A summer vacation amidst snow clad mountains would be the dream of every child, but for 8-year-old Thomas, hailing from Changanassery, it didn't stop just there. He dreamt of scaling those snow clad mountains and that's what he achieved this summer when he trekked the 12,000-ft high Beas Kund in the Kullu-Manali Valley. He set out on the adventure inspired by his elder sister’s trip to Kedarkantha mountain in the Himalayas.
His sister related several nail-biting instances during her climb and Thomas forced his parents to send him on a trekking trip to the Himalayas.
Thomas started the trip along with his father Linto Jose, a doctor from Kottayam, and three of his colleagues on April 4.
The trek started from Solang Valley. At 5 am, the group headed off to Dundi, 8 km away. The route was along a thick forest. At Dundi, extreme cold and snow fall greeted the adventurers. The altitude was 9000 ft. above sea level and they put up their tent there. After retiring for the night, they started along the snow covered path to the Beas Kund the next day morning.
While all the four doctors in the team shuddered in the cold, Thomas was in top spirits along with the trekking co-ordinator Preetham Menon. When others took rest, Thomas enjoyed himself tasting the water from the streams and playing with snow. He also thoroughly enjoyed the food prepared by the cook. The trekking which started at the break of dawn extended till 3 pm. After that, the team put up the tent and retired for the day.
They slept in sleeping bags. Each day, 4 to 7 km was the distance they trekked. Beas Kund is one of the origins of the Beas River. When the team reached the Kund on the fourth day, everyone were thoroughly exhausted, but the energy level of Thomas was sky-high even in the extreme cold. At 17,500 ft, the team started its return journey from the highest point of the Kund.
Thomas has returned with interesting stories that he can share with his sister Thanvi and his mates at Pallikkoodam School, Kottayam.
On the four days of the trip, Thomas and the others in the group had not taken bath. Moreover, the trek had physically drained the members. Preetham Menon took these weary souls to Vashisht Kund, which is noted for its hot spring. It was a big relief for Thomas and the others who lost no time in taking a plunge in the waters. They spent considerable time there before starting the trip home.
