Siachen trek: 'Living to tell the tale'

The first Civilian trek to the Siachen Glacier organised by the Indian Army in over 30 years was successfully completed on October 8 with the 22-member team reaching back to Base camp safe and sound. CNN-IBN's Rasika Tyagi was part of the historic trek and she filed the report from Siachen.

Location - Day 1, Base Camp

The spirit of martyred soldier OB Baba is believed to protect those who walk the largest glacier outside the poles.

Each of the 22-member of the first civilian trek on the world’s highest battlefield in over 30 years seeks OP Baba's blessings before beginning the historic 120-kilometer long journey.

Location - Camp 1

The first day's 12 kilometer walk is rocky slow and dangerous with crevasses. Ropes tie us to safety but my trip is in knots on the very first day.

I wake up the next morning to the most stunning sunrise ever and to soften the blow of using a hole in the tent as a toilet.

The Indian Army occupied the saltoro ridge in 1984 to prevent Pakistan from controlling the glacier, but my own battle had just begun.

Location - Day 2, Between Camp 1 & 2

My skin is a light blue because of low oxygen thoughts of dying cross my mind but seeing the ice for the first time is Siachen for me, what I have seen in the books and the films. And crossing the eight-kilometre long glacier stretch calls for celebrations.

Location - Camp 2

As I gasp for oxygen, I marvel at their energy. They are all still teenagers, from military school and super fit and I console myself and try not to see the pity in their eyes when I struggle on the slopes.

Location – Siachen

We are about to reach. “We have nearly made it’ is the thought that keeps us going. Our instructors literally pull me along when my feet refuse to move. And then suddenly just when I think I cannot walk I take another step.

Location - Kumar Post

After walking 60 kilometers, 6,000 feet we reach Kumar Post.

The sight of the white tents is enough to reduce most of us to tears. The core commander, Lt General Bhardwaj is rather surprised that all of have made it. I am fairly surprised myself.

Location – Siachen

Gravity makes the walk down quicker with fewer halts to shoot, but this hill lined with tin cans near Camp 3 makes me stop. Getting the tins up costs the army lakhs every day so leaving them up saves money but war is taking its toll on the glacier as well as soldiers.

Location - Day 7, Base Camp

We are back at the base camp and we lived to tell the tale.

The trek ends the way it began at OP Baba's temple. I can only admire the soldiers who live here for three months at a time. I have had enough in just eight days and leave with an unspoken tribute to them.