Why you need to know French in a French Province !!

It is not one of the greatest of starts to the hiking season ! It hurts more since this one is going to be my last summer here in North America...

I planned my first solo hike ever - the trans Canada Trail. This is the same trail i did last fall with a friend of mine. (http://athmagyaan.blogspot.com/2010/09/trans-canada-trail-segment-st-tite-des.html)


The ordeal begins right there:

Website in french - No english translation available.
The campsites were shown as available on the website.
Tried calling the contact number listed. No answer - Voice mail was in French. I hear a beep and leave my name and number just in case sombeody returns my call.
There was no notice on the website indicating any special message.

I decide to go there directly since the campsites were mostly free even during peak season last year. I get up at 4AM on a nice sunny saturday and seven hours & 2 bus journeys later,  I reach the trailhead. Only to realize that the visitor's center (Sentier Des Caps) is locked. I enquire at the gas station near by. They somehow find the contact number (St Tite Des Caps it is a small village about 325KM north of Montreal) and give me a thunderbolt.
The season opens in July.

It seems that was the message in the French voicemail. This is the first time in past two years that I have felt the extreme need for French in this province. Montreal has a decent population that speaks English but the outskirts always have a miniscule population that is comfortable in any language other than French.

Anyways, I am still trying to figure out if I was to blame or if Quebec needs to be more open in terms of official communication for Tourism.

Let me continue thinking on what went wrong and will certainly post my opinion if i do reach a conclusion !!!

Till then, let me satisfy myself with Mont Royal (The city of Montreal derives its name from this hill) !!

Coming up next:
Grand Canyon (US) in the last week of June, and
Arctic Circle (Auyuittuq National park, Nunavut, Canada) late July.

Le Quattro Volte (The four times)

As I look back at the recent past, I realize that I have seen more offbeat and foreign movies than regular commercial flicks. Maybe it is a sign of changing preferences or maybe there are not enough good commercial flicks around or maybe Oscar fever has caught up on me. Whatever the reason maybe, I am certainly loving it.

This one is a dialog-less foreign movie. Well, there is nothing foreign in it as there is not even a single dialog in the whole movie. Which also implies that there were no subtitles!!

It portrays different aspects of human nature in the form of 4 elements - Human, Animal, Crop and mineral. Each of these has been shown as a different segment but has been impressively interwoven in the overall concept.

The moral of the story is that we live 4 lives :
As minerals- because we are made of salt, water and other organic matter
As crops - we breathe, reproduce and nourish ourselves.
As animal - we possess intelligence and can relate to the outside world.
And
As human - we are rational beings and have will and reason at our disposal.

Not a greatly captivating movie but does have some sparks of brilliance. Especially the way the lost young goat has been shot and it's feelings conveyed. Simple camera work, long uncut shots keep you occupied throughout the movie.

Great concept but execution could have been better. Nevertheless, a decent attempt and a very good message.

Trailer is available below: (Source - IMDB)

IMDb trailer

Enjoy!

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Location:Avenue Lincoln,Montreal,Canada

'In a Better World' - Danish film

Just back from (In) a Better World...

My tryst with foreign films continues. It used to be predominantly French until sometime back - but, of late this has extended to other languages as well.

After Incendies (French) & Biutiful (Spanish), it was time for 'In a Better World (Danish). All these were nominated foreign films for Oscars. If you want to play safe, start with the Oscar nominated foregin films - Chances are bright that you would get to watch some marvels.

This one is a lovely film with a great message. It tries to explore the thin line between justice and revenge. Wonderful perfomances from all the lead actors. It links a story in South Africa to another one in Denmark with utmost ease and draws parallels between them. The situations used to convey key messages are aboslutely delightful to watch and have a really strong impact.

And, the locations in Denmark were stunning with some beautiful shots of a riverside summer house and large fields amongst others. Africa, too, was pictured perfectly and everything seemed to be fitting very well into the script.

Despite the pace being slow, there was not a single moment when i was thinking about anything else. If you are a fan of really fast movies, then this may not be a great choice for you. But if are not, then this is a lovely watch.

Here is the trailer:

If you would like to see it on IMDb, here is the link:

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1945869593/

Enjoy !

Montreal to New York by train - Photos

All the images below belong to Andre Paquet who has been kind enough to allow posting them here. Thanks Andre !

Lake Champlain (This is the lake that train goes along for a long time)

Lake Champlain

Washington Bridge

Rhinecliff

Hudson

Montreal to New York by train

Crossing the US border by train was the only mode of transport that I have not attempted and hence I decided to do it his time. The expectations were high. I have heard a lot of people talk about the wonderful route between Montreal and NY.

