Goecha La- the door steps of Mt. Kanchenjunga,  story of a unforgettable trekking. (Part-2)

Near the bridge on prek chu

Day 2: Sachen (7,200 feet) – Tshoka (9,650 feet). 

This is a short trek, but the altitude gain is considerable. Trekkers love the initial amble through the forest – it gives them a chance to loosen up before the stiff climb to Bakhim from the bridge over Prek.

Little water falls beside the trek-path

The trail out of Sachen undulates but maintains an even altitude, in fact gaining a few feet until 45 minutes and 2 kms later you drop down to the bridge over Prek.

The trail climbs sharp through a mixed oak forest until the wide switchbacks level somewhat half hour later at the sight of the first Rhododendrons. here I have found many birds. But light condition was very poor at that time due to rain. so unable to snap the photo of the birds. 

The altitude gain is rapid and the air gets cooler perceptively. Soon the trail climbs to the ridge and stays there until -another half hour later- we get to Bakhim. From the third bridge  it takes an hour to get to Bakhim (the total distance is only a kilometer but feels a lot longer).

Cloudy View from the Tea stall of Bakhim

Bakhim has a Forest Rest House which is now very much damaged due to earth quack . Trekkers like staying at Bakhim (we stayed here at the time of coming back)– simply for its view of the Yuksom valley. Bakhim has a lovely tea stall where the owner dishes out some snacks as well. 

 BOOK   HOTEL for       GANGTAK      PELING    DARJEELING

With a well deserved rest we started your climb to Tshoka which is another 45 minute climb. But we take around 90 minutes to cover that distance due to rain. The weather was too cold. Our guide Ajay & his team was far away at that time.

TSHOKA

At over 9,000 feet high, Rhododenderon trees abound everywhere. The trail gets dark from the overhanging trees and meanders for another ten minutes. It suddenly pops out to a plateau and the trekkers hut of Tshoka.
Tshoka is a small village with some 10 houses and a couple of wooden cabins for the trekkers. There is a small lake right at the end of the village and a small Buddhist temple on a hillock.There’s also a flat camping area to the left of the trekkers hut. Though we thought to stay at tent at Tshoka- Yet we decided to stay at a wooden hut that night, due to coldness as well as availability of room to stay. 

All the night was raining . Though we slept well but we understand tomorrow lot of ice are waiting for us in the path- which will be too much tougher to climb .

Tshoka Monastery

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 Read 
Dzongri - Goechala Part 1 
Dzongri - Goechala Part 3