Day #6 contd... - Tawang to Bum La
Army Truck tyres had created big craters, observing it was obvious if tyres go into that track, it would sit down and touch the differential. Also this was packed ice, slippery - but one thing was good - all this wasnt at an incline.
Gypsy with its 4wd engaged, and narrow wheel track [more important out here], managed to skirt the big craters on either side
Everyone paused over here and while talking to the Army Gypsy driver [a Sikh soldier], he presumed I was having a Safari 4wd. Well thats a 2-tonne 2wd, and he said to wait for a couple of hours or so [it was approx 9 am around that time], as this ice will melt somewhat and the hard packed nature will go. And warned me of a even badder stretch out there in front which will not be possible without 4wd, plus there is no camp out there for jawans to help push if stuck - well then let me cross this first.
On towards the crossing ]
Observing track it is obvious to take the side road, but with the wider track of a Safari, it is going to into a couple of holes on the either side. With momentum and whatever and with twice the shock absorbers travelling the full distance with sickening thud noise, crossed it. The Gypsies had stopped after crossing to pick up some persons who disembarked before crossing the track. The Sikh driver smiled a lot, he was equally happy as I was on making over that stretch - said to me - Chalo dekte hain upar kya hota hai!
That episode gone, we were on the move again, up the inclines Now the problem with the Gypsies in front was that they were on crawl mode and with a 2wd we were on momentum and torque. Everytime an incline came, being close to them - I had to slow down very much, too much of a wheelspin and clutch burning on trying to move again - so for the next incline it was waiting at base till they have cleared that particular incline and then again rev up, gather momentum and move forward. But this also was not desirable. With a standing start at the base of an incline, there's wheelspin at first and stones and rocks are thrown around from the rear wheel and the sound of some of them hitting the underbelly made me worried - if a stone hits at full speed to the fuel tank - as such kept an eye on the tank gauge and three chewing gums in mouth. Of course, in actuality, if that happened, chewing gums wouldnt have helped and the analog fuel metre would have reacted much late to fuel draining out. The chance had to be taken as this was better than having clutch burning at inclines.
As said, waiting at an incline for them to pass before I move, catch with them on this incline around may be 3 km before Bum La. This was the stretch that everyone was talking about, it sure looked bad - bend incline, packed slippery ice and stones - this is worst for a 2wd, the Gypsies with 4 low was slipping from one end to other before they made it out of that stretch. Quote:
A small painted patch on the rock surface said Engage 4 x 4 from here" announcing the climb for Bum-la.
The climb is not just a climb but "The Climb". It is as arrogant as engineering can get. What makes it even more difficult is the surface; it's not smooth but instead has lot of loose stones and boulders which are a result of heavy Army vehicles revving up before the climb; it is not possible to gain momentum before the climb.
A small stream runs down beneath the stones on the incline. The snow from the pass melts and makes its way through this artificial slope and into the lakes below.
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They crossed and disappeared from sight and I kept walked along that 30-mtr stretch thinking how to go about - whatever I am going to try and see what happens - 3 km from Bumla - can't go back. Wife and kid started feeling very disappointed as I gave the news after doing a recce of the stretch as very less chance of going through it and kid because he will not be able to reach to the top and see snow or even have Maggi!
No pictures of course but dont know how I crossed it, what steering input or what acceleration play - everything happened then and there, and owaao we made it through. Caught up with the Gypsies soon and I could see one biggest smiles from that Sikh gentleman on the Gypsy rear view mirror. He was as happy for us as we were!
The remaining inclines were steep but dirt, so only high rev at 4 k around and same thing again, wait before the incline to let the Gypsies move out.
Very near to Bum La, the final turn
Finally we have made to Bum La, what a feeling it was, cant describe, still remember the drive. Safari VTT LX 2.2 2wd sharing parking with the Gypsies - what proud moment for the Safari - truly - The Magnificent Tourer.
As said, we were elated but one person was not. He was quite angry, this is not what he expected after coming up so much
contd...
Last edited by adc : 24th March 2010 at 15:56.
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