October in Garhwal

nyraghu · Sep 16th, 2008, 12:55

Come autumn, and people return once more to the mountains, for the second trekking season of the year. So, it may not entirely be remiss to post the following passage by Bill Aitken, which I enjoyed reading.

Quote:

October is the best trekking season when the golden days yield the full fragrance of harvested sap. The sky is a celestial blue and the air perfectly attuned to vigorous marches. Sun-dappled trees and the roar of rushing water coursing off the mountainside stimulate the taste of salt on one's lips while the sifting wind soothes any regret at the sweat. It is good to be alive in high Garhwal in October as the crickets fill the clear air with a deafening drone of plenitude. The intensity of the sky with a few puffed clouds abroad by early afternoon contrasts with the map-like spread of fields below. Crops of ripening red buckwheat shock the eye as do the yellow stalks of scarlet coxcomb. The multihued greens of the jungle begin to enclose one's progress and range from the deep chrome of oak and dark viridian of spruce to the fresh gloss of chestnut and apple.

-- Bill Aitken, The Nanda Devi Affair, Chapter 19, The Curzon Trail

(After quoting the above passage, I found that I had photographs, taken during a trek to Kuari Pass last October, which fit some of the descriptions, and added links to them within the quote. I hope they don't intrude.)

Raghu.

travel joy · Sep 16th, 2008, 13:45

Nice quote.I have to read that book.That is for sure.
Great photos too..

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Sep 16th, 2008, 13:45	#2
travel joy Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: India Posts: 124	Nice quote.I have to read that book.That is for sure. Great photos too..

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