Kanchenjunga base camp trek - Dec? March?

sarat

I am planning for a Kanchengunja base camp/GoChela trek.
Hoever winter is fast approaching and i am not sure if i can make it. Guys please help me.

1. Can i do the trek in December? November?
What is the latest (start-end date) i can plan the trek?

2. If i am not able to make it before winter, When will the trek be open again? March? Will March be too hot for trek? (Forgive my ignorance, but down south March is horribe )

Thanks so much for your advise.
Regards,
Sarat

Bhaswaran

Hi Sarat,

Just remember this is a very strenous trek and definitely one of the toughest one. A few trekkers have gone to Goechala but the Kanchanjunga base camp from north sikkim is very hard. Do take asdequate information.

You may do it in early november if heavy snowfall does not start already, then Goechala pass will be inaccessible. KBC is out of question in this period. even in March, there will be snow. do not compare temps that of hyd with this place. over the year, you have to sleep in sleeping bags in these places, and blankets will be of no use. temps often deep into subzero in early summer even. At goechala, you may find snow over the year, so that 0 degrees.

you may do the trek in April/May. there will be pleasant weather, but do not come once the monsoons set in. there are plenty of blood-sucking leeches in the region. be cautious. if possible, bring feather jackets and sleeping bags suitable for sub-zero temps, and a tent will be useful as the trekker huts accomodation often fills up with foreign trekkers, and then you will not get a chance to get in.

happy trekking

Bhaswaran

sarat

ok. so if i understand correctly
KBC - out of question till March and very strenuous.
Gochela - Possible in March. Preferable in April, May.
and also you feel the day temperatures are very cold.

For information of others watching this thread -- i understand that Sept/Nov post-monsoon is the best time for these treks.

Bhaswaran

yes sarat,

sep-nov is the best time, preferably oct-nov, as you get the best views of the peaks at this time. the weather remains mostly clear. avoid new moon and full moon days as the clouds tends to form at this time, maybe due to astronomical phenomenon, due to g-pulls from the moon, remember the tides in seas also soar at this time.

i always prefer nov to photograph peaks.

regards,

Bhaswaran