Background
I had been on part of this trail back in June 2003, after graduating. 
At the time, it had only been a 1 night trek and I had figured there was a pass up in the clouds which leads to a better world. This trek has been on my radar ever since.
This was the first real trek. While real trek is a subjective phrase and all treks are actually real, let me tell you what constitutes a real trek in my book.
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It has to be 4-5 nights long with no longer than 1 night at a particular place. If it is longer, more than a night's stay at a place is permissible.
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It has to begin and end at different places. Therefore, a go-to and come back does not qualify.
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You have to be carrying and cooking rations for the most part yourself.
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You have to stay outdoors at least some nights e.g. a tent that you pitch or a natural shelter.
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It involves crossing some mountain pass.
I will admit upfront that the above may be a feeble attempt to define a 'real trek' and the definition could actually change as I go on. For the time being though, in my relatively new book of travelling, that's how I define a real trek.
I started planning this in August and the plan was to do it starting 20th August but then a combination of angry weather gods and my unsuccessful itch to generate a cash flow while being out of a regular job, interfered.
Preparing for the Trek:
Just before I started the trek, I met my guide Suresh Kumar and porter Pyare Lal. Trained at the Himalayan Institute of Mountaineering, Dharamshala, Suresh has been a trek guide since 1991. Incidentally, he hails from one of the villages on the trail, Kuvarasi, as does Pyare Lal. Before we started the ascent from Galu Temple, we bought supplies for the way. The shopping list included rice, dal, salt, kerosene oil, noodles, spices, candles, matches, onions to count the significant ones along with basic first aid. The intention was to buy enough rations to last us a week. The route was Dharamshala – Triund – Lahesh Caves – Chata Caves – Kuvarasi – Lamu. On the way, we were to cross the Indrahar Pass, at a height of 4342 Metres above mean sea level and end at Lamu, where we were to take a bus to Chamba and then back home.
My dad had a tent and a sleeping bag from his trekking days, both of which were to be carried. The sleeping bag was not found, so I had to rent one along with a mat for 50 Rupees per day. The tent was not carried since we were already loaded and the guide said we would find enough natural shelter or villages on the way.
Note to the readers:
This started as a 5 day trek and ended up being an 11 day one because along the way, I decided to add another trek to the initial one. I also realized that you don't measure treks in horizontal distance travelled. It is best done in a combination of time taken and elevation gained/lost in a day.
To read about the trek in detail, click here.
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