WALKING ON ICEA Story by ElmarieIt's a True Story from my Wild, sometimes Reckless Youth.There was unrest in Kashmir and
soldiers pointed guns at two foreigners through sand bagged bunkers. Walking on
eggshells they took the first bus out of Srinagar to start their
journey 'The Gateway to Ladakh'. It
was March 1996 in the kargil District of
Jammu and Kashmir. Their first stop Sonamarg. The road
was still closed, so they waited 3 glorious days hiking up in to the mountains.
The sheer size and magnificence of the Birch bark forests left them
breathless.
A local man told Elmarie of a group leaving at 5am the next
morning. They would walk 15 km to the Baltal Base camp, there they can
spend the night and carry on the following day. Excited at the adventure
they joined about 7 people in the morning and dashed away before the guards saw
them. The walk to the camp was spectacular and Elmarie breathed in the
freshness of the Himalayan mountains. She stepped on ice and sometimes waded
knee deep through cold water streams, with treacherous views down the
side.
Disappointment was inevitable when they reached the Base camp and were
curtly sent on their way without supplies.
"Don't stop walking as people die of the cold at night" the
guard said.
A long 48 km walk awaited them to the next town and it was already
4pm. Now the mountains looked like sleeping leopards and their happy
adventure soon turned to a feeling of dread. Nineteen Nepalese died
attempting to walk this stretch of road 3 days before. Silence ....... as
they walked for 3 hours just pacing themselves.
Then a truck was heard and another as the first spring convoy came
through. One of the trucks gave them a lift. As they drove over the
Dras river bridge ..................they beheld the strangest thing.
There was a massive earth mover in the middle of the Glacial river and 3
men stranded on top. The convoy trucks pulled up on the banks. A rope was tied
to two trucks one on either side of the river and many a man tugged to get the
rope to the men. The first man tied the pulley to the rope, but fell in
and was dragged to shore, he did not breath. As a team worked hard to
save his life everyone watched in anticipation as the next man braved his
situation. He fared better and managed to stay out of the water for a while but
was also dragged in cold and lifeless. The last man moved like spider man
and managed to just get wet right at the end. The crowd watched in silence as they managed to revive the two
men.
It was an exquisite moment of joy for all. That night she took off
her Indian army issue hiking boots, by now full of holes and still
soaked. It was sheer bliss when she sipped a small cup of dhal soup, and
put her feet in warm water.
She smiled at her fellow traveler and said " I am the
luckiest woman alive”. © 2016 ElmarieAuthor's Note
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6 Reviews Added on May 2, 2016 Last Updated on June 22, 2016 AuthorElmarieNew South Wales, AustraliaAboutMy childhood memories are filled with stories in spoken word. My Mother and Grandmother always told us tales. I honestly can't remember my mother ever reading to me. I have done the same for my kid.. more..Writing
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