Day 105, Lava, Gumpa Dara, Samthar Ridge [Sunday 16th March 2008]
Previous day: Day 104, Kalimpong [Saturday 15th March 2008]
Next day: Day 106, Buddhabare, Kaffer, Samthar Ridge [Monday 17th March 2008]
After breakfast we get a shard jeep to Lava, the starting point for a 4 day trek along the Samthar ridge. It takes about an hour to get there along forested roads. We buy some Kalimpong lollipops to take with us — they're funny little brown lollys made of sugar and milk.
After filling up on momos and fried rice we set off on the first leg of the trek, a 6km hike to Gumpa Dara. We walk through beautiful, pristine forest all the way, full of pine trees and mist, damp moss and elusive tweeting birds. It's incredibly quiet and we don't see anyone else all the way. We're carrying our big rucksacks with us for the first time, and while they're not too heavy they do make progress slow and steady.
We arrive at Gumpa Dara around 4pm, just as it starts to get dark and bucket down with rain. There's one hotel here, so we check into it. It's large and clean, with woodlines walls. We're the only guests. The owner also owns a tea stall over the road, so we sit under the wooden awning there and have some tea. Later in our room we start a fire, and he brings us a thali for dinner. We're both asleep by 9pm!
Next day: Day 106, Buddhabare, Kaffer, Samthar Ridge [Monday 17th March 2008]
Previous day: Day 104, Kalimpong [Saturday 15th March 2008]