Thin air, heavy aching legs, answering nature's call at -20 degrees, let me take you to an online trek of India's toughest treks.
This blog is for those fellow bag Packers who have the will, strength and mental ability to take on some of the toughest treks in our country. And also hoping that this blog will help other enthusiasts to plan their treks accordingly. Let's Rock n Roll then.
CHADAR TREK :
Where: Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir
Why it's tough : The Chadar Trek takes you across the frozen Zanskar River. Temperature that fall upto minus 20/30 degrees Celsius, harsh terrain and weather, high altitude, and walking nearly 15 Km each day makes Chadar a tough trek. ( This trek comes into top 10 toughest trek worldwide and tops the list in India )
What to expect : Stunning sceneries, unusual campsites, sledges, caves, frozen waterfalls, the ever changing Chadar and the experience of treading through the unbelievable zanskar gorge on frozen river will leave you awestruck.
Ideal Time to Visit : January to March, when the ice on the Chadar is still thick and the day temperatures are viable.
ROOPKUND :
Where : Uttarakhand
Why it's tough : Crossing ice patches and snow paths, climbing to 16000ft, thin air, changing climate and altitude sickness, the Roopkund trek is tough.
What to expect : Along the way trekkers look forward to majestic views, local culture and traditions, the Ali and Bedni Meadows ( largest and most beautiful ib India ), dense forests, varying wildlife, the Kallu Vinayak Temple and of course the Roopkund or Mystery Lake with its mythological stories.
Ideal Time : Before the monsoon ( mid May to end of the June ), when there's snow, and post monsoon ( mid May to end of the June ), when there's snow, and post monsoon ( July to September ), when the melted snow reveals a variety of Flora and fauna.
PIN PARVATI PASS :
Where : Himachal Pradesh.
The treks begins from Khir Ganga, Crosses over to Spiti and ends at Manikaran, a religious place for Sikhs.
Why it's tough : Trekking to more than 17,000 Ft, rough terrain, snow, glaciers, ill defined trails, difficult gradients and a steep incline are some of the challenges that trekkers encounter.
What to expect : The scenery en route is unique and breathtaking. The trek starts with forests, Meadows and waterfalls for company and finally crosses to Spiti, a dessert.
Ideal Time : The end of June and last week of September till October.
Snow Leopard Expedition
Where : Hemis National Park,Ladakh.
Why it's tough : The rough terrain of Hemis National Park, freezing temperatures, challenging night where you have to take a leak at -20 degrees and high altitude will taste your endurance.
What to expect : Spotting a Snow Leopard, Blue Sheep, Argali ( a large horned Sheep ), numerous mountains and migratory birds and the Tibetian Wolf give wild life enthusiasts much to look forward to.
Ideal Time : February to March when the Snow Leopard descends to the Valley.
Stok Kangri
Where : Ladakh in Jammu & Kashmir.
Why it's tough : at 20,000 Ft, Stok KangriIis India's highest trekkable summit. While it is a nin technical peak ( no climbing equipment needed ), high altitude , oxygen deficiency, breathing problems, headaches, altitude sickness, dry terrain, crossing glaciers and rivers with the current that can whisk you away, makes it India's toughest treks.
What to expect : The weather changes post 12 Pm, hence it's better to stay out early on the last leg of the trek. It takes approximately 16-17 hours at one stretch ( at a very slow pace ) from the base camp (16,000 Ft ) to the summit (21,000 Ft ) but the overwhelming Markha Valley, and the adrenaline rush of climbing to 20,000 Ft leaves you speechless.
Ideal Time : Mid June to September, when the ice has melted.
This is my smallest attempt to help fellow backpackers. I hope the above article/blog was bit informative and easy to adopt or understand. Any suggestions or queries are always welcome..Keep Exploring.. BooM.. :)
Day 1
