Day 12: Mission Rohtang

9th August, 2011

Last night was scary cold. I think we all got sleep for few hours and then a wind used to wake us up.

I didn’t even remove my shoes or bother cleaning up much. As around 6.30am my eyes opened up straight went out, started the bikes to warm them up. Ordered breakfast and started mounting our luggage on the bikes.

Anahita and Angelo were also up by now and were getting adjusted to this weather.

Also took some shots of the area around. The tents, bikes and the dinning table in the open.

By 8am we cleared our bill, crossed checked everything and were off towards Batal.

The climate was just superb. Clear sky and scenic view all around.

Just when everything looked really nice I suddenly remembered the nallah at the entrance which welcomes you.  Getting feet wet in the morning is something I was not ready for, so I decided that I’m going to cross without putting a feet down and balancing through.

In 15 minutes we were at the site. And Angelo had already crossed it. Now it was my turn. Yesterday I made Anahita get down when I crossed it but today I thought since the water is little low so why not try double seat. Chose a different path and the Ninja went in and came through. And the best part, feet were still dry….

Batal is not a very developed place. Just like how I heard. A few dabha stays and some quick snacks.

We were not hungry since we just had breakfast. We moved ahead and the road went from offroad to no road.

We crossed so many Nallah in this patch before we reached 20kms before Koksar.

Here is one video of Nallah crossing ,

Finally after some 50kms the streams stopped. By now we had become expert in it

Just after a small village we came across a spot which looked like picnic spot. Small streams running beside and grass fields on either side.

After the photo session, the mother of all streams welcomed us. It was not going across but with the road. And I realized that once I was half way in.

Thats the spot where I had to make Anahita get down.

And to her luck there was a Sumo coming from behind which took her across.

Lucky Girl.

Next break we got was at a site where all these horses were grazing or napping.

Whenever we used to think that must be the last Nallah here and a new one used to pop us. Boink…

Some 20kms before Koksar I don’t remember the place but there were many food stalls. We took a break there for lunch before we reach Rohtang top. All the stream crossing since morning made a very hungry by now. I remember even having haldi milk.

Ones the highway joined the Manali – Koksar stretch we came to know the road is crisp smooth all the way to the top.

After taking just few couple of shots here we moved non – stop to Rohtang top.

At Rohtang top we took a break for some tea and maggi. And just when we were about to leave the stall guy told us to be careful ahead. The road is such that we will start thinking where the hell have come.

But he didn’t know our taste

Ones we started downhill towards Manali we came across a huge ice wall that Angelo was dying to see since we entered Spiti Valley.

Just after the ice slap there was a huge landslide and traffic jam which too k an hour.

It was close to 2pm now so just an hour gone would have not bothered much.

But as the landslide got cleared there was only slush on the road and slush which is super slushy. The bikes sank almost till the upper side of the chain. There was no grip for the tyres. And Anahita had to walk most of it as with pillion my bike was sinking even more in.

After 2 agonizing hours we reached Marhi. And from Marhi is where the tarmic kicked in. Also light showers on the way down.

It was around 1pm when we were at Rohtang top. It was 5pm when we reached Manali. That means it took us 4 hours from Rohtang top to bottom with many halts and one big break.

Something new I came to know about this patch. Dare uphill in the slush only when you have good experience in hand. I don’t think going uphill from here is going to give a good experience for the rider. You need to be very focused at all times.

Ones we were together we rode till the Manali bridge and instead of crossing it this time I thought of staying on this side of the river.

There was a hotel just adjacent to the road and Anahita went in and got us a good deal like always. She’s the Man.

We went in our rooms, cleaned up, took a little rest and met again around 7pm for dinner in the market area. We walked to the mall road and found a small time non veg restaurant.

Food was not that great but today’s day was quite an experience. By 10pm we were back in the hotel and opened up a nice bottle of Rum. And the talk was great on how we succeeded in reaching till here…

Rohtang from this trip I will never forget.

Tags: Spiti valley