On the bright but not so early morning of February 10th, the grade 9 students embarked on a strenuous but interesting journey to the whimsical hill station of Nainital. After arriving at the airport fashionably late, with students forgetting their IDs (they “didn’t think they’d need it” ) and parents saying their final goodbyes, the two-hour buffer time saved us. 100 photos and some chaos later, we finally entered the airport, but not before three chip packets, two lollipops, and a big box of cereal were confiscated. The collective thought of “Why wouldn’t you hide the cereal better?” amused us as we boarded the plane to Bareli, one step closer to our destination.
After the short and uneventful flight, students were amazed by Bareilly Airport’s single commercial flight—ours. The smallest airport in India made for a quick exit, and we split into Innovas for the “4-hour” journey to Nainital. Little did we know, 4 hours was way off. 20 minutes in, chaos erupted. A sudden screech of brakes and a lurch forward—Car 5 had been in a collision. Turning around to see the decimated bonnet of the unknown car behind us, we felt gratitude for each other—and our seatbelts. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and after some rearranging, we continued, determined to enjoy the drive through the mountains. Finally, we arrived in Nainital.
The next morning began with learning basic mountaineering skills like bouldering and artificial wall climbing. The real challenge came later—jumping off a 30-meter cliff while friends yelled embarrassing things. The scariest part was trusting the harness, but in the end, I guess that speaks to our trust issues more than anything else. The Mall Road is an integral part of each hill station, bringing it to life with food, shops, and culture. That evening, we explored Nanital’s Mall Road, where Sakleys’ famous hot chocolate and chocolate truffle cake were a highlight. We bought pink and blue bunny ear earmuffs, which would have normally looked like the obvious tourist trap but we turned them into a bonding symbol and explored local stores for candles and keychains.
Day 2 was supposed to start with a sunrise hike, but after grumbling at the 4 AM wake-up time, it was postponed to 7:30. We moved on to climbing an actual mountain and learned “jumaring,” an ascension technique for vertical climbs. After lunch, we had “down time”—which really meant poker, Monopoly, and endless chatter. Later, we explored the Tibetan market, filled with locally woven shawls, and visited vibrant local temples. The night ended with a bonfire, and we tried to roast marshmallows (“tried” because using metal forks only ended with a lecture and an almost burnt jacket), and off-key singing.
Day 3 was supposed to be “The Challenge.” After a short drive and a 20-minute hike, we arrived at a breathtaking valley. A river, so blue it looked dyed, flowed between two mountains lined with pine trees. It was so stunning that fear faded. The planned activities—rappelling into the river and ziplining over it—felt almost easy after our training. We spent hours by the river, reluctant to leave. That night, we went out for a final dinner—where disaster struck.
Between pizza and rolls, something went wrong. Six or seven people were suddenly sick. Those unaffected packed their bags and others. This crisis bonded us in an unglamorous but undeniable way. The ride down was dreaded, but with everyone equipped with puke bags, we miraculously only stopped three times. As we descended into Mumbai, pollution never felt more welcoming—we were home, bonded by memories of an unforgettable trip.
A student summed it up: “The trip was a great experience, allowing me to connect with nature and classmates. As a new student, it helped me feel at home in the Ascend environment.” Another, simply put, “Nainital was a chaotic, unique trip where the best moments weren’t planned but lived.”
