LBS Diaries Part 2 - The not so "Short" Trek

On the very day of completing joining formalities, we were handed over the schedule of the week by the training section and I couldn't wait until the end of the day to peek into that. I opened it right there and was so elated so see a short trek to Kempty falls which I could not see in my previous visit. Now as per the schedule it was supposed to be "Short" trek. How on earth was it short for crying out loud? The return from the PT sessions in the Polo ground everyday, that my friend is a short trek. The most difficult walk of whole day from Silver Woods to the Officers Mess for dinner, that my friend is called s short trek. This in no stretch of imagination was a "short" trek.

Anyway, it could have been worse i guess. When we were briefed the other day, I thought they would expect us to go the Mess early in the morning dressed in formals, then go to respective hostels and change to sports gear and then to assemble in the Polo ground at 8. But better sense prevailed I guess. We reached the spot where the "short" trek was to be flagged off but after a week long adherence to time, Indian Standard Time prevailed today. On top of that, it was apparently a hot day. The good thing being that no rains would ensure easy walks along the mountain edges which tend to be very slippery and as told to us they witnessed a lot of mess the last time this happened. But later, as we came to know, the heat became the most difficult of all challenges in our trek and especially in the return leg.

After a long long wait in the Polo ground we finally started to trickle. The initial part was through the dense hill and it was literally like walking on the edge. The path was pretty narrow and a single slip could have been costly. But thanks to the grace of almighty, all have returned safely. Or at least I presume that everyone has. The initial movement was slower than any tortoise in the world and we wrongly attributed it to the narrow path in the mountains. Later evidence which came up on the Facebook wall showed that it was mostly because of various candid pic moments and most importantly the Selfie-mania. But let's accept it, this was to best opportunity for that and as my brothers would say "आज तो बनता है ***!"

Coming down the hills lots of groups were singing beautiful songs which we all enjoyed but there was mostly silence in the return leg courtesy the strenuous nature of the uphill climb. On our way down we went through a little village where the Army personnel had arranged for a plantation drive, Most of the front runners got the saplings to be planted. Rest posed with the planted ones as #SelfieWithSapling was going to trend later and you just cannot afford to loose points on that. Some even pondered over the possibility of taking out the planted ones. Evil genius! Post plantation they arranged some snacks for us which we are very thankful for. Way to go Indian Army!

Re-energized from a round of samosas, we moved ahead downhill along the beautiful stream gushing with fresh water piercing the stones around and making it so picturesque that you would just sit there all day watching it. You just cannot resist the temptation to go down, feel the water in your hands and splash it on your forehead. At some distance, we came across a small fall where few of our brothers were going berserk. We were told that the actual fall is even down the trek and this is relatively way smaller. But it was so damn beautiful, sparsely populated and breathtaking that we pounced into the waters with no second thoughts and believe you me it was the best moment of the day. Standing beneath the little waterfall felt like having a shower of pebbles. Not painful but at just the right amount of pressure to make it soothing. The little space behind the waterfall where we sat for long was truly a moment to cherish. I almost felt like Bruce Wayne entering his secret place through the waterfall. 

Now having done it all, it was time to head towards the real fall. As we met folks returning from that place, they advised us not to bother as the place was full of half naked and hairy Indian men with such numbers that the water was hardly visible. Not that we have any fascination for such visuals but we still decided to move on just for task completion sake. As we finally reached the lowest point, the overwhelming sight of obese men proudly showing their family pack reaffirmed our conviction that the smaller waterfall was the right choice to make. They should consider renaming it k-crowded falls from k-empty.

On our way back, we met many who were of the view that the trek was over and from here taking a cab was the way to go. When they were corrected, the expressions on their faces, priceless! From here onward, every OT we came across had the same question in mind "भाई लंच कहा है ****?" Finally after crossing a stream, getting up a steep hill, we saw the arrangements. On the way uphill, there was this moment of weakness when I wanted to just sit down. Tired, sweating and thirsty. Then I saw this really old women carrying a huge bunch of cut grass without a sign of complaint on her face. She smiled at me. I smiled back disguising my tired state. My god, how do these people do it. And this was the moment which gave me the inspiration to sprint the rest of the way back. God bless you, dear lady. Long may you live to inspire many more.

Again, would like to thank the Mess members for arranging lunch for us all the way up there. Thanks to the Academy was such a wonderful trek although i might not agree with you on the prefix "Short". Congratulations to all OTs for making it through and thanks for looking out for others. 

There was always a hand grabbing one from the back when one slipped. There was always someone offering water when one was thirsty. Great batch, Great trek. 

Cheers 90th FC!

To read LBS Diaries Part 1, Click here!