One of the most accessible hiking spots in this part of the Himalayas is Triund Hill, at 2870 meters. It’s special because although the trail is “only” 9 km round trip, the elevation gain is over 1100 meters. The view from the top is spectacular: you can clearly see the higher, 4000+meter peaks of the Lesser/Middle Himalayas. Since we’re down in the “valley” at 2000 meters in Mcleod Ganj, those peaks are hidden from us by the surrounding 2000’s.

We started our ascent at 7 a.m., already in daylight. My guide was a Tibetan man I had met a few days earlier here in McLeod Ganj. I learned a lot about Tibetan culture and worldview which is also represented by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Among other things I found out that Tibetans are true mountain people: excellent hikers who know the high-altitude environment perfectly. Tenzin, my guide, fled to India at the age of 15 to escape the Chinese occupation of Tibet and the brutalities there. He practically sprinted up to Triund in a single breath 🙂 Okay, maybe not quite but I was very proud of myself for keeping up with him. Except for the last 500 meterswhere there were 22 (!!) turns up the steep mountainside. I had to take breathing breaks more often there 🙂

I was really hoping we’d catch the morning hours before clouds started to settle on the high peaks. We reached the top around 10 a.m. and my wish came true 🙂 The towering 4000+’s before us were covered in the season’s first snow making the view even more breathtaking.

We arrived just in time because half an hour later the clouds began to descend. The peaks seemed to draw them in. Then the air currents carried clouds into the valleys and they gently floated upward like some magical, fairy-tale wonder. The clouds came and went in constant motion.

Eagles, crows and mountain animals like pack horses, sheep, goats and dogs were all present. One grazing horse even snatched the croissant paper bag from next to our backpack; and needless to say, it was impossible to get it out of its mouth anymore. It happily devoured it. Weird taste 🙂

By noon it had clouded over so much that the valley we had climbed from was no longer visible on the other side. On the way down it felt like we were descending through sour cream: only occasionally stirred by the upward-moving air or wind.

It was a magnificent sight and absolutely worth the sore muscles and fatigue! The pictures speak for themselves, aren’t they? 🙂