Chandra Taal - Jispa

30th September 2022

Woke up seriously early as I had slept that much earlier. Decided to stay in bed as Long as could, to avoid getting out into the cold. 

Heard the first stirring around 0500.

The noise levels kept picking up.

Gathered courage, got out of bed and did my morning stuff in mountain water. Got quickly back in bed as I had no plans for the morning till post breakfast.

But then, did get out of bed around 0645. Stepped out to see a cloudy sky, and the camp emptying.

The weather had changed.

I had the choice of staying with my call to walk post breakfast. Or, leaving now, seeing the lake, and then heading to Jispa.

There was already a seed of doubt in my my on the distance I had to cover the next two days. If I allowed the message from the weather to give me a hint, I would take it. It saved me driving pressure.

Before leaving decided to take a few pictures. The camera battery was dead. No issues, had bought a spare, charged and tested it in Chennai.

Changed batteries. The bloody thing was dead. Made in China.

Well, the day would have to depend on my phones for picture quality.

Loaded and got in to vehicle to start. Noticed the windscreen was fogged. Started vehicle and used wipers.

It was ICE, not fog.

Turned on the heater to warm the windscreen. Took a few minutes for the ice to melt. 

Drove to the lake. The parking is a couple of kilometers to the lake.

 

Decided not to be brave and walk down to the lake. That would have been another couple of hours, and would have defeated my purpose.

On the way back to the vehicle park, told a few Delhi guys that the volume they were blasting music at would cause a avalanche. They failed to understand. I apologised and moved on. Grateful that I went early, and left fast.

I passed the camp site at 0800. The drive was not long. About 70 kilometers to the Rothang turnoff. Then another 60 kilometers. The second stretch was no bother. The first was.

I had been given stories. Read blogs about the treacherous roads, with steep falls. Roads that ran on river beds where off you find your own road. And, the ultimate was I had a Thar with Four Wheel. No problem.

The road was bad. But no worse , no more requiring skill, than any other stretch.  

My average was 10 kilometers per hour.

If you can zoom in on the last picture, you will see an mammal called the Pika. Locals said Hampster, I thought mouse, but, experts said Pika.

Never seen before by me.

Drove on

 

Stopped for some tea and biscuits. As I was indulging a few vans came in and stopped.

A young lady asked for a toilet. Pointed her at the boulders around.

And, left.

The road looks good. Believe me, it bounces you more that you want done.

Gear ONE and TWO only.

 

This upload flips. Read the first as the last.

The view of the backside of a lorry is the first road block. Not long.

 

Stayed being safe till this happened. 

 
Bliss.

 Except for the speed trap at 50 kilometers per hour. Stayed safe.

Filled necessary petrol in spare storage for the next few days.

Checked in to Hotel Ibex in Jispa at around 1500. Had stayed here in 2014. It was the only building in the area. And, the river was just there.