Day 6 : Puanigharat to Kalkhathidhar via Osla

This stretch of the trek was the toughest, with many ascents, rain, and hailstones. Osla, the last village en route, had a BSNL satellite phone powered by solar batteries. We each took turns to call our families. After a few attempts, I managed to speak to Appa, Amma, and the little one, reassuring them that all was well. They were relieved, as they had been following news of avalanches and earthquakes in the region and were getting updates from the TTH office.

Osla has an ancient Duryodhana temple. The children asked for candies, and the elders wanted medicines. Rekha shared her sweets, and the kids surrounded her. Despite the village’s remoteness, most children attend school and help with chores.

We continued to Kalkhathidhar, where I felt weak and dehydrated. After a break at a Maggi and chai stall, we pushed on and finally reached the campsite as the rain picked up. Nitin, Shubash, and Sachin helped us settle in.

In the evening, the rain stopped, and we enjoyed the beautiful sunset and mountain views. The night was freezing, close to 0°C, and we prepared for a 4 AM wake-up call for summit day. Nitin also suggested keeping batteries warm in the sleeping bag to save power in the cold.

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