Our recent trek by Bibhuti

In May last year,during trek to Rudranath along with Mihir and Prasanna, I expressed my intention of going to Gomukh & Tapoban this summer. I made prearrangements' like booking some rest houses, guide porters etc. For uncertainty of Mihir and Prasanna, I collected one accompaniment of an young man of 81. Ultimately only Prasanna joined me at Haridwar. We moved to Uttarkashi, where Prasanna arranged trekking permit. Next day we moved to Gangotri along with Guide and a cook, collected 3 porters to carry our tents, rook sacs and rations. After a day's rest in GMVN rest house in Gangotri (10,200 ft). we trekked 14 kms uphill to Bhujbasa ( 12500'), which took a toiling 7 hours. We were greeted there with the bite of bone-shaking cold wind . Evening was gold plated, with the peaks of Bhagirathi 1, 2 and 3 bathed in the evening rays . We decided to stay two days at Bhujbasha for acclimatisation and spent the next day leisurely. Next morning, we started early morning, reached Gomukh after a tedious climbing up to 13200'. Here mighty Ganges originates from a snout under the collapsing down edge of Gangotri Glacier. A brief stay there to pay reverence to the birth place of life line of vast north Indian plains, we got prepared to take the most challenging part of our journey. For next trek is through the glacier, with gaping crevasses, boulders, slippery ice walls, where no definite path is there, and we have to move just as per dictation of the guide. One wrong step may lead to a slip into the cold closets of the deep crevasses, and lost for ever. Moving slowly with utmost caution through the treacherous route and ascending with galloping heart and bellowing lungs, were just on the verge of collapse, but strong determination kept our nerves steady. And at last, we reached on the edge of a vast expansion of meadows, Tapoban ( 14300'). Hood like peak of Mt. Sivling fosteringly posed over our head . A plate of hot soupy noodles and a cup of steaming coffee, made us gather our senses to enjoy the purple tiny flowerbeds' under our feet and the serene atmosphere of the meditation ground of sages. Chilly wind made Prasanna to slip into his tent, and I was stubborn to climb to my next mission. Following the guide, I slowly ascended to the edge of the glacier originating from Meru Parbat. And for the first time in life, I went through a herd of Himalayan goats (ghurals), happily grazing, occasionally gazing at me and dancing. I reached banks of Neel Taal (15000'), only to be disheartened not being able to see it in its full glory, for in May, it usually dries up. But my heart danced with joy, when I looked below!! Full stretch of Tapoban ( about 2 km X 1/2 km) , vast expansion of Gangotri glacier and Nandanban on the other bank of the glacier, hooded by the dazzling peaks of Meru Parbat made me feel standing in a dreamland!! Came into sense, after a touch of a snowflake, and unwillingly hurried down wards, negotiating between the nodding boulders. Woke up Prasanna to frame the dancing snowflakes around his tent and I sneaked into my tent. Good night.