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Kuari Pass may be beginner-friendly, but the Himalayas test you in their own way. I chose Indiahikes for this trek, and it was the right call.
When I signed up for the Kuari Pass trek, I knew I wasn’t climbing Everest. Every blog, every trek operator said the same thing—Kuari Pass is an easy-to-moderate trek, suitable for beginners with a decent fitness level. That description gave me confidence. I had jogged a bit, done some push-ups, and packed energy bars. “I’ll be fine,” I told myself. But the Himalayas don’t care about your confidence. They test you in their own way. For me, that test came in the form of thin air.
While planning, I considered both India Hikes (IH) and Himalayan Dream Treks (HDT), two of the most reputed trekking companies in India. After much thought, I finally chose to go with Himalayan Dream Treks, and looking back, I can say it was the right decision for a smooth and memorable experience.
The journey began with the usual pre-trek buzz. The road trip to Joshimath was long but lively, with our group singing songs, munching on namkeen, and swapping stories of past adventures. By the time we reached Dhak village to start the trek, I was bursting with energy.
The first day was straightforward—gentle climbs through forests, children waving from village homes, women carrying bundles of firewood on their heads, and our team stopping every now and then for chai. The air felt crisp, and I thought, “This isn’t too hard. Maybe I underestimated myself.”
Things changed on the second day. The trail got steeper, and the air thinner. At first, I thought I was just tired, but soon, every few steps left me gasping. My legs were strong enough, but my lungs didn’t seem to cooperate. Even simple stretches of the trail felt like uphill battles.
While the others kept a steady pace, I lagged behind, trying not to show how hard it was. My backpack felt heavier, the sun sharper, and the sound of my heartbeat louder than anything else. At one point, I sat down on a rock, pretending to take pictures, but really just trying to catch my breath.
Our trek leader noticed my struggle. He slowed the group’s pace, encouraged me to take smaller steps, and reminded me to sip water often. “Altitude doesn’t care how fit you are,” he said. “It just asks you to respect it.”
His words stuck with me. Instead of forcing myself, I began to walk slower, focusing on rhythm. Breathe in, step. Breathe out, step. Slowly but steadily, I began to catch up with the group again.
What touched me most was the support from my fellow trekkers. One offered me a handful of jaggery, another carried my trekking pole for a while, and everyone cheered me on whenever I managed to keep pace. In the Himalayas, you realize teamwork isn’t just about logistics—it’s about spirit.
The climb to Kuari Pass was the ultimate test. The trail was snow-covered, the air even thinner, and my body reminded me of every single step I had taken in the past days. But this time, I was ready. I had accepted that I would be slow, that I would need to pause often, but I wouldn’t stop.
Step by step, breath by breath, I made my way up. When I finally stood at Kuari Pass, surrounded by Nanda Devi, Dronagiri, Kamet, and Hathi Ghoda, I didn’t feel like I had conquered the mountains. Instead, I felt like I had been allowed to stand among them.
The view was breathtaking, but more than the sight of the peaks, it was the sound of my steady breath that gave me the deepest satisfaction.
Coming down, I realized something important. The mountains don’t test you to break you—they test you to show you who you are when comfort is stripped away. Altitude had humbled me, slowed me, and even scared me for a while. But it also taught me patience, teamwork, and respect for nature’s power.
When people ask me now about Kuari Pass, I don’t just describe the scenery. I tell them about the day altitude tested me, and how, step by step, I learned to walk with it instead of against it.
Because in the end, the trek wasn’t just about reaching Kuari Pass. It was about learning that the Himalayas don’t need to be conquered—they just need to be experienced, with humility and gratitude.
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