7 th Sept 07 : We started an early trek at slow pace to Roopkund. The area is prone to shooting stones and rolling pebbles. On the route and at the lake one can see Neel kamal (blue) and Fen Kamal flowers (white). At the lake there is a shrine of Nanda Devi where trekkers make offerings - one rupee coins and food items. A steep climb leads top Roopkund, a lake having 20 m diameter covered with thin layer of ice over water. At the centre of the lake there was a huge boulder and is visible over water. Few human bones (that of lag and hand) are left presently. A skull and few bones were collected by trekkers and is placed on a rock. Trekkers take human bones as memento, thus reducing the number of bones to few tens with a single skull. Undecayed flesh attached to bones show the weather conditions around the lake.

A further 30 minute climb on a clear route leads to Zorawar gali, a pass at 5350 m. The pass has good views of Mt Trishul and Nanda Ghunti peaks at close quarters.

Getting a fair weather at high altitude is a luck. Normally morning time up to 1000 h is good with clear sky. Afternoon will be having unpredictable climate with high wind velocity. The weather can change within minutes from sunny to rainy/windy/fog. It is 6 hour to and fro trek from Bagubasa.

From Zorawar gali, the route leads to Homkund via Sila Samudra. During Nanda Devi Jat Yatra, a four horned ram will be set free at Homkund lake. From Homkund, interested trekkers can climb to Ronti Saddle (5850 m) and get out to Ghat road head.

We reached Bagubasa camp by 1300 h and had our lunch. I cannot eat food because of altitude sickness. I eat some glucose powder and dry fruits. After a rest of one hour, we packed our tent and started the return trek. By 1700 h, we crossed Kailu Binayak and reached a place called Pather Nachini. Mohan Singh and I pitched the tent on the wayside and we were the last humans on this route that night. Rice & dal for supper, I was again unable to eat it due to altitude sickness. Again a sleepless night with persistent headache. A Crocin released the pain but sleep was still away.

The next day was a clear day with great views of the snowy range mainly Trishul and Nanda Ghunti. Though tired, I wished to trek again to Zorawar gali !. Only a lucky few get such clear weather in high altitude. Normally sky gets clear during the first half of September.

Roopkund &Zorawar gali