Soloing Phulchoki

IN an unfathomed forest of Phulchoki, which is believed to be evolved in mesozoic era, I remained for more than 5 hrs, walking quietly up and down, photographing and climbing among the surrounding mountains covered with snow. Phulchoki furnishes an equally interesting example of wilderness wholly, or in part, by wide range of flora and fauna and in every direction, the landscape stretched out sublimely away in fresh wildness--- a manuscript written by the hand of Nature alone.

It all started with an obsession of walking. On a chilly morning of February 5, 2022, I woke up late and after my morning stuffs, I looked around from our terrace. I saw all the hills and mountains of the Kathmandu valley covered with snow. And I decided to hike Phulchoki, one of the care killing trails of the valley which stretches out 13 km from the base of the mountain. 

However, I already hiked this trail with my friend on last December, 2021 when first snowfall of the season hit the valley. With an urge to explore and experience the wilderness that the trail offers, I went on a solo hike.

Then, after my lunch at 11:15 AM, I walked out from my home (Chapagaun) to the Phulchoki Summit, which is about 20 km away that is equivalent to 12.42 miles from my home. As I had to walk back and forth, about 24.84 miles, I didn't waste my time here and there. After walking about 30 mins, I reached Taukhel, neighborhood of Chapagaun. Then, I took a bus that goes to Godawari in order to save 30 mins of my time. [If I walked from Taukhel to Godawari through Peace Mountain, it could take 30 mins or more]. However, I thought that I could use that amount of time to reach the summit on time.

It just took 3 mins to reach Godawari Bus park from Taukhel by bus. Then, I looked at time that it was 12:08 PM. As snowfall was so much that I saw so many people hustling at the bus park with zeal to enjoy in the snow. 

I realised that I had to walk another 13 km to reach the summit. When I reached Godawari, I already had mild headache and felt so much hungry that I took the fruit juice from the backpack and had a sip of it. Then, I took chocolate bite. And, I slowly walked uphill through the forest path, which is so wild and raw that we need guts to explore solo. 

The forest of Phulchoki is so magnificent that we define nature as we walk through the forest. Being one of the last remnants of sub tropical forest in Nepal, it's the most tranquil place of the valley where we find peace and color our heart.

Then, after walking 5 km of an entire 13 km trail, I saw flakes of snow on the road and I felt so much excited in a good way. Furthermore, I took a pace to walk uphill. I was afraid that my headache would be intense but after having chocolate, juice and water, it stopped my headache. 

As there were other hikers too, I didn't worry about the wild surroundings. I know that soloing this trail other times would be dangerous. We may encounter wild bears and boars.

As I didn't care about other hikers what they were doing on the trail, I focused on reaching the summit. Moreover, with so much snow, about 2-3 feet, the beaten track was so much slippery to walk. At that same time, it was challenging to walk and I didn't use any shortcut. We could lose stamina to reaching out the top of the mountain.

As I reached the higher elevation, the pocket of fog lingered the mountain. That fleeting moment which I was looking for, was remained for few minutes. Then, I indulged in solitude, finding a peace in silence. At that point of the trail, I didn't see anyone, just me and wild surroundings. It meant a lot to me in a good way. That was my moment of zen.

However, I got scared too and it was obvious. But, with so much determination, I reached the summit, after walking 3 hrs 30 minutes from the bottom of the mountain. The winding road of the Phulchoki is so much challenging, (Difficulty Rating-5).

Due to low visibility, I didn't spend much time on the summit. After my prayers at the temple, I walked back in search of a place where I could have my snacks. [On the summit, there is a teahouse which offers mainly tea and other snacks]. As there were other hikers having their tea and snacks, I didn't want to go there. I came a little bit down to have my snacks and tea which I took from home. 

Then after finishing my snacks, I walked slowly for a while in order to have few minutes on higher altitude. It was something like acclimatization of the body. Then, I did trail run up to 10 km. 3 km, I had to walk. When I was about to reach the bottom of the mountain, I had so much pain in my leg, downhill knee problem. Finally, I successfully came down the mountain. It was already 5:30 PM when I reached down the mountain, brother did make phone call to me and I said that "I am at Godawari waiting for bus and take me home from Taukhel". But he said; "You be there and I am coming to pick you up." It was such a huge relief to me. Otherwise, I was about to take a bus upto Taukhel and walked back for another 45 minutes to reach HOME.

