Dharamsala to Bimthang – Get Up You Horrible Little Man (part two)

We waited at the top of Larkya La pass for a while, just in appreciation of it giving us a tough hike for 10 days, as well as the views that the clear skies still afforded us.

Just breathing in the quiet, apart from the regular rockfalls. The stillness and peace, without the constant sound of the crashing river which we’d had day and night for 10 days. It’s tempting to think that the mountains are trying to weigh you up because someone up there is keeping an eye on things. But we’re insignificant to these magnificent peaks. Anyway stop waxing lyrical fat boy and get your lardy arse 4,000 feet down the other side in time to get some scran.

A love divine is still yours and mine. Thanks John.

The physical drop down the other side was ridiculous, but someone had managed to carve a bit of a zig zag path into the hillside. Most accidents happen on the descent and my legs were slightly unsteady from the efforts of the morning. Careful (with that axe Eugene) . Thanks …. which one is Pink?

Even more careful when the weather is looking a bit wild.

We picked our way down, trying to keep up speed but trying not to slip, trip or fall. This drop below was much steeper than it looks in the photo.

What you can’t see, unless you magnify the photo, are 5 black dots coming up the path. Five policemen who were on patrol. you might be able to spot them.

We engaged them in conversation and they were jolly nice coves. On the beat to maintain security of the pass, whatever that meant. We were still no wiser as to what they were up to until, further down, we came across a tv journalist who was doing a piece on the Manaslu Circuit. The coppers had picked up on that and decided to look proactive!

After a couple of hours of calf and knee straining descent we spotted a glacier below us in the valley, and a small camp to the side of it in the distance. Dindins!

Our pace picked up and potato with garlic soup was the feast of the day! I must have lost some weight on this trip surely ref! Come on ref you bozz eyed pillock! I’ve lost weight you blind beggar! Ok. Maybe I have and maybe I haven’t. Refs are crap nowadays.

Another two hours dropping down before we got anywhere near our destination. Bimthang. Not a bad spot, but bereft of electricity and WiFi.

The sheds were nice but it decided to rain, and the monsoon came back with a vengeance in the evening and night. Looks like our clear views of the Himalayas are over. But they were spectacular whilst they lasted. Deep rumbles continued to remind us that somewhere there were thousands of tons of ice and snow cutting down mountainsides. Mountaineering is a risky business. Good job that we’re just bedwetting trekkers!

Night night.