Bonds Beyond the Summit: Ritik’s Thrillophilia Review for Sar Pass Trek
Trekking teaches us that the best journeys aren’t just about the destination but the experiences along the way.
And what better way to bond than by planning an epic trekking adventure with your closest friends?
We’d been talking about exploring the Himalayas trails for a long time, and when we finalized our trek to Sar Pass, it felt like a dream coming true. A group of friends, a travel plan, and the mountains - what more could we have asked for?
The excitement went through the roof as we thought about the amazing views and adventures waiting for us. In our case, the adventure began even before we could reach the destination, as we found packing for a trek to be an equally challenging task.
We even created a cliche chat group that we would bombard with pictures of Himachal and of course...travel memes. Before we knew it, our departure date came and we were ready to embrace the adventures ahead!
Himalayas...Here We Come
And so it began - the adventurous trek of 3 friends in the Himalayas.
As soon as we stepped off the bus in Kasol, the cool mountain breeze enveloped us, and we exchanged excited glances, our eyes shining with excitement.
We could spot a few vibrant shops across the streets. “Check out these cute cafés! We must visit them after the trek to try some delicious food!” I suggested.
Everyone nodded in agreement as we began trekking towards Grahan village, away from the chaos of routine life. The trail went through dense pine forests, where we could notice the scent of wildflowers. With every step, we got closer to our destination, and the conversations started flowing just like the river running beside us.
As we climbed higher, we realized we were being absorbed by the ambiance of the region - the whistling of the wind, birds chirping, the gurgle of a stream. All of us stopped to catch a breath and took in the splendid scenery all around us - deep valleys, towering mountains, and the endless sky.
“Wow, look at that incredible view!” my friend pointed in excitement, with her camera ready. “This looks like my first Instagram post for the trip!”
As she captured the moment, we laughed joyfully while posing in front of the majestic Himalayas. It took us around four to five hours to reach our first stop, Grahan village, but the climb was worth the effort.
We were welcomed by the locals with such warmth that it almost felt as if we always lived there.
With a little fatigue setting in, I said “We’re in for a real workout tomorrow, the trek will be more challenging!”
Small Victories and Big Celebrations
The next morning, fuelled by the promise of adventure, we set out on the trails leading to Mung Thach. As expected, the path started becoming more rocky and steep, but the breathtaking views kept our spirits high.
As we ascended, we kept on joking about how trekking is great for fitness (while panting), and that made the whole group burst into laughter. Despite the challenging terrain, by keeping each other encouraged, we kept climbing, reminding each other of the snacks we'd planned to enjoy after the trek.
We made a stop after a while and took in the views of lush green glowing under sunlight. It's these kinds of moments that make you forget about all the problems in life. I believe no problem in life can beat the size of the Himalayas - and if we can conquer the mountains, we can do anything in life.
“I could do this all day,” my friend remarked with a smile, quoting Captain America's dialogue from The Avengers.
After many hours of trekking, we finally reached our next stop, Mung Thach. It's funny how we can't figure out things when we live the urban life, but everything falls into place when we're on a mountain.
With each trek, we achieved a new height - quite literally. The small victories would keep adding up every day until you hit the big one - with everyone!
I guess that's the best part about trekking - everyone's a winner. Speaking of victories, gathering around a small fire with everyone around sunset, was our way of celebrating our journey. There was something very special about sharing laughter and stories beneath a clear sky full of stars.
Snack-Powered Adventures
During our trek to Nagaru, we started feeling the briskness in the air and the tiredness building in our legs. The trail continued to grow steeper, but the adrenaline rush of reaching the destination kept us going.
“I’m not going to lie,” my friend panted, wiping off sweat from his forehead. “I didn’t expect it to be this challenging!”
“Think about the delicious maggi, and the momos - think about the snacks at the end!” I said, trying to encourage him. “And the views from Nagaru are going to be worth all your effort!”
With that, all of us continued to climb, until we finally reached Nagaru - where the sky met the mountains. We were left speechless by the scenery over there, it felt as if we were just a few meters away from the sky above us. After a while, we settled into our cozy campsite, and watched the setting sun, as the day’s exhaustion was swept away with the hues of yellow and orange.
On our final day, we were supposed to trek to Biskeri Thach via Sar Pass. In all honesty, it was both exhausting and exhilarating to conquer the last few miles of the trek to the last stop.
“This is it Ritik! We’re almost there!” My friend cheered as we were about to reach the summit.
Laughing our way through the fatigue, we finally reached Biskeri Thach. And there it was - a sense of achievement, peace, and togetherness, and pride rolled into one.
On our way back to Barshaini, all three of us looked back at the mountains and made a promise to return - to adventures, togetherness, and friendship.
Read More: Thrillophilia Trek Reviews