Lost in the Himalayas - Part 4 (the last)

Were we lost???

It was 4.30, when I at last forced the issue with Ballu. He, too, was loath to concede that we might very well be. But, by this time we had come in view of two wonderful peaks that should have been visible on the route to Thochuntse – the only problem was that [...]

Coincidence

The day we reached Leh we were all sitting in one of the two rooms we had got at our usual lodge. The room had two single beds. DDB was lying down on one, B was sitting on the edge of the bed, Ballu was next to her. On the other bed, facing them, were [...]

Lost in the Himalayas - Part 3

Despite the long and ultimately quite harrowing day before, we set off for Chilling bright and early. Straight out of camp, we climbed up a mini pass, Lanak La, only ~14,000 ft. Down we went on the other side, and after crossing a campsite, up we went again, climbing gradually on a winding path to [...]

Adoption Update - Home Study

Adoption update: The home study was yesterday. The social worker came and quizzed us about our lives, right from place of birth to current income and everything in between. She wanted to know about every job either of us had ever had (and believe me, I’ve had LOTS) and everything we’ve ever studied (I seem [...]

Lost in the Himalayas - Part 2

From Lamayuru to Wanla to Hinju, the trek was uneventful. The weather cleared up at Wanla, the path was easy and pretty, the afternoons were warm and relaxed. Then we set out from the scenic campsite at Hinju for a long walk over Konzke La, a pass at an altitude of ~16,000 ft, to Sumdo [...]

Lost in the Himalayas - Part 1

A trek in Ladakh is always a big event. The landscape is vast, infinite, without end… and the scale of preparation and coordination required is almost in proportion to it. Plus, a trek of 11-12 days is quite a major undertaking in its own right, when you’re not going through a travel agency.

I’m not [...]