No one knows exactly what worked but magically, the crucial blood pressure levels of all `on the edge' members came down drastically to fall within the `safe' zone. The surprise was visible on the medical assistant's face who had been recording the statistics for the past few days. In one case, the soldier actually cross checked his reading twice before solemnly announcing the results.

With all members of the 30 member expedition finally cleared for the journey to the Siachen base camp – a ten hour drive that would take place on Tuesday - the mood was jovial in the evening. Further adding to the general happiness was a chat with an officer posted on the glacier – reeling out the `menu' at the base camp, the officer said that chocolates of all kinds and shapes are available aplenty on the glacier. It is doctors advice, he told us, that each meal be supplemented with at least one big bar of chocolate.

Manu Pubby

An Indian Express team begins a trek to Siachen and keeps you posted, every day.