LBS Diaries Part 8 - Conquering Lal Tibba

Boy o' boy, how time flies. Memories of the Registration day are still fresh in our minds and here we are, back from the third and last short trek of our beloved Foundation Course. Today's mission was to conquer the highest point in Mussoorie better known as Lal Tibba near Landour. Now there have been many discussions and conspiracy theories attempting to interpret this weird name.  Some say that the upper most part of Mussoorie has this red soil texture and hence the name. Some say that it's because most of the houses and cottages there have a red roof or color. Another interesting theory was propagated today during the trek among the OTs which believes that Lal Tibba features a significantly high volume of leech population and those who trek to that place are forced to shed some blood on the way.  Wow, that was some Tarantino shit!

Anyway, as we started marching along the Kempty Road, various groups poured into all possible trek routes that came alongside the road ultimately joining like the very many tributaries of a river. Now as per the weather forecast, it was supposed to be a cloudy day with little rainfall but you know how Murphy's law always comes true to screw you. It was again a hot and clear day like that on the first trek and that itself had a symbolism in it hinting that this one ain't going to be as good a trek as Binog Hill. We descended down the hill and for quite some time. This was paradoxical in a way that we started to question aren't we supposed to get to the highest point of Mussoorie?

We stopped at a point for breakfast and on opening that food box which was packed the other day, we all said hello to a questionable banana. Trekkers aren't choosers and ergo we consumed all of it. And now we were hoping that the uphill climb would start. But fate it seems is not without a sense of irony. We moved further down. And some more. So much so that people started questioning the authenticity of the trek. Soon we saw our fellow OTs on the hill opposite to us as they marched upwards. Suddenly everyone stopped and there was a common voice that resonated across the valley "Is that the hill? Noooo...". So many people said this at the same time that it almost felt like a case of constructive interference resulting into the highest intensity. But what needs to be done, must be done.

Soon the eternal uphill climb began. Anirudh was with me from the very start. He had some issues with his ankle but was denied an exemption from the trek. Given his leg condition it was always going to be a challenge to climb uphill but full credit to his persistence and the patience he displayed when we pushed him like a child. Treks are not about getting your personal best and galloping to the completion line. They are more about enjoying the very feel of being amidst the nature. They are about looking after your fellow trekkers. They are about helping out and collaboration. Making sure that no one is left behind. It was fun pushing Anirudh through his limits. It reminded me of that half marathon in Hyderabad where my major concern was making sure that my friends complete the race in time. Isn't that the main motto of FC, esprit de corps.

Finally we made it to that top where the regular mess food awaited us. That part of Mussoorie is better known as Landour. Don't dig too much into why this place is called that. There is nothing obscene about the place. In fact it is much more beautiful than the main city. Reasons are very apparent - purely temperate vegetation, less population and more greenery. And of course that is the place where you can easily see the snow-clad Himadris. Post- lunch we moved to explore the utterly famous "Char Dukaan" which serves these wonderful Pan-cakes only to realize that most OTs knew about it and with all places taken we decided to march back to the academy.

On our way back, we had to cross the main market. Walking along side the heavy traffic on that tinny road with horns going berserk from all directions, I wondered, what have we done to this beautiful place. We have totally ruined the Queen of the Hills. With such widespread construction of hotels, roads and houses, it's rare to get a glimpse of the virgin mountains. So here we are in this serene place with tourists pouring in from all corners of the country apparently to enjoy the nature's lap but the questions they have disappoint and amuse me - Where is McDonalds man? What shit, this place doesn't have a multiplex? Bloody hell, there is no mall, where the hell am I suppose to shop?

Anyway, leaving that aside for the time being, here we are having conquered the highest point in Mussoorie. At this juncture, i would like to quote Edmund Hilary "It is not the mountain that we conquer but ourselves". Congratulations all for having completed all three treks. I am sure most would not have known earlier that they were capable of this. You are capable of much more. Wishing you all the best for the Grand finale, the 10-day trek in the Himalayas!