Hike from Trail-1C (Darra Kalinger Trek) & return

via Trail-6 (Faisal Mosque Trek)

(Start Coordinates: 3343'37.10"N 73 01'07.96"E) Elev: 1,975 feet)
(End Coordinates: 3344'42.62"N 73 01'51.89"E) Elev: 1,985 feet)

(Shaikh Muhammad Ali)

3D Google Map of the entire Hike: Maximum Trek Elevation 3,145 Feet

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-

mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on
these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men
and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little
corner of the earth all one's lifetime.___ Mark Twain

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While writing this article I realized that the first time that I went hiking was in 1986
so that makes 31 years of wandering in the wilderness. I was 22 then and I am 52
& a now and hiking is one hobby that I have not given up on, at least yet.
Although, it does get tougher with age but my two boys are the source of
constant inspiration for me who want to achieve bigger targets as they grow up.
I have missed out on writing about many of the escapades that we did since
2013 and thus slowly and gradually I am trying to write about those treks and
hiking trips that we were a part of.

On the 9th of November, 2013; I wake up at 5:00 a.m. and as usual offer my Fajr
prayer by 5:10 a.m., wake up my Wifey who cooks a sumptuous breakfast and
then wake up the kids. After breakfast, we pack our sandwiches and leave the
house by 6:30 a.m. On the way to the hike, we stop by at the Barsa store in
sector G-10, Islamabad to buy snacks and juices. We pick up Raja Ahtesham, a
fellow colleague and ardent hiker from his house around 7:00 a.m. and reach
Faisal Masjid by 7:10 a.m.

All the hikers gather at the parking lot of the Faisal Masjid by 7:25 a.m. and we
start the trek by 7:30 a.m. after taking our first snapshot of the group.

(The group of 12 hikers who accompanied me on this hike)

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 (The board above says it all)

We start the trek by 7:30 a.m. Walk past Gandhian and reach Kalinger within
one hour. We were walking behind the Margalla Green Golf course owned and
operated by the Pakistan Army and thus a restricted area for civilians until
invited.

(The group is passing through Kalinger village here)

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We took our first water break by 9:45 a.m. after walking for some good 2:15
hours. We took out our snacks and had our little picnic.

(Adil my older one is enjoying the sunshine)

(This picture was taken somewhere near Noran Di Gali)

After relaxing for a while we reach the Noran Di Gali spot around 10:30 a.m.
and then started the ascend much faster. Although we were here last year but
due to rains and vegetation growth; we somehow lost our way. There was too

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much vegetation around us and that got entangled in our feet and legs and we
thus got cuts and bruises. After much effort, we were able to find the
connection to the Trail # 6 i.e. the Faisal Masjid trail and ultimately ascended for
a while and then descended.

Earlier, we stopped at a stream after reaching Noran Di Gali and ultimately

stop at a huge Bargad tree and have our sandwiches and drinks. Khawaja
Zaheeruddin Sahib and his daughter could not make it since his daughter was
not a regular hiker and she could not manage the ascent and thus they both
had to return at the early stages of the hike.

(Khawaja Sahib posing with Kalinger village at his back)

Later Khawaja Sahibs son Fauzan also started having problems since he was
also not accustomed to such hiking trips and thus we had to slow down and
accompany him while most of the hikers took the lead and went down fast.

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 (The author on his way down on Trail # 6)

(A view of the Faisal Masjid from the hiking trail)

The bigger group went ahead while Adil, Mohsin, Fauzan and I were trailing at
the back at a much slower pace.

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 (Muhammed Azeem posing with the Trail # 6 board)

This probably was the last hike that Azeem did with us before he left for
California again. During our hiking trips people have been joining and leaving
my hiking group over the years. There used to be a group of almost 30 souls that
I used to hike with some 6-8 years ago but now gathering a group of only 6
takes an effort since people have become busy with their lives, families etc.

Nevertheless, life goes on but we continue to hike and enjoy the peace and
serenity of the Margalla Hills off and on and continue to trek on new trails.

(By 3:30 p.m. we completed our trek and posed for this picture)

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We exchanged our parting good byes and headed for home and reached
here by 4:00 p.m. Had a warm shower, offered our late Zuhr prayers; had a late
lunch and went to sleep for a while.

I would like to leave my readers with a thought that yes, the heart races a bit
faster when you do something out of the ordinary. Yes, there is always some
concern for the self youd be stupid not to be concerned in a place like this.
But if you can just somehow remember that this too will be gone and youll still
be around, courage may see you through. Hiking thus, is a wonderful sport and
if you get a hang of it; it would surely become contagious.

Try it. You will not regret. Adios

Shaikh Muhammad Ali

The Wandering Dervish
E-mail: dushkashaikh@gmail.com
Cell: +00-92-321-5072996
Sunday, 6th Shawal, 1438 Hijri,
2nd July, 2017, 6:20 p.m. (PST)

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