Meow Feedback... Datyar - TT Heights - Nolta Trek

It was a first whole day local trek that CATS ventured out on a fine Sunday morning. As has become the CATS custom, we started off with a prayer and then quickly changed tracks towards an impromptu 'Antaakshri' session. Some of the CATS discovered their singing talents for the first time.

The chill that hit us at Datyar prompted CATS to pull on all the layers they had brought with them. However, a sumptous packed breakfast accompanied by hot masala chai served courtey Atulaya at Datyar warmed many a heart and belly. The views were breathtaking from the open verandah of Atulaya. That's were the easiest part ended!

Led by two guides provided by Atulaya, we set ourselves for the first leg of the journey from Datyar towards Timber Trail Heights in Banasar. Though originally we were supposed to take a shorter but much steeper, tougher (and slightly riskier) trek, given there were few kids and some first timers with us, a last minute decision was taken to take a longer but relatively easier path to Banasar.

As usually happens, the whole group of 32 automatically divided into groups as per their fitness, speed and other personal reasons. I had the opportunity to ask CAT Gurinder as to why he was literally running towards the top? His response had me in splits, 'If I slow down, I will simply fall backwards!'

It was fun all the way, being chased by the cows, exchanging MEOWs with a little cat, trying hands at farming, spotting the toy train going to Shimla in the backdrop, being laughed at by the locals, 'Here comes another pack of urbanites!' It was simply great to be out in the lap of Mother Nature again.

Unfortunate part was that despite having two guides, three sub groups lost the way and had to trek longer and harder to find their way back to the road! I will never forget the call I had from CAT Uday with a little concern in his voice, 'Have you come across the hay stacks yet!'

We all finally managed to converge at the terrace of Timber Trail Heights to have a quick drink. We took a break longer than we should have at this point. Nevertheless, this is where the downhill journey started along a dusty and at times treacherous trek. Infact, all of us had to keep our eyes glued to the track in order to see where our paws were landing!

Despite the various trips and falls we were having along the narrow path, there was plenty of laughter too. As CAT Rita slipped, I instinctively said whilst pulling her up by her sleeve, 'Careful Rita or we would end up looking for you in the farm below.' CAT Gurinder broke into his typical Brit-English-Punjabi laced Hindi, 'Sure otherwise we would be saying, Oh dekho woh chauthhe khet mein payi hai'

Another good thing we did on the way down is that we ensured the whole group stayed together to avoid the problem of getting lost again. Sensing that legs were giving way, I tried to call our bus driver and the resort manager to send our bus up to fetch us. Unfortunately, the mobile signals also conspired against us. CATS had no choice but to keep walking down in a hope that the phone would start working after the next bend ahead.

Now this is another matter that the way down simply refused to end and the phones refused to work! It was like having school kids in the car who impatiently ask at every turn, 'Aur kitni door?' CAT Navpreet and CAT Rahat had connived to pull me around the bushes for a sound beating. I was lucky they did not find a stick!

Whilst only about 1.5km was left, there came a local bus shuttling down the road. Our resolve to finish the trek broke when we found one of our guides sitting in the bus! We all hitch hicked our way back to our base for lunch. CATS, the picture of politeness that we are, thanked the bus driver and the conductor from the bottom of our hearts. Whilst I was doing the head count to ensure we had not lost anyone on the way, I heard the conductor asking, 'Paise??' Oh dear, we were too tired and too hungry by that time to care that we were being fleeced by the conductor for the tickets he did not give us!

Best part was hot food served to us in the sprawling lawns of Yorks Health Resort in Nolta. The simple vegetarian fare was nothing less than a feast for the hungry CATS, who pounced upon the kill. We put our feet up with a hot cuppa masala chai after a well deserved and required late lunch. There was pin drop silence on the way back to Chandigarh in the bus :-)

There are a few things which came to the fore on this trek. It set apart the experienced trekkers from the beginners. It taught us to stay together rather than walking away in our own little sub-groups. It has encouraged us to develop methods of signposting the route for others to follow. It's very easy to loose time by having longer, unscheduled and unexpected breaks. It has taught us what trekking is about; unpredictable adventure, sometimes at the expense of our knees and calves!

See you all on the next trek on 23rd of Dec at Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.
CAT Supreet