Mushkpuri in thunderstorm (Snow - Rain - Hail)
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 3.4 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,024 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,024 ft
- Max elevation
- 8,789 ft
- TrailRank
- 29
- Min elevation
- 8,789 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Moving time
- one hour 59 minutes
- Time
- 3 hours 22 minutes
- Coordinates
- 989
- Uploaded
- March 2, 2024
- Recorded
- March 2024
near Dunga Gali, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan)
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Trail photos
Itinerary description
A very long day it was.
I reached Dunga Gali somewhat around 11 AM. From Islamabad to Dunga Gali it was all cloudy. When I reached, it was raining and there was a group of boys hiking towards the entry point of Ayubia National park. Rain grew stronger with hail. I felt my feet were wet, it was surpising as my shoes were waterproof. In no time there was a pool in both my boots.
I left the group behind and reached the entry point and wore my gaiters. The ticket master arrived couple of minutes later and I started the hike. It was first time I was hiking on the newly developed trail. Mushkpuri’s start had become most slippery till last year so they developed a concrete path for few meters to avoid the accidents. Rain did not stop for any moment. I took couple of breaks so that the group can reach up. But they were not in sight.
Snow grew deeper and deeper but so far I was enjoying it a lot. Finally I reached the part where trail was completely covered with the snow. It was very narrow park and snow was 3-4 feet deep. I crossed 3 such sections and realized that it was going to be like that for a rest of the hike. White it was not very risky, but myself being alone there, I calculated even if I made it to the top, there was no way I would have made it back without getting sick as I was all wet.
I hike back a kilometer or so, and tried the ridge route. But as there are pine trees on ridge, so, snow was deep there too. I came back and realized the group never made it past the concrete path. As I came down to Dunga Gali, there were several big groups preparing for the hike. But I had given up for the day and waited for the Van.
An hour of wait I finally got the Van back to Murree and to Islamabad. The travel itself was a big challenge because all my clothes were wet, especially the shoes for which I did not have any alternate. While travelling the body remains still do you feel more cold.
While I failed to reach the top, I was successfully back without being sick.
Did it break my spirit, No.
Will it try it again, definitely Yes.
I reached Dunga Gali somewhat around 11 AM. From Islamabad to Dunga Gali it was all cloudy. When I reached, it was raining and there was a group of boys hiking towards the entry point of Ayubia National park. Rain grew stronger with hail. I felt my feet were wet, it was surpising as my shoes were waterproof. In no time there was a pool in both my boots.
I left the group behind and reached the entry point and wore my gaiters. The ticket master arrived couple of minutes later and I started the hike. It was first time I was hiking on the newly developed trail. Mushkpuri’s start had become most slippery till last year so they developed a concrete path for few meters to avoid the accidents. Rain did not stop for any moment. I took couple of breaks so that the group can reach up. But they were not in sight.
Snow grew deeper and deeper but so far I was enjoying it a lot. Finally I reached the part where trail was completely covered with the snow. It was very narrow park and snow was 3-4 feet deep. I crossed 3 such sections and realized that it was going to be like that for a rest of the hike. White it was not very risky, but myself being alone there, I calculated even if I made it to the top, there was no way I would have made it back without getting sick as I was all wet.
I hike back a kilometer or so, and tried the ridge route. But as there are pine trees on ridge, so, snow was deep there too. I came back and realized the group never made it past the concrete path. As I came down to Dunga Gali, there were several big groups preparing for the hike. But I had given up for the day and waited for the Van.
An hour of wait I finally got the Van back to Murree and to Islamabad. The travel itself was a big challenge because all my clothes were wet, especially the shoes for which I did not have any alternate. While travelling the body remains still do you feel more cold.
While I failed to reach the top, I was successfully back without being sick.
Did it break my spirit, No.
Will it try it again, definitely Yes.
Waypoints
Waypoint
7,789 ft
Mountain hut
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