Here are some reasons why you might consider traveling by train on this route:
1. AMTRAK's service is good - Announcements are entertaining. On my way to NY, the attendant proudly announced that this is a 19th century route and hence no WiFi. This may not be the right example here though!!
2. The route is scenic in the portion in US between Plattsburgh and Whitehall for 2.5 hrs or so. The train travels along a big lake all this while.
3. Lots of time to think as you have nothing else to do ! This might end up being an introspective trip if you are one of those hard thinkers.
4. Food is decent - much better than some other travel options I have had. Try out the chicken teriyaki rice bowl - it's nice!
5. The attendants are considerate enough to offer smoking stops as well..

However, I must say that I am not entirely satisfied with this journey. Here are the reasons why:
1. No WiFi on the train
2. No sleeper coaches - it is a 11hr+ journey. The seats were certainly comfortable but 11hrs is still a long time.
3. Border crossing takes up almost 1.5 hrs of the 11hr journey - the good thing is that you don't have to get down from the train.
4. The views were good but only for the portion mentioned above. The rest was pretty ordinary. My expectations were really high due to the heavy hype around this. The Pune-Mumbai route (3.5hrs) in India is much better I would say.
5. Sky high expectations. The whole trip would have been different otherwise.

So, travel with minimal expectations and you will be pleasantly surprised with this route.

I have asked for photos from a fellow traveller - they will be here once I receive them.

NOTE: This blog has been written real-time(during travel). However, courtesy AMTRAK, it has come online only after I reached home.



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Location:AMTRAK train 69 (NY to Montreal)

Yanni Live @ Montreal !!

It has been more than ten years since I have been listening to Yanni and this occasion was like a dream come true. 31st March 2011 would remain a special day all throughout my life.

Bell Center, the biggest stadium in Montreal, was packed to its max capacity (the website states 15000 for performances) for this enthralling performance from the maestro. The atmosphere was electrifying - just the presence of this huge audience was enough to set the stage for a wonderful performance.

It was 730PM and a fully occupied Bell Center was awaiting the maestro with anxiousness. Every passing minute was adding on more energy to the electrifying atmosphere. Speaking in Engineering terms, it was like 'Energy is proportional to Time' !!

And finally, the maestro's team arrives, which in turn increases the noise levels in the stadium. Nothing was going to calm us down except Yanni himself. A couple of minutes pass by and Yanni comes running (literally) on to the stage. He is greeted with a long applause by each and every individual present. For me, just seeing him from so close (i was sitting in the 15th row on the right side of stage) gave me levels of satisfaction that i have not seen in a while.

And then, for the next two hours, he took us to an entirely different world. As he rightly said "if I can take you away from your daily lives and give you some peace - i'll consider my job well done".. Yanni did way more than that !! Masterpiece after masterpiece, he was setting the mood up. There were also performances from his latest album 'Truth of Touch' which was released last month or so.

Of course, since he was in Montreal, there had to be some French sentences. With whatever little understanding i have of this language, I found it pretty decent.

As it turned out, it was not a dream come true only for me. It was pretty much the same for the maestro who was on this tour after several years. He talked about the times when he and his friend (on drums) were dreaming about THIS DAY. The day when they would be performing their heart out in front of a huge audience.

He was so genuine in each and every stroke of the piano and also in each and every sentence he spoke that I was completely drawn into the performance. Not even for a single moment was I reminded of the world awaiting me outside the stadium.

It had been almost two hours of non-stop music from the maestro and we realized (after making him come back twice after he left) that we were nearing the end. This was like nearing the end of a fully lit tunnel which has darkness on both ends.

But what did not realize was, as he was churning masterpieces one after another, that he did not play 'Santorini' from 'Live at the Acropolis'. It deserved to be right there in the end - the grand finale of this performance.

This is easily THE BEST event of my life, an event which gave me un-paralleled peace and satisfaction.

This one is indeed a fitting Finale for my stay in Montreal.

I would make every attempt possible to see him again whichever part of the world I am in..

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Location:Bell Center, Montreal

Tosca - My first Opera !!

And the weekend expeditions continue... The dip in mercury levels does accelerate the plans !

New York is a city that never fails to amaze me. In each of my previous trips, I have tried to explore a different aspect of the city.

The first trip is always a sight seeing trip for almost any city and it wasn't different for New York. I tried to explore the suburbs in the next trip driving past Brooklyn, Bronx etc. Without visiting these, one is easily led to believe that Manhattan IS New York. The next one was a walking trip through manhattan which was a marathon walk from Times Square till Wall street.

