Goecha La- the door steps of Mt. Kanchenjunga,  story of a unforgettable trekking. (Part-3)

 Day 3:  Tshoka (9,650 feet) - Dzongri (13290 feet)

This is going to be much tougher day for us. Yesterday rained all through the night. Too much cold morning today. The rain stopped but too overcast and foggy morning.  

Guide Ajay told that lot of snow are waiting in Deorali Bugial for us and might have to face snowfall too. Samu & Tanu ( two members of my team) glad as well as exited to hearing this.  But I know it will going to much tougher to trek high altitude with the snowfall.

After finishing breakfast around 7.00 A.M we started our journey to our today's destination- Dzongri.  First we crossed the Tshoka Monastery.  After some time we found our trek path made by Pine log. around 500 miters we got such wooden trek path. Now we are walking through  Rhododendron forest. Rains in the night had made the pathways a lot slippery.

After some time passing through Rhododendron territory - we got the first snow beside our path. We all exited to see the first snow of this trekking. Weather was very overcast. yet we had taken the first snap of snow in the Rhododendron forest. 

Bird near Phedang log hut.

 The path is very much stiff now, much slippery and fully covered with snow. Weather is  too much foggy- visibility 5 to 10 feet only. Altitude had started taking its toll. We had to take rest for few minutes after ten to fifteen steps.

Almost midway to Dzongri, we reached at  a nice bugial (open field) which was surrounded by Rhododendron forest.There is a small log cabin. Roof of that log cabin was little bit white due to snow which was melting now. The snow of the Bugial was also melting. We understand we have reached at Phedang (11,550 ft).   Trekkers generally stop here for lunch. Some trekkers spent night here too by pitching tent on the field. We don't have the plan for lunch here. We took a break with some cookies and chocolate.
 

Crossing the Deorali Bugial

There was heavy mist all around and with the swift winds it was playing hide and seek on the landscape. After nearly half an hour break, we started our journey to Dzongri. Phedang to Dzongri is a wonderful climb through dense Rhododendron forests. Suddenly mist covered all around and snow fall started. After a  hour of stiff climbing the forests gets thinner,
 we have reached a nice snow covered field .This is called Deorali Bugial. A marvelous place. Snowfall stopped now and suddenly the Sun appeared. We didn't wear  the Sun glass due to the overcast weather. But now we felt the reflection of snow. Quickly we Protected  the eyes with sun glass. After only two minuets the Sun again disappeared and the mist coverd again.

We understand we almost made our today's journey.  Dzongri is not too far now, only about 30 minuets down hill  from here. Sun appeared again. After some time we found the trekkers hut of Dzongri. No sign of snow at there. All the snow melted due to bright sun. We reached Dzongri at last. .
Monilal (our Yak man) already reached the upper Dzongri and pitched our tent beside the trekkers hut.
 Guide Ajay welcomed us with hot tea. 

Surojit Supervising the tent just after reaching Dzongri.

 Click on Photo for LARGER view.....


to be Continued.....


Read   
Dzongri - Goechala Part 1 
Dzongri - Goechala Part 2