1st Track of FC82, LBSNAA (To Rabbit Farm through Cloud's end and Binogh Hill)

The dawn scattered golden sunshine all around and the pleasant morning weather prevailed. So, unlike last Saturday, our track would take place as per schedule. All Officer Trainees (OTs) assembled in front of Dhruvshilla: well-prepared, nicely attired for the occasion, I mean the tracking shoes, mostly woodland, kargo pant, caps & hats, goggles, colorful umbrellas, various kinds & sizes of bags, etc. We lined-up according to our respective groups and OT Codes for attendance and instructions. Within 30 minutes, the ‘Caravan’ of 239 OTs marched forward. It was sharply 8.00 am.
Hence started our first short tracking! Initial reluctance and hesitation gave way to exuberance and enthusiasm. I was extremely happy. From the beginning itself, Mukul, an Indian Foreign Service Probationer, and from Delhi, with whom I’ve become very friendly recently, walked together. Two of us were walking really fast and moving fast-ahead of others. The first 4-5 km had a pucca, all-weather road. Everyone was walking easily and in groups of some 7-8 people or even more simultaneously. Having walked this 4-5 km, we had our breakfast. Our break-fast was arranged at the point, where onwards, the tracking route was rough, undulating, narrow, rocky, steep up/down, etc. The place is called ‘Cloud’s End’. It took around 45 minutes for the break-fast. Thereafter, we once again proceeded ahead; but the pace became really slow, and it was no more possible to walk in groups, unlike happened previously prior to the breakfast point.
After series of climbing down and climbing up, we arrived at the peak of a hill. My God, it was a really majestic place! Mukul and I were among the first few people to arrive at the point. It was nearly 11.00 o’ clock. We were literally walking along with the cloud. The sunshine was bright, yet very gentle; the oak and pine forests at the distant hill-slopes were visible all-bluish against the sunrays. Variety of clouds: some milky-white in different forms, shapes, sizes, texture and some others such as dark-black, also in different formations, were scattered across the sky, and particularly hanging at the top of various peaks of numerous hills around. This point is one of the most popular tourist destinations called ‘Binogh Hill’.
All OTs spread-out to various points of Binogh Hill to take pictures and enjoying the beauty of time and place, a rare combination at any given point of time and/or place. For around 1 hr, we hanged around. Thereafter, it was climbing downhill up to ‘Rabbit Farm’. At various places, path become much more rocky, steep and narrow. Naturally, majority of OTs, particularly lady OTs, were having a tough time. Initially, I was walking among front trackers; but suddenly, I changed my mind and instead helped others to climb down the hill at difficult points. This way, I got to stay little longer at one point and be with the nature. I waited for the last person to move ahead of me. After sometimes, I could see that Laxmi mam and Basu Kaushal were struggling to climb down. I waited for them and helped Laxmi at every difficult point to move downhill. We become really very late. When we reached Rabbit Farm, many others had already finished their lunch. Three of us also took lunch.
Finally, we started for our Academy. It was about 2.oo pm. I still accompanied Laxmi, just in case she would need my help. This time, Ramesh Sir, Malathi mam and Padma mam joined us. Of course, Basu was still around. However, as we neared our Academy, I and Basu increased our pace, and moved ahead of them, including many other OTs. I wanted to reach hostel quickly now. Abo had started from Delhi early in the morning for Mussorrie. So, this was how our first track happened. It was more to condition and slowly expose us to the rigors and hardships associated with tracking. It was one memorable and remarkable experience.