In this one, which is probably the most spontaneous amongst all my New York trips, I went to an opera for the first time in my life. And like every other 'first' experience in life, this too was an experience which was special.

It was saturday morning around 11 AM and we (Ashish (a friend) and I) were at Times Square wondering 'what next'. I have always wanted to watch a musical at Broadway ever since i visited New York. So we checked out if there were any of them just after lunch. The tickets were not affordable and we didn't have reviews of any of the musicals. Hence, we decided to give it a miss and walk down to Lincoln Square (The Metropolitan Opera) to checkout if there is any Opera scheduled for the afternoon.

Tosca and La Traviata were the ones scheduled and only Tosca was the only one scheduled for the afternoon. At times, it is good to be without options - makes your life easier.

Went to the ticket counter - options were given (not a problem here - because we weren't in a mood to bet a huge sum of money !) . We picked the second cheapest amongst the lot and ended up with standing tickets on the 'orchestra floor'. If i were to look back at this decision, it was real good value for money - especially for the first Opera when I was really not sure of the value of the performance to me. It is a different matter that i may not choose that option the next time around.

Now back to Tosca. Tosca, a creation of Giacomo Puccini, is a play setup in Rome during the early 1800s. It is a story of love, sacrifice and jealousy. Amazing performances by Sondra Radvanovsky (Tosca) and her lover, Marcelo Alvarez (Cavaradossi). The story was fairly simple but really powerful in its depiction. The subtitles on the small displays in front of the seats made it easier to follow the plot and get immersed in the story. The applause at the end was a sign of the success of the show. The music was pretty good. Though it didn't stand out it anyway - it certainly did compliment the story very well. Tosca adds on to the list of 'my firsts' in North America...

The only uncomfortable situation in the whole show was our attire. We were probably the most casually dressed. Ashish had a night out the night before and i was fresh(?) from travel the previous night - Certainly it doesn't mean we would have looked any different in formals !!

We were also probably the youngest at the show - But i am glad we made it.

This would remain in my memories for some time to come !



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Location:Montreal,Canada

Mee ShivajiRaje Bhosale boltoy and the rise of Marathi Cinema !

It has been some time since i have seen a Marathi movie.. And this one was a very pleasant watch after a long time.

Gone are those days when i used to be a regular at Prabhat/Neelayam theaters in Pune for Matinee shows. Also gone are the days of senseless comedies Ashok Saraf and Lakshmikant Berde.

Marathi movies, since then, have become socially relevant and it is certainly a pleasure to watch some of them. The shift possibly began with 'Saat Chya aat Gharaat' when Marathi cinema started focussing on relevant social themes instead of senseless comedies. Shwaas, Dombivili Fast and Natrang are great movies with wonderful performances. I am no expert on Marathi Cinema, but I can certainly sense a change in the mindset of the industry - the proof being the increasing number of movies having social relevance.

Coming back to 'Mee ShivajiRaje Bhosale boltoy', the performances of Sachin Khedekar and Mahesh Majrekar are stellar. Though it might gone in overdrive mode in the second half, it certainly sends across the message to all 'maharashtrians'. One of the learnings from the movies is the maturity in the definition of a 'Maharashtrian'. Sachin Khedekar, in one of the most prominent sections of the movie, defines a 'Marathi Manus' as anybody who has domiciled in the state of Maharashtra and does not limit it to those speaking Marathi. Going by this, even a taxi driver bhaiyya from UP or an Udupi/Marwadi who has setup business in Maharshtra becomes a Maharashtrian. The industry has gone way beyond the petty politics of MNS and others alike. And it is a welcome sign...

A must watch for anybody who has stayed in Maharashtra at any point of time in their lives - I can guarantee that you would be able to relate to it...

Way to go Marathi Cinema !! I am already awaiting the next big one...

<< Opinions expressed are purely my own - Feel free to let me know if you are offended by any of these >>

North American Immigration Diaries - Where 'S/P' is 'XL' !!!

If you are expecting a series like Vampire Diaries etc, then you might as well stop reading here.

However, if you are even remotely interested in immigration related aspects - then you are in the right place !

I have been wanting to write this piece for a long time since i relocated to Canada (although just for a couple of years !). This is about the challenges that immigration poses and the adjustments you make - to fit yourself into a culture that is drastically different from yours.

This is the first of a series, which talks about immigration to North America, its challenges and the possible adjustments or solutions. It certainly may not be suitable to all locations within North America considering the diverse nature of this continent. However, I have tried to be as generic as possible. Enjoy the read !

