Tuesday 11 Sept - Manali Trek Day 2

10am, it's a late start in light drizzle.

We learn that one of our ponies is 29 years old and one of Amichand's original. It's now on light duties and has developed
resporatory problems.

Continuing from yesterday the track climbs steadily. Something tells me that these hills are a little bigger than the ones back home!

Within 10 minutes of starting to climb our 29 year old pony tumbles and drops to it's knees. Bipin releases it's load, and with a gasp the pony dies and rolles down the hill and into the trees.

With the dead ponies light load resistributed we carry on upwards into the cloud.

As we limb the day warms up and starts to clear.

The track, still slippery causes one pony to slip, doing a backwards summersalt and landing back on it's feet.

Lunch is had sitting in the sun on top of the ridge, clear with fantastic views to the west, cloud to the east.

Another hour clambering down the western slopes to the bush line and we arrive at our camp site (3384m) at 3pm.

In what becomes a common theme almost every day there's a brief thunderstorm and the usual afternoon monsoon rain.