Then I did wait for my brother at Godawari Bus park. He came to pick me up on his motorbike. At first, he scolded me not to hike Phulchoki alone......

I appreciated the way my brother told me. It's one of the dangerous places of the valley. Anything could happen in the forest. I, actually thought there would so many people on the trail like it used to be on last hike with my friend. Yes, there were so many people on the trail but, as I reached higher elevation, I came across with few people only. At some point, I thought I should go back. It was so scary when the fog engulfed the path.

When I reached home, I felt so much cold and I sat in front of fire for about an hour or two. Then, I filled my day's appetite with so much foods and had hot water with thyme seeds. It does take care of our lungs and keeps us away from cold. Next day, I was on full day rest. 

[This hike taught me a lesson that how hard it is to reach our goal in life! But with strong determination and dedication, we can do anything in life]. 

[When we stay close to the nature, we care our forest, our hills, our mountains with love]. 

Pathivara Hike

Some people walk on their own because they feel within themselves. After hiking every month for a year 2076 B.S. (2019-20 A.D.), twice in a month, sometimes thrice in a month, I did enwind my solo hike with "Pathivara Hike". With traveler at heart, I lived the moments in the wild exploring my solitude with endless possibilities. Sometimes hiking is not just about to aid the physique, however, it supercharges our grey matter too. With an unvarnished act of exploring, we can easily boost our brainpowers. 

In all honesty, I recruit new skills on every hike, for instance, keeping a pace, building up a strength, map reading, managing time, building a range of motion and so on. After all as a photography enthusiast, I manage to have a great eye sight. 

Now moving on with "Pathivara Hike", that I named it after 'Pathivara Temple' which is situated on the foothills of Dolchoki. It was one of my full blooded hikes because I had not walked like that before. Although it was strenuous, I came home with fond memories that I made along the trails.

There are many ways to get Pathivara Temple. There are 3 motor ways and one of them is highly risky. I used the river way to reach there. I actually like to see the river along the trails. It was festival day, Falgu Purnima or Holi and I took that day for granted. I hit the trail around 10 am from the western side of the Chapagaun. Through river way, I went to Pari, neighborhood of Chapagaun in order to see the mustard fields. Well, it was early spring and the ambience gifted by yellow color was eye distracting. 

Moreover, after few mins of taking photos of Pari, I headed to Charghare through water canal way where suspension bridge is built over the Nakhhu river connecting two villages. I was exhausted after walking about an hour from home. I decided to take rest on suspension bridge for few mins. It was amazing to see bucolic scenery all around standing on the middle of the bridge. Then, I crossed the bridge and took the forest way which leads to Tika Bhairab. That narrow forest path is one of the dangerous ways and people walk this way more rarely. This 10-15 mins forest path determines whether or not you can walk further trails which are deep in the woods! 

I used the tactics which I usually do. Instead of wasting time on taking photos and videos in such wilderness, I walked as fast as possible holding a camera stand in my hand. I didn't run because that narrow path is made through the edge of the huge mountain to the other side. With one small mistake, you could slip away from more than 100 ft to the river down below.

After 10 mins of forest walk, I reached Tikabhairab. Now, Tikabhairab is situated on the bank of Nakhhu river and is surrounded by huge mountains from all sides. It is the mouth of all hiking trails. From here, we can go to the different places or mountains, for example, Devichaur, Deurali, Tinpane, Dolchoki, Manakamana Temple I, II, Pathivara Temple, Bhardev, Phulchoki, and so on. Fortunately, I hiked all these mountains this year one by one except Phulchoki, probably highest mountain of the valley. It is because, we should have strong guts to hike Phulchoki solo.