Where 'S/P' is 'XL'

Welcome to North America - A land where everything is grandiose right from the Christmas turkey to a glass of Coke to the rocky mountains of Colorado. And all these seem even more bigger when you consider the fact that I come from a geography where even a cup of tea has transformed into a 'Cutting Chai' ! That reminds me that an 'S' cup of coffee is easily equivalent to 2 cutting chais.

The first thing you notice when you land in this continent is the size of cars. It seems as if we are living in an era where family planning methods have not yet been discovered and people have to plan well in advance !! There certainly has been quite a bit of debate over this but this love for Gas guzzlers seems to be catching up again.

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12147304)
Courtesy BBC News

The next thing that would take you by surprise is the size of meals. North Americans, without any exceptions, have a great built and you need to understand that this has not happened overnight.. And by the time you understand this fact, you are already having the same diet ! I must, however, admit that diet in North America* is certainly more balanced than what you would have normally had in India.
(*French fries and Mayonnaise excluded !)


And the grandiosity extends to almost everything of daily use - Shoes, size of packs of tissue papers, size of eggs, milk cartons, average length of cigarettes, gloves and sizing of garments.

Garments, the main crux of this blog, are crucial to your appearance. And, if you don't choose them correctly, you may end up wearing baggy pants and baggy shirts all the time. It certainly is a different story if you think it is still fashionable !

'S/P' (stands for Small/Petit(french)) is the smallest size available in North America. You might have significant trouble finding a right sized garment if you tend to fall around the average height a typical Indian male (not sure about females though! - sorry for that).

For a long period now, I have been involved in this epic struggle to get the right size of garments. I have constantly been 'kid'ding about venturing into kids section. One fine day, I decided to give it a try and to my amazement/embarrassment/dilemma, I did find a blazer fitting perfectly !!! It was my day of realisation in North America... (Of course, I don't recommend this to everybody - else I might be sued for dragging somebody into depression !)

And the story goes on - Just that this one is indeed a GRAND story !!


And, as a concluding note, please do note that I have purposely not ventured out into size of condoms and other sensitive topics just to retain the 'G' rating of this blog !!!

  

Back to Basics !!!

The last three days have been splendid. One great movie a day - this has been the best continuous stretch of extraordinary movies.

DAY 1: 127 Hours

A story about a young adolescent trying to find peace in solitude. An adventurer at heart, Aron, often ventures out solo 'into the wild' away from civilization. On this occasion, unfortunately, gets caught in one of the worst places that one can imagine - Hundred feet below surface, in one of the Canyons in Utah (US), with a boulder crushing his right hand.

This is an inspiring story of survival, will power and spontaneity.

Trailer below: (Source: IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi768149785/

(Apple devices may not be able to play this - Requires flash)

<< This one is still in theaters - you may be able to catch it one of the screens near you >>

DAY 2: Into the wild

This is a classic directed by Sean Penn. Again, a story of an adventurer who ventures out 'into the wild' away from civilization to 'live'. Wonderfully made, this one is highly recommended to anybody who likes to be 'out there' in the wild.

A lovely story about how he abandons every'thing' he has before he sets out on his journey, a journey which turns out to be an epic journey that makes him understand some basics in life.

This story gets into you and raises some questions which put into question your own identity. One of the best movies i have ever seen in my life.

Trailer below: (Source: IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi730988825/

(Apple devices may not be able to play this - Requires flash)

DAY 3: The King's Speech

The story of King George VI of Britain and how he overcomes his stammer to give an outstanding inspiring speech when his country needs it the most. Amazing performances from Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush as King George VI and Lionel Logue respectively.

Great mix of history and a simple yet strong story. The story doesn't get dull at any moment during the entire movie and keeps you waiting for the final speech.

Certainly a bright Oscar prospect..

Trailer below: (Source: IMDb)

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi806197529/

(Again, your Apple device may not be able to play this)

DAY 4: This blog

I could not resist myself from writing this piece. There are 2 great common learning points across these fantastic movies.

Go back to basics: Start questioning your direction in life - and maybe do a status check of where you are. All that these movies do is inspire us to think more into what we really want and what is 'necessary' and what is 'good to have'.. I know it is easier said than done, but nothing wrong with making an attempt.

Passion: Be it Aron Rolston in '127 Hours' or 'Alexander Supertramp' in 'Into the wild' or King George VI in 'The king's speech', the common underlying driver in each of these is the passion to achieve what you really want. What makes these stories even more powerful is the fact that all these are real stories and not fictional ones.

Let us hope we all figure out what we really want and achieve it too !

