The last day of the Greater Lakes Trek was the most difficult. I started at Tosamaidan and the trek ended at Yousmarg. I walked a lot, battled altitude sickness, and experienced complete exhaustion. The weather gods were against us and it rained nearly every day. It was cold and foggy and at times, we could not even see the hands in front of our faces. After a day or two of trekking in the rain, our clothes no longer dried and our shoes were heavy, wet nasty muddy messes. We crossed icy rivers; climbed non-stop over the quintessential stony moraines of Kashmir, and walked through ankle-deep mud. On the second last day, we hired horses and I rode non-stop for 8 hours each day. Somehow, it’s always the last stretch which seems to be endless, and reaching Dhiksal Meadow from Chanze Meadow via Ashtar Valley was like torture. First of all, it rained non-stop and we were wet, tired, and nearly blue from the cold. A local Bakarwal family sheltered us and we were glad to take a break from our exhausting journey.
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Making a move towards Mazekhanen in the torrential rain
The last day of the Greater Lakes Trek in Kashmir
meadow, and lots of dark, brooding forests. Sometime during the early afternoon, the rolling meadows of Yousmarg appeared and you can imagine the relief and pangs of sadness we all felt. Yes, there were moments when I cried, “I want to go home”, but it was difficult to say goodbye to this amazing experience. Would I do this again? – Yes, at the drop of a hat.
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Heading over to Ashtar Valley; I rode for more than 8 hours that day
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Javed and me
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Shuib and me
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The flower-filled Ashtar Valley
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Tosamaidan
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Chanze Meadow
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Overnight at a Bakarwal´s hut at Diskhal
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Chanze Meadow
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Heading over to Ashtar Valley; I rode for more than 8 hours that day
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One of the rare sunny days
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A rare sunset
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Our Bakarwal hosts at Dhiskal Valley
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Moraine
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Mazekhanen
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Yousmarg, the last destination of the Greater Lakes Trek in Kashmir
Follow the rest of the Kashmir series
- 21 PHOTOS THAT MAY TEMPT YOU TO VISIT KASHMIR
- SRINAGAR TULIP FESTIVAL
- WALIMA, A KASHMIRI WAZWAN WEDDING FEAST
- THE MOUTH WATERING KASHMIRI CUISINE
- FAMILY FRIENDLY KASHMIR ITINERARY
- OFFBEAT KASHMIR ITINERARY IDEAS
- FLOATING VEGETABLE MARKET OF SRINAGAR
- GREATER LAKES TREK, KASHMIR: A PHOTO ESSAY
- TOSAMAIDAN, GREATER LAKES TREK DAY 1
- GADTARSAR, GREATER LAKES TREK DAY 2
- BANDERSAR AND ONWARDS, GREATER LAKES TREK DAY 3
- CHANZE MEADOW, GREATER LAKES TREK DAY 4
- DHISKAL MEADOW, GREATER LAKES TREK DAY 5
RESPONSIBLE TRAVELING-BECAUSE I CARE