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Category : Events
This was a special one, an all-women trek to the mountains of Garhwal where Sisters in Sweat donned our outdoor and hiking gear and ventured into the great outdoors for the Ali Bedni Bugyal Trek. A 3-day trek in the Chamoli region of Uttarakhand, it was the perfect getaway from the city to refresh amidst the refreshing Himalayan climate.
“Snow-peaked mountains, starlit skies, climbing through forests and meadows, spotting animals and birds, all in fantastic company. Everyone took back the same thing - lasting memories and an itch to do it again.” summed up perfectly by Niti Pagdi, founder of Pink Boots, a women-led trekking company that was our outdoor partner for this event.
From organising the traditional pahadi food and stay in local homestays, to planning the route map, elevation gain and pit-stops, Pink Boots managed all arrangements for the trek and made sure our members had a memorable experience.
The 3 Day-trek started with participants arriving in Dehradun and heading onward to Wan, the starting point of the trek. They spent the night at a homestay in the remote village of Wan. The cosy rooms, complete with warm blankets, attached bathrooms and breathtaking views of the mountains were just perfect for the girls to get some R&R before the trek began.
This trek required no prior mountaineering skills. All the ladies needed was a fit body and a willingness to challenge themselves to a new experience of being in the great outdoors. Niti briefed everyone about the right gear to bring for the trek and we had lovely winter gear waiting for the girls from Kosha.co - specialists in winter layering clothing. Niti guided the girls with small tips to manage body temperature to tackle the erratic weather of the mountains. “Cloudy with sudden cold feels, (to) sunny with sudden burn sensations,” is how Niti described it, and prepared the ladies accordingly.
After a refreshing night’s sleep at the homestay, the girls were in for a treat as they initiated the first day of their trek - to Gehroli Patal, which was a 9km trek with a 2500 feet elevation gain. The months after monsoons usually have clear skies and pristine weather conditions to trek in the foothills of the Himalayas and our group had the perfect conditions.
The troup passed through lush and dense forests that were bursting with the fragrance of fresh pine cones in the air. It was a meditative experience to hike across stone-paved paths through dense forests of oak, rhododendron and blue pine trees. And at the end of Day 1, the ladies took their time to wind down while nutritious pahadi meals of Rajma, chawal, dal chawali, sabzi, roti, papad and pickles were prepared for them, using produce that was as organic and fresh from farm to plate. Everyone came in together to enjoy their outdoor dining experience, whilst listening to the sounds of the forest. A restful night’s sleep awaited everyone in their cosy tents under the starry night sky.
The next morning, with good weather conditions, the happy campers set out early for Day 2 of this Himalayan hiking experience. It started with a short hike to Ali Bugyal which was a 4km trek with an elevation gain of 1000 feet. This was followed by a simple lunch enroute. The next leg of the trek to Bugyal, which was a 3km trek with an elevation gain of 1000 feet, was in store for the hikers. As they challenged themselves through this hike, they were rewarded with the best part of the experience - as they reached the end of Day 2, they got to take in the majestic views of Mt.Trishul and Mt.Nanda Ghunti at sunset! Everyone was spellbound by the view and some spent it in silence taking in the sights while some made sure to capture it all in their group photographs and selfies. And just as the moon made its way back up to the sky, the ladies made their way down to camp in their tents at Ali Bugyal.
It would be an understatement to say that this trek was all-encompassing, a rarity for most trekkers. Each of the women who participated brought something unique to the group and took back everlasting memories!
