Preparing for the Sandakphu Trekking Expedition: A Journey of Adventure and Discovery"

Preparing for the Sandakphu Trekking Expedition: A Journey of Adventure and Discovery

Lanning for Sandakphu trekking had been on our minds for the last five years. We had attempted to make this plan several times, but circumstances always seemed to prevent us from realizing it. We made plans with friends and acquaintances who knew the trekking routes, but scheduling conflicts always got in the way. Time passed, and our dream remained unfulfilled.

Finally, the right person for our Sandakphu adventure emerged – none other than my best friend, Mr. Roshan Thakuri, who had already completed the trek. Over dinner, we hatched a cute plan for Sandakphu. Roshan assured me that the plan was straightforward, requiring only three days to complete. He suggested adding Gorkha, which is close to Sikkim, to our itinerary. I was initially clueless about Gorkha, having only a rough mental image of the place. My curiosity grew, and I became eager to learn more about the trekking process.

During dinner, I bombarded Roshan with questions about what we needed to manage, such as food, clothing, sleeping bags, and water. He recommended packing lightly for the three-day adventure. On the first day, we would start from Manay Bhajyang and travel to Manaybhanjyang by shared taxi. After arriving there, we would need to secure drinking water for a minimum of two days and have ready-to-eat food. I silently listened to his advice, occasionally interrupting with questions, like whether we might encounter leopards or bears along the way. Roshan smiled and explained that it depended on our luck. If we encountered such animals, we should shout loudly to deter them. I agreed and he continued, outlining the basics: 3-4 pairs of hiking suits, 2 pairs of shoes, 1 rucksack, 3-4 T-shirts, 2 feather jackets, and food items like chocolates and dried fruits. As he neared the end of his explanation, he checked the time and was surprised to find that it was already 11:30 in Darjeeling. Given the cold weather, most people there went to bed early, around 8 pm. We were in his room, and I decided to head to my room for some rest, with plans to continue our discussion the next day.

The following morning, we resumed our discussion and decided to invite Mr. Vishan Bomzon (Nick) and another Sujit da (ex-army man) to join our expedition. We confirmed the date and time for our journey.

Finally, the day arrived, and my excitement was at its peak, tinged with a hint of apprehension. On the appointed day, we all met at a place called Hotel Suravi. We had a memorable party that night and spent the day buying all the supplies we needed for the trek, including food and beverages. By evening, everything was packed, and we continued celebrating until 10 pm. Then, we retired to our rooms, as per our plan, with the aim of reaching Manaybhanjyang by 10 am the next morning. We double-checked our equipment, ensuring we had a Khukuri for safety.

Following our plan, we arrived at Manaybhanjyang at 9:30 am, enjoyed breakfast, and purchased any missing items. Our trek began at 10:30 am, and everyone's face was filled with excitement as the journey finally commenced.

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