Snow, Solitude, and Celebration: Ritik’s Sar Pass Trekking Adventure
For Ritik, the Sar Pass trek was not any other adventure that he would take - it was a send-off to his bachelorhood. With his wedding just a month away, Ritik wanted one escapade with his closest friends before diving into the next chapter of his life.
While others might plan a beach party or a night in the city, Ritik’s idea of a bachelorette celebration was different. The mountains with their quiet majesty felt like the perfect backdrop to mark this transition.
When his college group buzzed with the suggestion of a trek, the timing felt unexpected. “Perfect!” he replied. “One last adventure before the shaadi madness takes over!”
The plan came together quickly. Flights were booked, gear was borrowed, and jokes about whether Ritik would survive the trek to make it to his wedding were exchanged liberally.
But beneath the banter, Ritik felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. Could this trek be a symbolic farewell to his carefree days? Would it help him reflect on the journey ahead?
Laughter Over Bonfires
Kasol, the hippie hub of Himachal Pradesh, welcomed Ritik and his friends with fresh mountain air and the gentle hum of the Parvati River. The base camp buzzed with trekkers adjusting their backpacks and exchanging enthusiastic greetings. Among the crowd, Ritik’s group stood out for the loud laughter and endless teasing.
That evening, around a bonfire, the group toasted to Ritik. “To the man brave enough to commit!” his friend declared, raising a steaming cup of chai.
“Brave enough? You mean foolish enough,” Ritik joked, earning a round of laughter.
Their conversations drifted from wedding plans to college memories, to the challenging trek ahead. For Ritik, the firelight and companionship felt like the calm before the storm - not the storm of the wedding chaos, but of the journey awaiting them in the mountains.
The trek began the next morning with a trail winding through dense pine forests, Ritik found himself at the back of the group. Half because he wanted to take in the scenery, and half because the uphill climb was more exhausting than he had expected.
By the time they reached Grahan, a picturesque village situated amidst rolling hills, Ritik was thoroughly exhausted. But a plate of steaming Maggi and a cup of chai worked wonders.
“If Maggi tastes this good now, imagine how it will feel at the summit,” Ritik joked, slurping up the noodles.
From Grahan to Mung Thach on the second day of the trek was tougher. The group faced steep inclines and rocky paths, but the banter never stopped. Ritik’s friends kept spirits high, competing to see who could take the most ridiculous selfie on the trail.
By the time they reached Nagaru, the group was greeted by patches of snow and a biting chill. Their tents were pitched on a ridge and offered a stunning view of the snow-covered peaks. As night fell, Ritik found himself sitting outside his tent, staring at the starlit sky,
“You okay, man?” one of my friends asked, settling down beside him.
Ritik nidded. “Just thinking. It is crazy how small everything feels up here. I guess that is what I needed - to step back and see the bigger picture.”
The Peak of Celebration
The climb to Sar Pass began before dawn and the group made their way through the snow under a canopy of stars. Although the trail was steep and slippery, the excitement of reaching the summit kept them going. As the first rays of sunlight touched the peaks, the view took Ritik’s breath away.
At the summit, the group erupted into cheers, high-fiving and hugging each other. For Ritik, the moment was more than just a physical achievement - it was symbolic. The snow-capped mountains, the vast expanse of sky, and the companionship of his friends made him feel deeply alive.
“Alright, future groom,” one of his friends teased, pulling out a small bottle of rum from his backpack. “What better place for a bachelor toast?”
The group laughed, passing the bottle around and raising a toast to Ritik’s upcoming marriage. Every moment was joyous and majestic, the kind of memory that would be recounted at reunions for years to come.
The descent from Sar Pass was equally exciting. The group slid down snowy slopes, laughing like kids at a playground. Ritik’s attempts at a graceful descent ended in spectacular tumbles, much to everyone’s amusement.
Farewell to the Mountains
The final phase of the trek, from Biskeri Thach to Barshaini, was bittersweet. The group passed through meadows lined with wildflowers and streams glistening in the sunlight. Ritik felt a twitch of sadness as they neared the end of the trail.
At a chai stall near Barshaini, they paused for one last cup of mountain tea. Ritik looked around at his friends as their faces flushed with the glow of the trek.
“This was perfect,” he said, raising his cup. “I could not have asked for a better send-off.”
“Well, you have set the bar high for your honeymoon now,” one of his friends joked.
The group laughed, but Ritik’s thoughts wandered.
The trek had given him more than he had expected - new memories, a deeper bond with his friends, and a renewed sense of purpose.
And as Ritik prepared to start a new chapter in his life, he knew he would carry a piece of the mountains with him:
A quiet reminder to keep climbing, no matter where life’s trails might lead.
Read more: Thrillophilia Himachal Reviews