But, nothing stops us from giving a try..



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Location:Montreal

Mao's last dancer

Watched a great touching movie after a long time (despite only three more people with me at the theatre !)

It is based on li Cunxin's autobiography.

The movie is setup in Mao ruled China and portrays the pros and cons of communist rule in a very apt manner. However, the core theme of the movie is about passion - passion to do what you want irrespective of what the circumstances command.

The movie revolves around Li who is 'selected' by Maoists into the art academy - 40 selected from millions across China. These 40 are given rigorus training of 'art' under strict supervision. Most the scenes in this training of Li exemplify the way in which China leads in the medals tally of almost any major sporting/athletic event. However, this movie is based on ballet dancing, something probably not so famous in the Asian geography. And thats what gives the plot an artistic angle.

The scenes of Li dancing are a treasure to watch - the passion that you can see in his eyes is something each one of us would like to have in us - Really inspiring movie.

I should not be revealing more of the movie if i were to give you any incentive to give this a shot either at the theater (if available) or by renting a DVD.

Here is the trailer if you would like to have a glimpse before you take a decision.

Trailer - Mao's Last Dancer (Source: IMDb)

I am sure you would love it just as I did...

Enjoy !

The 19th of Sep, 2005

It was the same day, 5 years ago, 1000 odd fresh graduates began their careers with Infosys technologies limited (www.infosys.com) at Mysore. I was one of them...

We have all come a long way since then. Some of us have ventured out on their own, some did their MBA, some others got into better opportunities and the rest have stayed back with Infosys. Irrespective of where we are today, we can never forget the day when all this began...

It was a bright and sunny day at Mysore, India - the location which hosts Infosys' state of the art campus. We were being told that we were the first batch which has crossed 1000 mark - a feat which seemed a great deal then. These many graduates joining the same day would put tremendous pressure on logistics within the campus, we thought !! But to the surprise of almost all of us, the stay was as smooth as an ice cream from Baskin Robbins.

The facilities were extraordinary - right from the Global education center to the multiplex (we were amongst the lucky ones to witness its inauguration too) to the cafeterias to the hostels. Every aspect of our stay was way beyond our imagination. Of course, i should not make the mistake of not mentioning the lush green cricket ground (which hosted a ranji trophy match) or the swimming pool or the badminton courts (which complied with global standards). The bowling alleys, too, were amongst the best in the world.The hostels had a formation of 'INFOSYS' when seen from the top.

We were too overwhelmed by the campus and the facilities provided. The training, too, was amongst the best in the industry. Possibly, no other organization had such a rigorous training which made sure that we are unto our jobs when we left the campus...

When i look back today - i realize that those were actually golden days and we were amongst the lucky ones to have witnessed this experience right at the beginning of our careers..

As I look back i also realize that i may possibly not be able to work for an organization as ethical, as professional, as competitive, as flexible as Infosys...

Feels bad that i am no more part of this great organization - but the foundation it has built would remain as is throughout my career..

!! Dedicated to fellow batch mates of 19th September, 2005 @ Infosys, Mysore !!


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Location:Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest,Montreal,Canada

Sri Tathata

Just back from a session of Sri Tathata ('He who is that' in Sanskrit). He is a saint born in Kerala, India - spent some years in solitude until he found the purpose of his life. Presently, he is on a world tour spreading awareness on 'Dharma' - which is the core to all his teachings. More info at www.sritathata.org

I must say i am pretty impressed with his group. It was a short and brief no-nonsense session. He was an epitome of simplicity and humility.

However, the highlight of the session was the bhajans - customized to western audience. These are the same bhajans which i would not even bother to listen in those rare trips to temples in India. The ones here had the same wordings but the rhythm was so exceptional that it almost succeeds in taking you to trance. I am really amazed by how the same 'Hari Om' can bring about such an impact.

One more factor which i noticed was that i was the only Indian in the 200 odd audience. Is it because all this is embedded in our blood cells or is it sheer ignorance - I do not know !

Anyways, new ideas - new thoughts - helps you lubricate your mind !!

Let's see whats next...


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Location:Montreal

Trans Canada Trail - Segment St Tite Des Caps

This one should be a fitting reply to all those Canadian jokes floating around !

After ten months of being awestruck by US (less than a month from Colorado & then Texas), i finally decide to look back at Canada for some new hikes.

The Trans Canada trail (http://www.tctrail.ca/home.php) is a 18000+ Km trail which runs across Canada. It is still under construction in almost all provinces - However, there are some segments which are already open to public.

