Vttarakhand
seen tied up and supported on the luggage animals, or seated
.astride of their father or mother's side as the latter walk along.
Another amusing sight sometimes met with is that of a baby
few days old carried in a basket at the mother's back.
When walking on foot, it is always advisable to walk in
the early hours of the morning and it is at this hour when we
can see the glimpse of snow-capped peaks particularly between
the months of September and March. Number of times, I have
seen such scenes but the most unforgettable has been that of
Panchachuli peak, which I witnessed from Cfayoribagarh in
November 1968. I witnessed one of the white pinnacled ridges
of Panchachuli soaring upwards from the shadows of the dark
gorges at their feet—a glory of delicate sunset red light shown
in delicate shade and red colour against the background of
ajure sky.
The pleasures of foot journey are immense because after a
suitable pause of walking over rock precipices, we descend for
some miles through thick shady forest where in winter the snow
lies in the path, and even in summer the air feels cool and wet.
'Such forests as this are still there.
In a few places one still sees the <fijhula" or rope bridge,
though these have been now much improved. Two strong ropes
of twisted grass are stretched across from cliff, and to these
are attached shorter ropes supporting transverse piece of
-wood, while over the latter are laid lengths of split bamboo,
upon which the passenger has to walk. The rack or foot way
is only about ten to twelve inches wide and the whole bridge
-swings about in an alarming fashion. Another typeofbri-
-dge consists of few fire logs thrown over the small chasms.
These adventurous crossings are unforgettable.
The memorable events of trekking have been best described
by Jim Corbett who writes "Times, there will be, a many, when
gasping for breath, you toil up the face of steep mountains on
feet torn and bleeding by passage over rough rocks., sharp
shale, and frozen ground, when you will question whether the
prospective reward you seek is worth the present price you
'pay in suffering, but being a good Hindu you will toil on com-
-forting yourself with the thought that merit is "not gained
^without suffering, and greater the suffering in this world, the