The trip to San Dak Phu

An outdoor event that changed my life would very definitely be the first time  I went hiking into the Himalayas. I was  in the 5th standard when I got the once in a lifetime opportunity to go trekking in the himalayas. The destination was Sandakphu at an elevation of 12,000 feet. As a child, I always wanted to go trekking in the Himalayas and this was the perfect opportunity to do so. After weeks of physical training in my hometown of Guwahati the time for the journey of a lifetime finally came. We travelled by train to Darjeeling and thereafter spent a few days there to get acclimatized. Fortunately for us, we had some very experienced trekkers to lead us. The trek was through the various small villages in the hillside.Some of the villages we passed on the way were truly beautiful. I still remember the wooden houses which were like something out of a fairytale. Along the trek, we saw himalayan yaks carrying loads for the local people. I still remember the delicious taste of “churpi”, a local  hard cheese that is great for day long hikes. I remember walking up to sixteen kilometres everyday but those hours spent trekking were never monotonous as there was so much to see all around. For someone growing up in the plains the first time one sees the mountains is truly an unforgettable experience. One has not truly experienced cold till you have gone trekking in the winter in the Himalayas. In the high altitude the rarefied atmosphere is a challenge to most people. I remember feeling my dry skin and shortness of breath as I neared Sandakphu. I felt a great sense of achievement as we reached Sandakphu. For my young self it was as if I had managed to summit Mt. Everest. The trip was a great way for me to meet foreigners who had come to trek in the Himalayas as well. I met people of all ages enjoying the pleasures of trekking. In today’s modern world of hectic lifestyles and sedentary occupations it has become extremely important to rediscover the necessity of adventure sports like trekking. Hopefully, the current generation who are hooked all the time to their phones and iPads will discover the pleasures of trekking before it is too late.