So, I decide to do some research on getting information on hikes in and around Quebec. I was disappointed with the information available on the net and hence purchased the Trans Canada trail manual for Quebec which has all the details of the trail within Quebec. The Quebec trail connects Ontario in the west to New Brunswick in the east.

I read the manual thoroughly and decide on a segment which begins from St. Tite Des Caps. The full segment is a 3 night/4 day trek of 37 Kms - However, after realising my stamina (or lack of it!) from the recent Colorado trek, i lock down an itinerary for 1 night/2 Days.
Rias, a friend of mine, was also looking for some adventure in his life (not that he didnt have any in his life !! His story some other time)joined me - So, the adventure begins with just 2 people...

After my previous blunder of overestimating public transport during my skydive session (http://athmagyaan.blogspot.com/2009/10/my-first-skydive.html), I do thorough research on how to reach the trailhead. In fact, there was also a contingency plan - just in case we miss public transport timings.
So, everything was set and our itinerary for DAY 1 looked something like this:

SATURDAY, 4th Sept
0400 AM : Get ready
0500 AM : Leave for Berri-Uqam
0600 AM : Take the bus for Quebec
0915 AM : Arrive Quebec
0945 AM : Intercar to Saint Tite Des Caps
1025 AM : Arrive Saint Tite Des Caps
1030 AM-1200 PM : Finish Breakfast and reach trailhead
1200 PM - 1230 PM : Finish formalities at Visitor’s center
1230 PM – 0630 PM : Reach Camp Gribane
0630 PM – 0730 PM : Setup tent
0800 PM : Dinner/Snacks
0830 PM : Go to sleep

Everything seemed perfect and we were tracking to plan. We reached the trailhead on time (despite getting lost for a Km or so !!!)


Just at the start of the trail


Rias at the start of the trail


The trek was arduous and there were frequent uphill climbs. However, the uphill climbs were not very steep and always had a downhill or a flat patch following them.


Pose time

There were quite a few view points on the way - However, almost all of them had pretty long detours from the trail. But, we went to all of them despite not being able to see anything due to fog !! The fog/cloud cover had made our lives easy as hiking a trail like this under heavy sunlight would dehydrate you pretty fast and you could have trouble if you dont have enough water.


Courtesy: Rias & the wide angle lens








For your interpretation !!


At the crossing of various trails - bright spot for getting lost


Rias' prayers were answered and we got some sunlight !!



However, as we neared the camp site, the cloud cover was clearing up and the last couple of view points gave us some breath-taking views of St Laurence river (the largest river in Canada !).. The wide angle lens, which we had rented for this ocassion, was put to use in the best possible manner..




A look back at the dense vegetation




The mighty St Lawrence river !



We managed to reach the campsite as per plan, somewhere around 5PM. We setup our tent and were feeling really happy that almost everything was perfect until then - the weather, public transport, the trail..



Thats when we realised that things were not going to be that way for long !! We had forgotten our water filter and the water at campsite was not fit for drinking. Luckily for us, there were couple more tents at the campsite and we were offered help by a generous group. We filled our hydration packs for the trip back next day. We had been on a bar (energy bars - just in case you thought something else !) diet for the last 7-8 hours and were starving for some food. This was exactly the mistake we had made at Colorado when we had starved ourselves throughout the day went the nigth without dinner..

I was getting a feel that the 'rainy colorado night' was repeating itself...

Having no other option, we munched a couple of bars each and slept (Actually, I slept and Rias was on the phone with 'You know whom' !!). And it did rain hevily. We could hear the sound of water hitting the tent - rain coupled with heavy winds can be very distressing during a hike. It would have been really tough if things didnt improve the next day. We just hoped things would get better...
We got up after a good night's sleep (unlike Colorado) in single digit temperatures and moderate wind. The best part was that it was NOT raining. We packed our stuff, thanked the guys who had helped us last night and head back to the trail head which about 10KMs away.
The hike back was again very pleasant we were going through a dense forest and the sun was busy playing hide and seek with the clouds..



We reach the trailhead on time (in fact much before time as the way back was through a different trail - much shorter but more steeper).


There are shorter hikes for kids


Rias trying to be different !!


We had a 4 hr wait before the bus comes in - this is the worst part of taking public transit. The waits are inevitable...


What next??

However, we were really satisfied with the entire hike - It was more or less an ideal hike with the best possible weather conditions.

Coming up next: Ski season !!

Cowboy land

An official trip leads me to Austin, Capital of Texas. There is no marked difference in terms of people (nothing i could see) of this part of the world. Pretty much like any other North American city. Of course, the only weird thing you find is that all T shirts read "Keep Austin weird" !!

