Ice, Glaciers & Machoi Peak

I took sometime to knock off last night but managed well in the end. Got a good 8 hour nap waking up to the sound of radio set crackling and the rope fixing team preparing to leave to setup summit camp or Machoi. It’s basic out here but basic is better than the course at NIM!

The morning was well spent hiking to Machoi glacier with some ice training to follow. Thanks to crampons and an ice axe, ice training is fairly simple and the real challenge had been negotiating the moraine to the glacier. At Machoi though the moraine is fairly benign. We plan to cart some ropes and pitons up here tomorrow, fix a rope, climb a little and then rappel down. Oh yeah , Dad came upto the glacier too. That was great.

 Our camp is beautiful. Some glorious views early this morning and into the afternoon. Makes one want to just sit and soak it in – if it were not for the high wind!

Passing through one of the most starkly beautiful landscapes, NH1D is one the best drives to take (in an off road vehicle!) and experience. I was lucky to drive a good old Gypsy (I learnt to drive on one) from Machoi to Drass via Matiyan. It’s a big dream come true from the last time I was around these parts and its something I am likely to look back to with a lot of nostalgia.

Another good surprise was a good cup of soup at Drass market with Padam Bahadur. Padam a quaint Nepali is trying to eke out a living at the charmingly names Darjeeling Restaurant in the Drass township. I was glad Darjeeling Restaurant caught my eye and it turned out to be a good bet. The soup did much to soothe my belly rumblings which have been caused by a stomach bug – something that is a little worrying. Padam on the other hand is a little disappointed since the 11,000 strong Nepali community that kept Drass ticking over right after the 1999 Kargil war has now dwindled down to a trickle. He is looking to move and setup a Chinese restaurant in Jammu now. He might even run the Gulmarg HAWS cafeteria. Here is to more meals with Padam sometime later in life.

Today also looks like another early night. It is also the penultimate night before we set off for summit camp near Gumri if the plan remains on target. Good luck Tarun!