Title Pakistan Forest Digest Issue 01- A4 - Pakistan Research Group

SDPISustainable Development Policy Instituteleft us and perhaps had already reached the campingsite with his dumb pack mule.We should have pitched our camps by now. But therewe were, lost in the dark, quiet forest without any ideaas to how far we were from our destination. Aflashlight in the daypack carried by one of us becameour saviour in that thickening darkness. We keptmoving on the uneven and twisted track with lightfocused just around our feet for another hour when wesaw signs of a passage on our right with a tiny boardaffixed on a log that read 'Dagri Forest Rest House'; aheartening relief to the rundown trekkers.It was a star-studded night as we reached the openlawns of the rest house. It had taken us 8 hours fromThandiani but we were relaxed, looking at thewidespread illumination of Abbottabad far away in thedepth, knowing that we shall have a fresh start in themorning for Nathia Gali via Miranjani, the highestpeak in Galiat region.Thandiani-Nathia Gali track, with a length of 26kilometres, passes along Bairan Gali and Dagrivillages while winding through the pine jungle onslopes of Galiat Mountains. It was an old dream towalk on this much heard of and treaded on passagesaid to have enchanting vistas with scenic view ofsnow-capped Himalayas, whispering sound of windpassing through pines, flower-studded meadows,fluttering butterflies, luring melody of twittering birdsand few singing springs of water.It was late sunny morning as we started fromThandiani, a scenic hill station around 34 kilometresaway from Abbottabad with a panoramic view ofsprawling towns of Abbottabad and Mansehra. Guideswith luggage carrying mule are conveniently availablefor up to Rs7000 for Nathia Gali with one night stay atDagri where the Forest Department's rest house sits ina shabby condition since 2005 earthquake.However, it offers good opportunity forcamping with a beautiful and vast view ofAbbottabad towards its lawns. Apart from acouple of water springs between Bairan Galiand Dagri, water is not available on thistrack; hence at least drinking water shouldbe carried along.Starting this track from Nathia Gali is not advisable, asit starts with a steep hike in the very beginning towardsMiranjani. This could be demoralising as it had beenfor a group of trekkers whom we met at Dagri. Wepitched camp, took our meal and sat around a big firein the cold and windy night; we had a magicallybeautiful view of flickering flames, twinkling stars anddistant constellation of electricity-lit Abbottabad as thenight became deeper, colder and more mysterious.Cold and bright morning greeted us as we packed upand moved on towards Nathia Gali via Miranjani top.Sunshine penetrating through the tall pine, juniper anddeodar trees was adding to the beauty of the trackmostly covered with colours of fallen leaves. Ladybugsand butterflies were frolicking around the colourfulflowers along the track. Air was full of peculiar junglearoma and carried pleasant vibration originating fromfresh breeze passing through woods creating abeautiful ambiance of a captivating spring holiday. Wewere amused and were absorbing the cherishedsensation of that atmosphere.It had been a largely straight way up till the point fromwhere trekkers have two options of reaching NathiaGali; a shorter way through Miranjani top with aconveniently steep way up along its expanded ridge; ora longer way evading the hike to the top. It was abright day with clear sky so we opted for the hike tohave a scenic view of the entire Galiat vales and snowcappednorthern Himalayas. Soon after the start ofascent along the mountain ridge, we came above thetree line. It was nice to see the clear sky with itspeculiar blue tinge which is seen only at themountains. Bright afternoon offered a beautiful viewof the entire surrounding but took its toll. We weresweating and had to stop now and then to sooth ourbreath but it was nice to have a gradually moreencompassing and wider view of Galiat Mountains.Mukshpuri Top, which has a convenient hike of around90 minutes from Dunga Gali, was appearing starklyattractive with its cluster of trees cantered in the vastmeadows.Top of Miranjani offered a fascinating view of thecities of Abbottabad and Mansehra, a river snakingthrough the valley, misty and blurred view of TarbellaDam's lake and snow covered tops of upper Himalayasfrom Kashmir in the East to Karakorum Highway onPakistan Forest Digest Vol. 1, No. 1, April – June, 2010