It was chilly winter evening of 2001... Again a random thought crossed our mind - to trek China Peak (Naina Peak) - highest peak in Nainital of 8000+ ft. Having been in Nainital for almost a decade then, I could manage to trek the China peak route only once – that too quite long back.
We, a group of 4 boys (Sheetal, Sanju, Puran and I) and 7 girls (Seema, Shally, Sapna, Kuntal, Neelam, Lipika and Punam) were excited and got ourselves ready to trek the peak next day. As we were often advised by our parents to concentrate more on studies and career and not to do masti all the time, most of the girls choose not to let their parents know about this trek. And we boys never bothered if to seek any such permission.
So, next day around 10 AM, we all gathered near my house and started off. China Peak trek is of approx 80-90 minutes from my house. All of us had only a little idea of the correct route. The route I had followed in my earlier trek to china peak was from different side of the hill, so we decided to try the other one.
By the time we crossed the Sainik School, we were divided into two groups. I was in the later one which was following the first group (where Sheetal had a better idea of the route).
It was a bright day. Sun was at its best of winters and trees were shining as if they were cleaned and showered. We were enjoying the trek and noticed that the first group has disappeared. We didn't bother at all and kept trekking. The view of Naini Lake was beautiful from the route. After around 10 minutes or so, we saw that there were two routes emerging from the route we were following - one towards the peak and the other one was the straight.
We all looked up to each other to suggest the right way... Realizing that everyone is clueless, I made my brain do some serious LOGICAL thinking and asked all to follow me to the route which was towards the peak. When Shally asked if I am sure, I replied confidently that this route makes sense as it's going directly upwards and we too have to go to the peak (upwards). I gave some other LOGICS as well so that no stone is left unturned.
We were singing, shouting, photoing (photography) etc and were also discussing about the bad luck of other group which probably has taken the straighter route and thus a longer route. As long as I can recall – Puran, Shally, Seema, Sapna, Neelam, Kuntal were with me and ST was accompanied by Lipika, Sanju, and Poonam.
We were on full swing towards China Peak and missed to take serious note of the fact that, the trek getting narrower and finally got disappeared just after 15-20 minutes. We were trekking on barran hill... Someone, however, pointed it out and suggested to think of some alternative or go back and take the other route - but most of us were not concerned about it. We were like if there is no route, we will make it - and we really had to. We were holding wood sticks to cut the bush around and make way ahead. We found it really adventurous... I was a proud guide and could sense the praise for making a simple trek so adventurous.
But, I wasn't feeling so proud soon after Sapna slipped in the hill while trying to cross a big stone on the way... That time, some of us realized that this is getting dangerous as well...
I shouted and asked everyone to be cautious. Sapna was very scared and it took us some time to console her and made her believe that everything is OK. Rest of the girls also got nervous by this incident. The joy of trekking went off and replaced by the feeling of danger.
We stopped and explored the other options that we could have. We explored the option of trekking back and take the correct route as well. But, that didn't work since we already had covered almost half the distance by that time. I convinced rest of the guys that this is one off incident that is normal to happen in such treks... Look nothing happened and nothing will happen. We made human chain by holding each others hands to trek the rest.
We took off again. There was a ray of hope when we saw that we were approaching the end of the hill slightly inclined and it's just 100-150 meters away. We were hoping this will take us to the main route and the problem solved. Though, the trek was getting tougher, we motivated ourselves enough to rush towards the end of the hill.
We rushed and reached the end only to found that we were trapped. Towards the end of the hill, it was steep and perpendicular which killed all the possibility to trek it further. Worse to that was the land - where we were standing upon - was slippery. It had no grass, no bush and no trees - just thin and wide stones on top of the dry dirt/mitti. It was literaly slippery.
Nobody dare go back as going back meant going downwards/declined which will obviously not the best thing in such a slippery and steeped hill – you will loose your balance and you are GONE.
We were just standing up. We were in a position, where upon falling down of anybody, rest could only have pointed out towards the direction he/she felt and nothing else. Slowly, some of us managed to fold our knees without any foot movement. Everyone was scared and started praying. Only silence was prevailing there and not a single word came out of anyone’s mouth. Everyone forgot that I was the culprit - Only remembered it and was cursing myself to hell.
We wanted to shout for help - but how. We were left in that condition for around 30-35 mins when Seema said that she is tired and may fell anytime. That made me say that "wait, I'll arrange for some sofa or something to make her comfortable". Nobody laughed… Only I could laugh loud and wow - we spoke out. We really spoke out. This little conversation encouraged us to come out of the state we were lying and think something - do something.
We saw two three bunches of thin grass within our reach… We applied all our Physics knowledge to balance our gravity, friction, Newton’s action-reaction law to hold the thin grass bunch etc. Applying all this Shally, Kuntal and I managed to cross the slippery part and reached the end of the hill. Wow, we had done it… What a relief for us and ray of hope for the half of the public that was still trapped in the slippery stoned land.
But, there was something else in store for we all… There was nothing like end of the hill... We were fooled. There was no end to the hill and there was no main route anywhere in the sight. And there was no possibility to trek in that steep/perpendicular hill further. We went mad and started shouting - only we four who managed to cross the stoned land of 10-12 meters... We were shouting for help so that our voice can echo to the first group which got disappeared and they can come and rescue us.
... to be continued
