What information did the sannyasi Vijayananda receive in Shirdi that caused him to become distressed during his journey?

In Chapter 31, we learn that the sannyasi Vijayananda became distressed after a conversation in Shirdi. While on his way to Mansarovar, he met Swami Somdevji of Haridwar. The sannyasi inquired about the distance to his destination, and the Swami informed him it was still five hundred miles away, located at the source of the Gangotri. More discouragingly, the Swami described the severe hardships travelers face, such as heavy snowfall and frequent changes in language every fifty miles, which made the journey very difficult for outsiders. Hearing this news, the sannyasi's mind became distressed and he was immersed in worry.