Did this trek more than a decade ago in the last week of October 2011, and was reminiscing the trip with old pictures. Thought to share here and recount some old stories too!
Do excuse the quality of the pictures and video. The camera and phone were even older than a decade :)
Back then, trekking scene was only beginning to get commercialized. I remember how locals would get offended if you offer them money for any food or shelter they provide. In fact, this was my last trek where one Bisht ji downright declined my money. Could only offer chocolates and maggi to the kids.
Bisht ji was the only remaining family in Didna as others had migrated below, across the river, for winters. He was shearing wool (using a huge scissor) off his many sheep and offered the two of us dal-chawal. After a heavy brunch, we asked him about a shortcut (local woodcutter's route) to reach the top of Ali Bugyal. He was bit hesitant, rather concerned, but when we told him we are also Pahadi and quite used to lugging firewood from forest, he gave us directions, pronto. The normal route takes almost an entire day, but the super steep shortcut got us there in few hours!
At Ali Bugyal, we waited for clouds to clear up to get a glimpse of Mount Trishul and it got dark in no time. Pitched the tent in a jiff but realized we were out of water atop a cold desert. Ended up extracting water from frozen slush and mud, in Bear Grylls style! I also had a lot of trouble starting fire for the first time, owing to moisture in the wood we carried. Took a lot out of me but it was needed to boil the water, which we later filtered using a piece of cloth. Thankfully, we had cans of baked beans for dinner.
Next day, nothing adventurous happened, but we did start at 3:30am and the concluded the night at Van at 10:30pm after a full day, and much of the night, of hiking! Those were the days when you had to get back to corporate slavery and time was always limited.
During entire trek, came across just one Korean girl with her guide at Bedni Bugyal (unless counting the biggest Bhutia dog I ever laid eyes on!). There was actually another foreign couple traveling with their cavalcade -- heated tents, silver cutlery, and all the comforts of a leisurely hotel. We didn't meet them as they camped somewhere above Didna, on the route we didn't take. Got to know about this couple and their lavish travel antics years later through a newspaper article.
Wish to do it this trek again sometime. Enjoy the photos.