I headed to Nallu from Tika Bhairab through river way. The river water was so gin clear on that day. But I didn't see any fish in the river. While walking through that way, I felt extreme sorrow because the river is not the same as it was before and the mountains are being crucified for stone and other purposes (construction). Whatever, the trial is amazing for a day hikers as the trial is on the deepest gorge where river is flowing on its side. I was amazed after seeing huge rocks dating back to more than 1000 years. I chased the birds singing on the banks of the rivers. And I kept on walking for another 2 and half hrs further to reach Nallu Bazaar. Along the way, I passed few villages of Nallu. I saw old aged people gazing their herds on the steep mountains. Some were working on their fields and some young people were celebrating Holi. 

Now, after reaching Nallu, I saw Pathivara Temple on the mountain from a distant. Wonderful, I crossed the river and I walked up the mountain through winding path to the temple. I was saying to myself;"This is it! The moment that I have been waiting for so long is here with me now".  I spent few minutes around 15 mins at the temple (worshipping and taking rest). It was sunny day and the views from the temple was jaw dropping. I walked further up the mountain and I had snacks somewhere on the middle of the mountain. Then after supercharging with some homemade foods, I went to Dolchoki residing on top of the mountain. Unfortunately, I felt so much pain in my leg while going up.  And I was worried and thought that how could I reach home! Simultaneously, the trail started to engulf by the daytime mist.  I could hardly see the way. I felt the moment of walking on bleary trails. When I was on top of the mountain, I made a phone call to my brother to take me home. You know! The pain was unbearable. But he couldn't able to come as he was also traveling somewhere with his friends. Sadly, I was on my own, I walked down all the way from Dolchoki to the Tinpane through huge forest beaten road. And from Tinpane, I was walking all alone to Tikabhairab and a kind man offered me a lift to Tikabhairav. When I reached Tikabhairav, I made phone call to my cousin brother to take me home. I walked again to the Charghare where my cousin brother was waiting for me to take home. This is how I completed my last hike. It was a totalled challenge. 

When I reached home, I got so much stressed and pain. But I was happy to be home. Sometimes, unbearable pain brings great pleasure. It was one of the best hikes I ever did so far. I walked deep in the gorge and on top of the mountain. If only you have been in the deepest valley, can you ever know? How magnificent it is to be on the top of the mountain?

The rewards which I got from that hike were inexpressible. Maybe I got phytochemicals provided by trees to fight against bacteria and fungi. Maybe I boosted my mind and immune system. Or, maybe, I had a good day to remember. To sum it up, hiking can have the long lasting impact on the plasticity of our brain. Next time, I use new route to reap away extra rewards.

I Took A Little Journey To The Unknown

I Took A Little Journey To The Unknown

Today,

I stretched my legs and went on a hike.
I took a winding path
Gallivanting solo as The Sun.

All of a sudden
I spied the Loveliness of The Wild...
Lofty mountains of lush trees.
I crossed the river as it runs.

Tangible Contact with Nature

"Birds singing on the banks of the narrow streams, trees smell, branches creaking, insects humming, feet shuffling through needle-like road, animal scents, earthy smell..."

Tangible contact with nature: it is not about fabricating proficiency, it is all about courage, patience, challenge and enigma.

Experiencing wild nature is powerful incentive for me to learn new things now. Being alone in the profound forest, being all alone at the edge of the mountain can set us off on the path that changes the way we think ourselves, our purpose in life, and the way we live our lives.

Nature brought me into direct contact with the elements-earth, air, water, and water. It unclothes the means we have developed to protect ourselves from their impact. It ameliorates my strength, confidence and self-determination.

Hiking the mountains has become favorite thing for me now. I solely hike alone and I like it the most. Its an opportunity to know the nature in a good way. At the same time, I love to make memories with the nature and the memories with nature are like now spurs of the moment.

With an increased urbanization, the difference between our lifestyle and those of our evolutionary past is now a distant apart. Humans now, are busy in materialistic world and they have no time for nature. Unlike my ordinary life, I can't afford big expenses holidays. So, I escape from bustle of the city and go away to the quiet of the country most of my weekend.

Hiking, a walk in the mountains or woods frees my mind and its an evidence that nature actually soothes the savage beast.

Forest bathing has improved my physical health through

-spending time in the fresh air increases energy levels

-regular opportunities for physical exercises

-relaxing nervous system by being in calm, natural environment

-increasing stamina and fitness.

So, to sum it up, it has longitudinal benefits on us.