The River crossing🌊🥶- Of Me✨️ & Mountains⛰️

Blog 12

The Pindari glacier trek (PART G)

Have you ever experienced crossing an ice-cold river? I did, and it was a truly remarkable adventure. While I've crossed many rivers before, this particular crossing near Phurkia was exceptionally challenging and beautiful.

After a day of camping at a site just ahead of Phurkia, we decided to embark on a 4km trek to reach the basecamp at 12,500 feet, situated at a higher altitude. Before attempting the crossing, They had carefully assessed the river's flow, volume, and temperature. It was decided to cross early in the morning when the water flow was expected to be lower.

Excited and a bit nervous, I had been planning my crossing since the previous night. I devised what I thought was a brilliant strategy to keep my legs dry and warm in the icy water. Despite some doubts from others, I remained confident in my approach. The porters had secured a rope across the river, and our task was simply to navigate across without falling in.

One by one, with about two feet of space between us, we began our crossing. Each of us wore expressions of determination and awe as we moved through the water. It quickly became the most memorable experience of our entire trek.

Now, let me share my strategy: I wore waterproof pants and wrapped my legs with elastic I use for martial arts to keep the water out. Over this, I wore waterproof trekking shoes. However, the reality of the crossing was quite different—I was instructed to go barefoot. Despite this setback, my idea somewhat worked; although my feet got cold, it saved me. One disadvantage though, the tied pants restricted blood circulation, prompting me to remove them quickly once across. Afterward, I warmed my legs by the fire. 

During the crossing, I slipped and ended up sitting in the middle of the river—an unforgettable moment. Fortunately, my waterproof pants prevented me from becoming half-frozen. The slip occurred when my trek mates ahead of me tilted the rope slightly, causing me to lose balance.

After conquering the mighty river, we gathered around a fire.The water had been bitterly cold, leaving my legs slightly numb, but it was an exhilarating and fun experience despite the challenges.When a senior asked if I had become frozen while sitting in the middle of the river, I was relieved to say that my waterproof pants had saved me.

#intuitively flowing towards rivers nearby mountains !🌊⛰️✨️

Dakshitha