Wan to Bedni

Next morning, Mohan came calling, I met Bhagat, my co-guide. Breakfast done, stuff packed and we were ready to hit the moun tains by 9.00am. We decided to take the shortcut that leads to Rani Ki Dhar a ridge above Wan village, post which you descend down to Neel Ganga and then take on the steep climb to Bedni Bugyal. Well, it dint take me too long to realize, that we should have started earlier in the day to beat the heat. On top of which a continuous relatively steep climb don’t help. 

Soon we crossed Rani Ki Dhar and relief came as we descend to Neel Ganga. The relief is wiped off your face as you start the climb to Bedni Bugyal. The zig-zag path brings you slight relief but never for once it stops climbing for you. A continuous ascent and by 1 pm we were at Paatal Nachuni. If one has enough time on hand can break here for day. We dint, so quick Maggie lunch and we hit the path again. From here on, on a clear day one could sight Trishul in between the trees. But not today, as it was cloudy form most of the day and snowed heavily a higher reaches. 

We came across the Indiahikes group trekking down to Wan village, telling us about their unsuccessful attempt to Roopkund. Most of them had to come back from Kaluvinayak temple, as it snowed heavily and without proper equipment’s, it was impossible to reach Roopkund. It was then I started cursing myself for delaying the trek by 2 days! Damn It.. But then as usual, we will see as far as we can go. 

After trekking for about hour-hour and half from Paatal Nachuni, we had Bedni in our site. As we reached Bedni,  we found all the forest huts were occupied by the Indiahikes group, so we settled into one of their tents. How wasteful of those boys and girls to not stay in those tents. Agreed, the huts are comfortable, but staying in tents is a different experience all together. 

Bedni, had already received snowfalls before I reached, so the grass was brown rather than the green carpet its famous for. That evening the sky dint clear and the hope of capturing Trishul & Nanda Ghunti under the golden tinged sunset light, failed. Post dinner, the skies cleared up. Managed to capture some shots of Trishul, under the moonlight, which was followed by goodnight sleep. Well thanks to those horses with bells hanging around the neck, night sleep was not as comfortable, rather disturbing.