The call of the mountains

There's something about being up in the Himalayas that draws you in and makes you want to keep going back there again and again. And Durgadas Parab, the founder of Goa Eco Treks will gladly affirm this. Having previously made the trek to Everest Base Camp, Kalapathar in 1995 and 1999, nothing could stop him along with his team of six women and men from visiting it yet again in September this year. The 17 day trek began on September 13 after they flew from Kathmandu to Lukla and then began their climb uphill to Kalapathar which is at 5643 mt above sea level. And once again, Durgadas came away mesmerised.
"In the silence of the valleys as we listened to the call of the mountains, it was a blissful moment that made us speechless. I sincerely, have no words to express what I felt, as I inhaled the oxygen deprived air in that chilling atmosphere with a freezing temperature of (- 5) degree - something deep down inside the core of my being melted away my ‘ahankara' (loosely translated in English as ‘ego'), reducing me to a minuscule dust particle in this boundless universe," says Durgadas, who feels blessed. "When something awesome, that tall and great, stands before someone, it is but natural that we, humans, must bow down in humbleness," he adds. In fact, Durgadas was initially doubtful whether he would be able to make the climb given his age (58), but the pull was too big for him to resist.
Of his eight companions, Colonel Ravi Rajan (rtd) who is 64 was the oldest. And although it was a regular thing in his line of duty as an army man to visit places of great eight or depth, the retired colonel admits that in times of crisis, there were rare moments when one could pause to enjoy the beauty of nature in general and the Himalayas in specific. "Such experiences are cathartic and rejuvenating. One must not miss them. It's a break from the mundane life that allows us to step out from our comfort zones and experience life the way it is," expresses Colonel Ravi Rajan. Associated with Goa Eco Treks since 2014, he adds that this trek was of special significance, as it is a stepping stone for those who want to summit Mt Everest and as very few trekkers transverse here. "The Himalayas is said to be the abode of God for the Tibetans and Indians. It is said to be the most sacred place of pilgrimage on earth in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. Apart from the physical aspect and the exhilaration of the trek one must keep in mind that one is a guest in the abode of God. We have to respect the mountains," he adds.
For Saee Valvaikar, a mother and a homemaker from Old Goa, it was a calling too. "Leaving behind my husband, son, in-laws and cattle in their own comfort zones and stocking my fridge up with enough food for all of them, I packed my baggage and I don't repent it even for a second," SAYS Saee who has done the Himalaya trek three times though EBC was her first. A regular trekker, 40-year-old Saee enjoys being with nature and away from the chaos of cities. "If not now, then when?" she asks.
The bug of trekking caught civil engineer Rajesh Rao in July 2012. Since then he has not missed a single trek that Goa Eco Treks has organised and has visited the Himalayas seven times. Seeing his passion and commitment, Rajesh was accommodated in the executive committee by Durgadas. Rajesh remembers doing two treks, one after the other, without a single day's break in 2015, when he and Durgadas first visited Chamba valley with one group and on return, staying back in Delhi, joined another group that headed for Manali. "We were 25 days away from home. My wish list is getting longer and longer. Trekking has become a way of life for me and my family now. My wife Reshma and daughters, Shivani and Saloni, also join me sometimes. Last year all four of us visited the Frozen Fairy Lake at 13,000 ft height," shares Rajesh.
Jayanti Kamat Vaz's story is also inspiring. Despite suffering from acrophobia (fear of heights), it did not stop her from signing up for this trip. And she is ready to do it all over again. " A one time visit is not enough. I want to go there one more time! "Being in the lap of nature is so soothing. It calms you from within. The silence that envelops the mountains begins to converse with you too. It's just Godly," she exclaims." Talking further about her experience, Vaz has a vital tip to share with other fellow trekkers. "On such heights, one must keep walking. The moment one stops, wind that's blowing continuously, starts hurting you," she says.
Apart from the regular members - Medha Monteiro from Goa was soon joined by her sister Uma Udhar who flew from Los Angeles to be with the group. Two non-members from Pune - Niharika Sethi and Shripriya Sampat, too joined at Kathmandu. "We were like family members, each taking care of the other, in times of crises and while sharing our moments of joy," says Durgadas, who discloses that with 1200 active members, Goa Eco Treks is completing nine years on October 26, 2017.
"We will be doing our 112th trek on October 22. I have been to the Himalayas 30 times and let me admit these trips have transformed me. I am a changed person now, than what I was 30 years ago," concludes Durgadas, looking forward for more such soul-searching sojourns.