Gangotri to Gaumukh

08.10.06: At 0630 hrs. at Gangotri, I soon found that no mules were available on that day, since a group of 40 persons had booked all the mules a fortnight ago. We were asked to wait until 1030 hrs. when mules from Gaumukh would come back and try our luck.

While climbing the ridge behind the temple to enquire for mules, I experienced some dizziness and fatigue – a warning from altitude: take it easy! I immediately climbed down, felt better and found that we were just in time for the morning aarti at Gangamata’s temple.

K, my husband and D, our friend, had also reached the temple, locating me by using the wireless set we carried, and joined in. After the aarti, we decided to walk to the car. While walking back, D was persuaded by an enterprising young man, R, to hire porters instead of mules. R was himself a guide and due to the lean season, was also willing to carry some weight. And if we found some mules on the way up, we could always hire them, which we did. The porters could be a back-up, in case of illness.