ("Fax") was with me. Went via Paonta Sahib, Dehra Dun and reached Rishikesh. Sweltering hot. Remember resting in a mango grove, and talking to a physically challenged caretaker there. At Rishikesh, shopped and rested at the Gurudwara. Started from there around 7 in the evening for Srinagar, U.P. Camped on the road-side about 100 Km from Srinagar.

Day 2: Jun 5

Went past Karnaprayag, where a road goes upstream the Pindar towards Gwaldam. Wanted to go to Roopkund, but a fallen tree (across which I tried to place my two-wheeler unsuccessfully) put paid to that plan. It was too early for that anyways. Reached Bageshwar.

Day 3: Jun 6

Bageshwar - Thal - Munsyari I am beginning to forget the names of the places... will complete this part when I get my hands on a travel book

Day 4: Jun 7

HIKE: Munsyari - Lilam

Day 5: Jun 8

HIKE: Lilam - Nahar Devi - Milam village
Said bye to Munish. He wanted to stay there, reading his book and promised to meet me when I returned from Milam. I did not see him for four years after that. He got bored and left before me.

Day 6: Jun 9

HIKE: Milam village - Milam Glacier - deserted village

Above: Resting on the way...

Day 7: Jun 10

HIKE: Deserted village - Nahar Devi

Above: My camp at Nahar Devi

Day 8: Jun 11

HIKE: Nahar Devi - Munsyari

Above: On the way back... clicked by my porter-cum-guide... the Gori river thunders nearby

Day 9: Jun 12

Munsyari - on way to Karnaprayag, met a severe rainstorm, was drenched to the bone, pitched camp at a small place. Totally miserable, cold night

Day 10: Jun 13

Back to Chandigarh... 19 hours of driving