Day 5: Dodi Tal – Agoda (2200 m)
6 Nov 2025
Despite being tired, did not sleep well. And heard from a couple of the others that they didn’t either. We all heard a symphony of barking in the middle of the night, and speculated that maybe a bear had come too close. Once a dog walked past our tents woofing low and warning.
The morning was clear and cold. We ate a hearty breakfast – forgot what – and left for the long last trek, back to Agoda. I had on my alternate low hiking shoes, but the others had really painful wet shoes on. Though it was a mostly downhill day, that first section from Dodital to the Bhairav temple was mostly uphill. A good (if unwelcome) warmup for the day. Nikki-boo decided to go back with us today, but of course she had to be with the lead hikers – Ak and Vinay. I walked with Ash about half the way, relaxed and chatting.
Brilliant hot sunny day, great views all along our trail.
Stopped for a couple of breaks and lunch at around the ten km mark. More important than lunch: the first point of phone signal after 3 days! I still had to leech off of others’ hotspots, but got a few messages in and out.
After lunch decided to walk with Ak and Vinay who were staying ahead. It was long and hard on my toes. Suffered through 6 more km for a total of 16 km, and walked into Bharat Homestay at Agoda, just as the skies had closed in and started drizzling.
With welcome chai and biscuits, we assembled in one of the rooms to relax and unwind together. And a shower – lukewarm, but hey, filthy trekkers can’t be choosers. A last wonderful dinner cooked by our trek crew out of their magic kitchen wrapped up the day perfectly. Pawan handed out certificates to each of us – a sweet, slightly old-school gesture that made us grin. Tomorrow, the long road to civilization.
