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| Chikka to Balugira - July 2nd |
| When Chher went to gather the horses ("I go, horses coming.") on the morning of departure, he found Bhindo limping. Bhindo had evidently slipped during the night and twisted its ankle. This is when I find out that Chher is not only a horseman/cook/guide but a self-taught vet as well (most good horsemen are out of necessity). With help from his father, they first poured warm water over the sprained area. Then a mixture of masala (a curry based spice mixture), water and crushed rock salt was applied. The final step was to wrap it with a plastic bag and tie it. Voila, a 3 step poultice. Fortunately, it happened at Chikka where Chher had another horse available. |
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| And now, fortified with wild strawberries, we head up the valley to Balugira. |
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| You're kidding! Now Mimi is down...but not out. It was dangerous here because the horses had to climb up a narrow passage and the choice was to take a high step up or to try for a foothold on a slick, angular slab of granite. Mimi made a bad choice and slipped. Chher had to unload her so she could get up, then we put the pack back on and she was good to go. She cut her lip and despite banging up her ankle she didn't limp at all. |
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| It had been overcast most of the day and when we arrived at Balugira there were low clouds and none of this could be seen. Then about an hour before sunset it opened up revealing this magnificent view. The tent in the foreground above belongs to three Polish students from Warsaw who arrived with their horseman, Nitin, a couple of hours after we did. Chher explained that the rock formation to the right (looking like a granite giant buried upright to his shoulders in the snow) is called Indra Kila and is sacred to the people of this region. |