Day 1: Trek from Tosh Village to Buddhaban via Kutla Village

Trek date during ANIMAL Pass & SORA UMGA La Trek: 18th September 2016 (Sunday)

Trek distance: Around 4 Kms.

Time taken: Around 3 hours.

Difficulty level: Easy

Trek distance as per ViewRanger GPS Application: Around 3.97 Kms.

Highlights during the trek:

1. Beautiful Tosh village.
2. View of Evergreen Tosh River.
3. Apple trees throughout Tosh village.
4. Around 1 Kms. of steep ascent before Kutla village.
5. Extremely Scenic Kutla village.
6. Valley full of Himalayan origin trees including Pine tree.
7. Heavenly view of Tosh valley while nearing Buddhaban camp-site.
8. Easy day at Tosh valley with trek of around 4 Kms.
9. Pretty average Buddhaban camp-site.
10. Acclimatization day at Tosh valley.

Challenges: Easy day with trek of around 4 Kms. It is easily described as Acclimatization day at Tosh valley.

Altitude Meter: Please find altitude details for the day below:

• Tosh village comes around 2380 Mtr.
• Kutla village comes around 2675 Mtr.
• Buddhaban camp-site comes around 2725 Mtr.

Day in brief:

1st day of the trek and organizer Achintya Kundu told us to be ready by 9:00 AM in the morning at Hotel Blue Diamond. We were all very excited about trek and waiting for our journey to begin at Tosh valley on 18th September morning. We have booked rooms at Tosh village for night halt. Myself, Pratap and Deepak stayed in 1 room at Hotel Blue Diamond.

After overnight good sleep, we all wake-up slowly and had freshen-up. Myself wake-up at 5:30 AM in the morning and clicked some stunning shots from Hotel Blue Diamond Balcony.

Had breakfast at Moon Light Restaurant at 8:30 AM. Alu Parata, Spring roll, etc ..had for breakfast.

Kundu was in hurry and telling us to assemble at Hotel Blue Diamond at 9:00 AM. Funny thing was none of the trek crew were there at 9:00 AM. They arrived bit late after 10:00 AM and trek got delayed by another 3 hours since Horses, Mules, Tents, Ration for 7 days need to be ready. Everything was ready by 1:00 PM in the afternoon. Meanwhile everyone killed time by watching “Son of Krishnamurthy” movie at Hotel Blue Diamond.

Finally, much awaited trek started at 1:15 PM from Hotel Blue Diamond. Initial trail was through narrow trails followed by river crossing at Tosh village. Once u cross Tosh river it was steep ascent of another 1 Kms. which took us to last village of the trek Kutla. We reached Kutla village around 2:30 PM. Had lunch break at Kutla village.

After half an hour of lunch break continued trek to Buddhaban at 3:00 PM. Another easy hike of 2 Kms. took us to Buddhaban. This phase of the trek is extremely scenic with full of Pine trees.

Reached Buddhaban camp-site around 4:00 PM. It was 3 hours of easy hike with 4 Kms. of trek at Tosh valley on 1st day of the trek. We can call Acclimatization walk for some extent.

All of us in relaxing mode at Buddhaban camp-site. I tried my photography skills as usual at Buddhaban camp-site which is pretty average in-terms of Himalayan standard.

Had Snacks and Tea in the evening.

Dinner was ready by 7:00 PM. Had dinner and told Bye Bye for the day at 8:30 PM with exciting 6 days in offer…

Camp-site:

Buddhaban camp-site is pretty average camp-site in-terms of Himalayan standards which is surrounded by Pine trees & on the banks of Tosh river. It can be used as base camp-site for Animal Pass & Sora Umga La Trek.

Temperature: Around 10 to 15 degree Celsius at night.