My First Snow Trek: Snowman and Maggi

Feb 2022. The adventure was random but still planned. I always wanted to trek during the snow but the school timings and vacation plans were such that we couldn't really plan it in advance. During winters, my grandparents are here with us mostly in Gurgaon, last year while they were planning to go back to Himachal, we got the news that it had snowed. I looked at my father and he understood at once. We started our journey immediately along with my grandparents, overnight, and within 7 hours we were at Himachal.

The night was tough, no electricity, thankfully, this is the day for which Mom had planned the fireplace. We sat around the fire and waited for morning. The morning was thankfully sunny and there was still now in the neighbourhood mountains. It was my first trek in snow so we kept it easy. I packed my bag with cookies, and warm water in a thermos flask. Took a stick too, and requested my neighbor Vanshu to join me as he knows the routes pretty well.

We started our trek at 8 am in the morning and trust me, it was not as easy as I thought. My shoes, my stance, my leg strength, and my reflex, everything was just wrong for the trek in the beginning. I was slipping, stalling, and misjudging my steps very often. The sun was playing hide and seek so suddenly it will become too cold, and then too sunny.

Note to self: When you fall in the snow, you don't just hurt yourself, you also get wet. That cold fabric will keep rubbing against your skin, and will make you very very uncomfortable, so have warm inner layers and a waterproof outer layer.

I walked for just 2 km. Couldn't push much. I was not fully prepared, enjoyed it a lot though. The view, the snow fight, the real snow cold, but couldn't continue for long. Came back within 2 hours and was already feeling way tired.

Reached home, collected snow from the top of the roof, made a snowman, and as a reward, my grandmother offered me piping hot Maggi.

Note to self: You need hard rubber sole shoes, Nike and Adidas won't do in the snow. Keep multiple pairs of socks and gloves.

Cover your ears and keep the monkey cap handy, your nose gives up pretty early.

Headache may start at any point, stay hydrated.

You may fall and bruise, keep the first aid kit handy.