Dear Friends,

This is to inform that a 13 members team of STEP has returned to Delhi after safely and successfully completing the Pin Parvati Pass on 8th September, 2018 and now everyone has reached their respective sweet homes.   The team departed on 26th August by Volvo bus. Many STEP members like Shri N. K. Pandey, President, Shri Sunil Prasad, General Secretary, Shri Narendra, Shri R. S. Suman, Shri Vinod Priya, Treasurer, Shri Khushal Singh Rawat, Shri D. R. Gautam, Shri Manoj Kumar Verma, Ms. Seema Mittal and many more were present there with their wishes and sweets.

The team reached Sarsai, Naggar on 27th. Actual trek started on 28th with a drive upto Barsheni and then trek to Kheerganga (9143 ft) via Nakthan and Rudranag waterfall. The team reached there at 6 pm. On 28th, the team had a bath in sulphur hot water pond in Kheerganga and departed for Tunda Bhuz (10778 ft). It was pleasant walk initially then steep ascend on the last stretch. The camp site was beautiful.

The trail from Tunda Bhuz to Thakur Kuan (11640 ft) was gradual ascend. But two stretches enroute required caution but all crossed it successfully.
The trek from Thakur Kuan to Oody thatch (12440 ft) was again gradual climb but the team had to cross two tricky natural Rock bridges over a nullah and Pandupal on Parvati river. The team helped each other and negotiated it very successfully.

The trail from to Mantalai was initially pleasant walk along the river, thereafter climb of over one hour to Mantalai (13550 ft), a lake formed on Parvati river. The team offered prayers there and then moved to camp site, another kilometre ahead. It started raining in the evening and continued overnight. But almighty gave us a window of one hour in the morning, enough for us to have breakfast and start marching. It was tough climb of 5-6 hours in the rain. In fact, the rain forced us not to take rest and march on, it made very tough climb, a lot easier. We camped at Pin Parvati Pass base camp (16220 ft) on the rocks. The rain and snowfall continued to pour in.
We had decided to march on to pass next day if weather is not extremely poor. Luckily, the weather was holding up and we started at 6 am on the day of Janmashtami. Snowfall started enroute. With glacier with lots of crevasses enroute, caution was the key word. Egging on each other, regrouping frequently, helping each other, we started reaching on the pass (17445 ft) from 9.15 am and all were there by 9.30 am. Since, weather was tricky and lot more glacier to cross on other side, the celebration was short. We offered prayers and started descending cautiously negotiating crevasses. We all crossed icezone by 11 am. We took rest to regroup and lunch. Thereafter, we descended further to cross hostile Pin River and reach campsite at Bhedpal khark (14370 ft) at around 3 pm after a long tiring but satisfying day.

The Trekking to Wichkirung kharak (13145 ft) and Mudh (12553 ft) was comparatively easy on next two days. 

Two chartered tempo travellers took the team to Kaza in the late evening. Mr. Rahul Wasan threw a lavish party at Deyzor restaurant, the best in Kaza to celebrate his birthday. The team camped near Helipad.

STEP decided to give a bonus to braveheart Trekkers by taking them to Key Monestry, Kibber village, Kunzum pass, Chandratal for sight seeing in chartered vehicle. The team reached Naggar in the late evening of 6th September.

The return journey started on 7th September again in Volvo bus and all reached Delhi on 8th September.
The trek was hugely successful with God's grace. A great teamwork, no injuries, no rope or iceaxe required even on trickiest situations. Target was achieved by 'Staying together and Praying together.

Congratulations to Yogi Yadav ji (69), Dr. Ashok Pagrut (67), Ms. Ashwini Pagrut (60), Mr. Arun Pagrut (65), Ms Sushma Singh, Mr. Hemant Kataria, Mr. Arindam Chattopadhyay, Mr. Tapan Nath, Mr. Rudra Mukherjee, Mr. Narayan Kadam, Mr. Mukul Verma, Mr. Rahul Wasan and Shri Som Nath Pal, Team Leader.  Special congrats to senior citizens and first time trekkers.

All the trekkers were extremely well behaved and cooperative.   Three dogs also trekked with us. They were so mixed up with the team that they jumped in to the fast flowing rivers of Parvati river after Mantalai and Pin River to be with the team. Team was also desperate to be with them. Great example of Man and animal Friendship. 

Besides, regular staple food, the delicacies served during the trek were Bedmi poori with bhaji, sambar and medu vada, moong dal pakodi, upma, poha, desi ghee halwa, custard and much more.

Special thanks to Mr. Amar Thakur (arrangements), Mr. Bir Singh (Guide), Mr. Anil (Cook), Mr. Rahul and Ravi (Support staff) and Mr. Vijay Katoch of Kullu police (trekked with us till pass) and all the Nepalese porters for their support.