Last Day of Bali Pass Trek An Epic Himalayan Adventure In 2024

The Conclusion to this Journey to Bali Pass

Bali Pass : Day 0, reaching Dehradun
Bali Pass : Day 1, arriving in Sankri from Dehradun
Bali Pass : Day 2, journey to Seema from Sankri
Bali Pass : Day 3, journey to Waterfall Camp
Bali Pass : Day 4, journey to Ruinsara Lake
Bali Pass : Day 5, journey to the Basecamp
Bali Pass : Day 6, a chilling ascent, summit triumph, and a snowy descent

The next morning we took leave from the snowy campsite and went downhill yet again. 

The landscape began to change, from rocky hills to meadow like descents. 

We finally reached a point which was told to us to be the final stretch of the arduous walk.

Look down, and  one sight of the towering height sent shivers down the spine. I had to be careful, a single slip, could mean instant death.

But we had a porter for each person to help traverse the downhill climb. They held our hands on one side and told us to walk along the wall of the cliff in order to gain balance. 

Some people even sat on the ground and crawled through each step due to the fear of standing and losing balance. 

After that risky descent, it was a straightforward path through the meadows. 

Once we reached campsite, it was a slight letdown compared to our previous camps. The sheer reason being the place was littered with goat droppings and slippery mud. It was more of a cultivated land and the tent was set up at a slope making walking back and forth a calculated ordeal. 

I slipped a few times just getting up to my tent from the common dining area. There were also a lot of insects and small white fleas that would crawl up and settle on your skin if you weren’t constantly moving and actively shooing it away. 

All in all, this campsite was not the most pleasant, but I was still reliving the memories of the last few days, so I forgot about the minor inconvenience.

I have to admit, I was really really waiting to get back home,
Dare I say, even craving my mother’s delicious home food. 

Put a plate of Upma and Channa masala in front, I would gladly devour it…

The next morning we got ready to walk back. It was a descent down the forests, a sort of déjà vu from the first few days of the Bali pass trek. 

When we reached Yamunotri, I was finally able see the familiar 4 bars of mobile signal on my phone, a reminder that we were finally back. 

At Yamunotri, the pilgrim crowds were massive, a stark contrast to the last 6 days that we had spent in isolation.

The journey back was one of a lot of introspecting about what had transpired in the last couple of days. 

We retraced our schedule, catching the train from Dehradun to Delhi, then flight back home. 

Bangalore, I missed you! 

As the plane landed, the familiar excitement arose within, this time more fulfilling. 

One hour later, I was back home. And let me tell you, that bath I had, back in my house, was honestly the best freakin bath I have ever had to date. 

After 8 days of no showering, you really develop a new found appreciation for… well, nearly everything. 

Sleeping in my cozy bed, wrapped inside the warm blanket, the comfortable weather outside, I smiled to myself, replaying the whole experience from start to finish. 

It was beyond anything I had imagined. There were downsides that made me question my decision to even sign up for this. The pain of my cramped legs and crippling exhaustion, the isolation of retreating into the mountains, cut off from any contact..

Yet I made it. 

I made it to the peak and, I made it back home safe.

This trek was an experience I wouldn’t forget. Ever.

It’s a story I wanted to document, to look back on in the years to come. 

So here it is—the story of my first ever Himalayan trek: Bali Pass, 2024.

Signing off. 

A huge shoutout to Himalaya Shelter for making this such a memorable experience. Their amazing trek planning and camping experience, whether it was the food, the tents, or the customised itinerary, it was truly one of a kind. I wouldn’t have made it to the peak if it wasn’t for the help of the team and especially, Suresh. I really thank them for that. I would certainly recommend their team for anyone interested to experience the mighty glory of the Himalayan Massifs.

If you made it to the end , thank you for reading !

Until next time.