Summing Up 2015

-


2015 was an exceptional year for several reasons; never before did I usher in a year doing tango in Buenos Aires at one of the most extravagant Tango shows in the world; which I precisely did on the midnight suspended into that twilight zone between 2014 and 15. How or why did I find myself in such resplendent and uncharacteristic surroundings are a tale best told elsewhere but for now let’s zoom into the stats.

Countries visited – 12 spread across four continents
Countries visited for the first time – 3 (Guatemala, Honduras, Macedonia) taking now my countries tally to 168
Southernmost point visited – Ushuaia in Argentina
Northernmost point visited – high Tatras Slovakia
Climbed the highest peaks of Central America

After a very long time, an entire year went by without climbing above 7000m, which was duly compensated by several high points of different countries and tons of winter climbing across lesser ranges of Europe.

This was a relatively sane and accident free year for me as I opted to explore the vertical world below death zone. Which is not to say that it wasn’t equally exciting or rewarding. Nearest to death experience was a ridiculously erupting hot volcano spewing ashes and rocks up in the air, while I was using the crater rim as an impromptu sauna.

Once again numerous strangers became friends and I found love as always everywhere sharing my life with many beautiful souls, and finding a reflection of my own crazy self. It was a beautiful rejuvenating year that I managed to survive without breaking any bones or hearts (so I presume) and now look forward to the next year with equal hope, zeal and eyes wide shut.

With a blind faith that my today is better than yesterday and tomorrow would be better than today, I continue to live in today since today is the only day I can do something with the gift of life. Therefore I believe that 2016 would be better than 2015, more exciting, more fun, more full of love and everything wonderful.

A major landmark, I completed the manuscript of my first motivational book based upon my own climbing stories. Would start sending it to publishers / book agents soon. Started two books simultaneously. 

 Today, on the final day of 2015, I am at my mother's place near Delhi, at almost sea-level, counting my blessings and bounties and feeling extremely privileged and blessed and loved. 

Wishing you all an awesome New Year ahead, stay energized, stay positive and opt for happiness without reason and love without limitations. Live and love without fear. 

 Set yourself free since only you can.

As always I will see you on top!





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When I Did Humpty Dumpty (of course i have done it so many times)

-
Image
For a nanosecond, my entire world froze, and stood still. Everything around me merged into a swirl of mist and white, and each cell of my body stopped their designed functions to await the inevitable – the inevitability of danger, the inevitability of destruction, the inevitability of death. For I was going to fall. Stuck like an insignificant spider, at 5800 m on the sheer ice wall of 80 degree on the southwest face of peak Sujtilla (the Needle Peak), I knew that I had lost my purchase – the four points of tempered steel that had held me so far, were now nothing more than extra weights, only aiding gravity to propel me down faster. In that billionth of a second my entire life took an abject distance and I looked at myself with utmost clarity. This is what happened when it happened . I thought of nothing, no last words of wisdom, no visions of how life could have been, no pining for anyone to be close to me, no regrets, no sense of exhilaration, and certainly, no terror
Read more

Talang Pass – following the goat trail from Tang to Holi

-
Image
  Chamba side view from Talang Pass, Mani Mahesh Kailash in the center At 4667m Talang is touted as the highest pass that local shepherds use to cross the Dhauladhar Mountain Range from Kangra to Chamba and back during their annual migration with their herds. This pass had been on my radar for several years and this year since the pandemic put a hold to my international trips, I finally crossed it. In this post I won’t talk much about the pass history itself rather give a factual account of how we crossed it. Suffice to say that till now Talang Pass has very little mention or details online. And I wish to fill up this void through this article. I will also give our exact itinerary that we followed. You would be able to follow the details in this post in case you wish to do this pass unguided by yourself. A word of caution before I begin, that this indeed is a very difficult pass and unless you are an expert hiker with very steady head for heights, in good physical condition and posse
Read more

Singhar Pass (Jot) 4350m – journey to the killer pass

-
Image
  Singhar Pass, temple and view of Chamba side After a brief respite once again my friend Ravinder from Tangroti and I headed up to yet another Dhauladhar pass connecting Kangra with Chamba. This time our objective was the dreaded Singhar Pass, which has also been called the killer pass. To my knowledge, this is the only Dhauladhar Pass that even the Gaddis (shepherds) are bit wary of crossing. Hence trekkers crossing this pass is extremely rare. I know of only one instance before us that of two friends of mine, Rijul and Tarun, both seasoned hikers. A brief mention about the pass altitude. Figures vary about its height but according to my altimeter and referring to Army Survey maps I would place the height between 4330 to 4350m hence I would settle for the higher figure of 4350m. The pass ridge is rather long so it depends at which point you cross it. My estimate of 4350m coincides with the lowest point on the ridge, where the temple is located and to which the trail leads. Now I wi
Read more