The highlight of austin is 6th Street in Downtown, which has some really nice pubs with live music and lots of action. Austin is also has the main campus of University of Texas - one of the better known universities in North America.

Austin is also famous for having the highest urban 'bat' population in the world. The bridge hosts about 1.5 million bats which migrate to Mexico every winter. Every evening around sunset these bats evolve from under the bridge forming a spectacular view. Unfortunately, i was not lucky enough to see as many bats - Part of the game when it comes to any nature watching activity..

Not a very eventful trip - Business was eventful though !!

Coming up next is 'Trans Canada Trail'...

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Colorado - A Trekker's paradise !!

I owe an apology for hurting the sentiments of my fellow trekkers by calling 'Capitol' a 'hill' in my previous blog (Last line of http://athmagyaan.blogspot.com/2010/08/knee-boarding-lake-archambault.html).
As I realise now, it certainly was an understatement to a great extent. It turned out to be one amongst the highest and toughest peaks in the US. Hope this offers some solace to my terribly deeply hurt fellow trekkers...

Now back to Capitol and its story ...

So, my tryst with the US continues. I have travelled more in the US than in Canada now in the past ten months or so (Canadian jokes are NOT welcome please !!). I was accidentally counting the number of US stamps on my passport and realised that this one was the 5th in the last ten months ! And I must say, each of these five trips have been uniquely different. The diversity is amazing - reminds me of the diversity at home (India) and doesn't fail to entice me into more trips into the US...

Image Source - WikiPedia.org
Colorado - Welcome to the land of mountains. A land where all four directions lead to mountains (I am exaggerating of course !). A land for which 'exquisite' would be an understatement (No exaggeration here !).

All the pre-planning was just about perfect. Our group consisted of networking bonds (Pushkar, Rahul), Vertical thinkers (Ali Sagar Oops Asgar - Chances of seeing him on the ground are bleak, the one who introduced me into skydiving), no-life-without-internet always-online apple geeks(Deepak 'twitter' Iyer), Apple veterans (Thai Wey), expert photographers (Tannu of the Sushi fame - He has just landed in US after a 5 yr stint in Sushi Land) and 2 undergrad classmates of Pushkar.

From Left to Right (Athma, Deepak, Ali, Rahul, Pushkar, Thai Wey, Ady (Alias Aditya Tannu))

The trip begins with a bang - All our flights were cancelled. A terrible coincidence considering the fact that our flights were from Montreal (QC, Canada), Raleigh (NC, US) and San Francisco(CA, US). I somehow manage to get another flight to reach Denver on time along with Tannu who flew in from LA. The others could not start their journey...

Luckily, Pushkar was able to arrange stay for us in Boulder at one of his undergrad friend's place.

DAY 1: University of Colorado, Boulder downtown, Rocky Mountain National Park

Now Tannu and myself (later on joined by Ali) had half a day in Boulder before rest of the gang sets foot in Colorado. We went around picturesque Boulder clicking pictures at will.

 

Near University of Colorado

 

 

 

 

University of Colorado

 

 

 

Tannu at University of Colorado


 

 

Ali n Myslef at Boulder downtown (Just after tannu returned with his lost wallet!!)

 

After spending some time in Boulder, we were joined by the rest and we headed to Rocky Mountain National Park, which offered some outstanding views. Here is just a sample:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not sure what we were trying to show !! None of us had a great built...

 

 

 Wide angle cameras can do wonders !! (Courtesy Tannu)

After this exquisite drive, we head to our camp site where we were to spend the night before we head to starting point of Capitol Peak the next day.

Inside Tent No 1.

DAY 2: Ride to Capitol Peak trailhead, Hike upto Capitol Lake
 

After spending the night in our sleeping bags we head to what was the main objective of our trip - Capitol Peak. If I were to provide an analogy - If this entire trip was dinner, then Capitol Peak was main course, Rocky Mountain/Boulder was Dessert and flight journeys to and from Denver were Salt and Pepper !! (You are not the only one still trying to interpret this !! )

We start the day early and start the drive towards starting point of the hike to Capitol Peak. We halt around one of the lakes for breakfast. And every stop is reason enough for some more photos !!

 

 

The three musketeers

 

Tannu's magic again !

After a nice breakfast, which we didnt realise was going to be our last meal of the day, we head towards the trailhead of Capitol. We were running late and had to do a good job if were to reach Capitol lake by Sunset.

