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**Drugmachine** · 09-02-2012, 04:53 PM

Here is my experience about drinking water, that I wish to share. I was 70 when I took my pilgrimage to Gomukh, in the Himalayas. Gomukh is in the snout of the Gangotri Glacier, at 4255 M (13,960 ft), from where Bhagirathi River originates. After completing 14KM trek on the Mule, from Gangothri to 'Bhojbasa' we were asked to continue four KM rough ride of narrow bridle-path on boulders. Walking (jumping) on boulders make the route after 'Bhojbasa' quite difficult. One has to cross a boulder zone to reach near the Gomukh snout. After walking for some distance I felt difficult breathing and became disillusioned, every thing looked different,I could hear the thumping of my heart beat, and the bright reflected sun light, the sound of flowing river added to the confusion. I was feeling thirsty but not bold enough to drink the ice cold water running at my feet. I took rest on the big boulders and some how finished my pilgrimage, with the help of our group.

Well, on my return journey from New Delhi to Bangalore I met a gentleman returning after his training in the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering at Uttarkashi. I explained to him my experience in Gomukh. He told me that the hallucinating experience may be due to dehydration, which happens in such high ranges. And that it was important to drink lot of water while trekking at that height, where oxygen becomes rare.

Nowadays I advise people to drink plenty of water while visiting places of pilgrimage in the Himalayas.

Brahmanyan,
Bangalore.

09-02-2012, 04:53 PM	#10
Drugmachine Join Date Apr 2006 Posts 4,490 Senior Member	Here is my experience about drinking water, that I wish to share. I was 70 when I took my pilgrimage to Gomukh, in the Himalayas. Gomukh is in the snout of the Gangotri Glacier, at 4255 M (13,960 ft), from where Bhagirathi River originates. After completing 14KM trek on the Mule, from Gangothri to 'Bhojbasa' we were asked to continue four KM rough ride of narrow bridle-path on boulders. Walking (jumping) on boulders make the route after 'Bhojbasa' quite difficult. One has to cross a boulder zone to reach near the Gomukh snout. After walking for some distance I felt difficult breathing and became disillusioned, every thing looked different,I could hear the thumping of my heart beat, and the bright reflected sun light, the sound of flowing river added to the confusion. I was feeling thirsty but not bold enough to drink the ice cold water running at my feet. I took rest on the big boulders and some how finished my pilgrimage, with the help of our group. Well, on my return journey from New Delhi to Bangalore I met a gentleman returning after his training in the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering at Uttarkashi. I explained to him my experience in Gomukh. He told me that the hallucinating experience may be due to dehydration, which happens in such high ranges. And that it was important to drink lot of water while trekking at that height, where oxygen becomes rare. Nowadays I advise people to drink plenty of water while visiting places of pilgrimage in the Himalayas. Brahmanyan, Bangalore.
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