Just before we began the hike

The majestic Capitol Peak visible right at the center towards the far end (Image Courtesy: Ali)

Ali n Thai Wey on the trail (Image Courtesy: Ali) - Capitol still visible in the background

Rahul on the Trail (Image Courtesy: Ali)
 

It has been a long time since i did my last trek (Jivdhan-Naneghat, Maharashtra, India, 2005) and all that showing up. Adding on to this was the carbon monoxide (for your interpretation !) intake which had done significant damage to my stamina. I was lagging behind frequently and somebody had to stay back with me all throughout just to make sure i make it to the end.

But, I did push myself and was able to reach Capitol Lake (the lake just before final summit of Capitol Peak).

It had begun raining by the time we reached capitol lake and dark too as we missed our timelines. Figuring out vacant campsites itself was tough. Our ordeal continued. The rain didnt stop and by the time we had our tents erected, we were wet and cold. My jacket was not holding up water as i would have liked it to.

There was water seeping in through some ends of the tent as a result of us trying to fix it up during rain. Finally, we succeeded in setting up all 3 tents and managed to get in and change clothes which by then had taken in lots of water. None of us were in the mindset to setup cooking stoves and start cooking. We decided to manage the night with just nuts and energy bars. The last meal we had was more than 14 hours ago !!

So here we were at 12000 ft, trying to catch up with some sleep amidst heavy rain and thunder.

DAY 3: Capitol Peak - The FINAL Summit
 

After about 4 hours of sleep we get up to a completely overcast sky with slight rain still dampening our hopes of making it to the top. We have some bagels and get started for the summit leaving our main bags behind and carrying only our summit bags. Gatorade powder was added to each of our water containers, later to be filled in at the lake.

At about 430 AM, we head to Capitol lake to fill our water containers. Thai Wey and Rahul were working hard with the water filter to make sure all of us had our containers filled.

Rain was still hitting hard, the sky was overcast with no stars visible even on a no-moon night. The last 2000 ft or so had the famous 'Knife Ridge' which was a narrow rock patch with vertical falls on either sides. That patch is risky and sometimes fatal (as per wiki) even during a regular bright sunny day. The chances of making the final summit in such weather was really bleak.
 

I was the first one to QUIT.
 

I dropped out and insisted on going back to the tent and wait till the others return. I was no more enjoying the hike and there was no point in continuing the same way.

This sparked an intense discussion which was capable of giving a scare to any of the corporate boardroom discussions. Here is how it was structured:

If we make a decent pace for the next 1000ft (which was a regular hike), then we could be at the knife ridge for sunrise, if at all we have one. The summit might be possible if the knife ridge is dry and has good visibility. If the weather doesnt clear up, we make the hike back to our tents and then to the trail head.

There were 5 (out of 9) of us who were betting on the odds of weather clearing up and continuing the hike. The rest, 4 of us, decide to go back to the tent, catch up some sleep and wait for the others - This would enable us to be ready for the hike back which again was not an easy task for somebody like me (at this point of time).

So, 5 amongst us continued. 2 more dropped out after an hour or so and 3 (Ali, Thai Wey n Deepak) continued on till the start of the knife ridge. Luckily for them, the weather had cleaned up. In fact, we could see them from our tents through 10X optical zoom cameras.

Now, there was another issue at hand. Ali had a flight later during the day and with the pace at which they were able to make progress on the knife ridge - there was a bright possibility of him missing his flight. Adding on more troubles was my passport, which was with Deepak, who was one amongst the three who were making the attempt to the top!!

The 'Knife Ridge'

The 'Knife Ridge'

Ali at the 'Knife Ridge'

 

Deepak at the 'Knife Ridge'

 

Thai Wey at the 'Knife Ridge'

The photos they have taken are stunning.. The knife ridge is the highlight of Capitol Peak and we were all disappointed that even those three had to return half way... Since it would take them considerable time to head back, we six (4+2) head back to trail head.

We return rental gear in Aspen and visit Maroon Bells to have a look at one more majestic peak (14000ft+) in Colorado before heading to Denver Airport.

The Deadly bells disclaimer !

All turns out well - All of us are able to reach on time. I get my passport on time (my 'on time' considers immigration at US airports too !!).

We leave Colorado slightly disappointed but really happy that we were atleast lucky to attempt Capitol. We head back with the learning that we need to respect weather and listen to what it says & along with the fact that these enormous peaks are more a test of mental strength rather than physical endurance.

If all goes well, we might land up same time next year for the same hike - Possibly a different result !! That leaves enough time for me to build myself up !!

 

Photo courtesy:

All Images from Aditya Tannu (http://www.adityatannu.com/) unless otherwise specified.