April trek: Dodital - Darba - Hanuman Chatti

brightongirl

Hi All

I'm new to this forum, so advance apologies for asking any questions already answered elsewhere - but I couldn't find the specific info I am looking for.

My partner and I are hoping to trek from Uttarkashi to Dodital, Darba pass and Hanuman Chatti in April. We are both reasonably fit, resourceful and used to finding our way around new places. So we are wondering whether it's feasible to do this trek on our own, without porter / guide. What do you experienced people think?

Is trail info / map available locally in Uttarkashi? What kind of weather and temperatures can we expect in mid-April?

Any opinions and pointers gratefully received.

Petra

tasuray

You can go upto Dodital without a guide or porter.But after that it is difficult to negociate to hanuman Chotti without a guide b'coz there is no definite trail for it.

brightongirl

Thanks for the info, Tasuray. I guess we can negotiate something when we get there.
Do you have any idea what temperatures / weather we can expect in mid-April?
Thanks
Petra

tasuray

In mid April it will be not too cold normally. Light woolen will do.As in pre monsoon, generally weather is good with a chance of rain after noon but may not be for a very long period.But due to global warming weather is changing fast and becoming unpredictable.
wishing you a happy trek.

solo_trekker

Hi...

The Dodital Trek is one of the few treks I have done in a large group... And with a Guide... All my trek-mates were from Mumbai and I was the only one from Delhi...

The route till Dodital is fairly straight forward... You start off at Sangam Chatti and spend the night preferably at Agoda... There are lotsa ups and downs all the way till Dodital... We did it in pouring rain and negotiated atleast a dozen odd varying sized landslides...! But April should be lovely... The Rhododendrons would be in full bloom - Actually they already are, because of unusual warm weather - and so, these flowers might no longer be around...! Anyways...!

The route is fairly fine till Darba Top - You can actually see Dodital when you are right on top - At Darba Top...! So, you know where you are headed...

The problem happens when you cross over the watershed from the Ganges River Valley to the Yamuna River Valley... After Darba Pass... Along the Ridge at Darba Dhar... The route kinda meanders along here... Lots and lots of tiny paths in all directions... A compass might not be of great use because the real route never goes in just one single direction...

But, on the other hand, it can still be done... Am sure you will meet other trekkers at Dodital... Or the two-three shopkeepers that are there will help you out... Had met a solo trekker from Korea on the route... Just make sure you leave Dodital early in the morning... The night halt would be at Sima... And the next day, on to Hanuman Chatti...

Have a great trip...!

Cheers...!

urvashi

Hi brightongirl
Me and my husband done this trek in October 08. I would like to share my experience with you. I don't know your day to day plan but for Dodital one should go via Uttarkashi. From the bus stand you will get jeep till Sangamchatti. Generally if you want to go by a share jeep you will have to wait a long time otherwise you can hire the whole jeep for that 12 km. road and believe me its beautiful. Try to reach Sangam chatti befor evening. If you hire the whole jeep it will cost 200-250, in share jeep (not available generally) 20 Rs. each.After you get down there some thikedars will come to you to ask for the guide and porters. Bergain with them 200-250 per day is the rate + food. No need to take the guide seperately take one porter he will do the work of guide, porter, cook everything. But one person to show you the route is must because there are many ways to reach Dodital and if you don't follow the proper one there can be lot of troubles as you will pass through dense jungle. Till dodital it is 26 km. not very hard but only up up and up, last 2 km. is only down. If you start early in the morning from Sangam Chatti then reach Bhebra gate for the first day halt. The place is really beautiful. next day go upto dodital . From dodital you mainly need the help of a porter to show you the path till hanuman chatti. April is the best season to find varity of flowers and weather is also good.
Happy trekking.
Urvashi

aman_pruthi

Hi Urvashi,

We are also planning Dodital in march, wanted to ask, we have our own tents and sleeping bags, do we need to have these for porters as well? and what about food-ration and stove and utensils and kerosene, do porters cum guides cum cook stock them at sangamchatti ready to leave the day we come or should we bring our own and lastly what about their food ration?

urvashi

Hello aman_pruthi
Tll dodital The porters can make their own arrangement. But after that they will also need the tent. food-ration, kerosene all you collect from Uttarkashi beyond that nothing can be arranged. We had arranged every thing from Kolkata except kerosene which we managed from Uttarkashi. When the porter will cook for you of course their food will be provided by you only.

aman_pruthi

thanks alot for the info
And one more thing, what about stove and utensils? Will porters have these for rent or we have to arrange?

urvashi

We had a small pressure cooker, stove and utensils with us but we found some other groups for whom all the arrangements were done by their guide. But they had a talk with their guide from kolkata beforehand.

aman_pruthi

Thanks Urvashi that was very helpful.

swapanmehra

Hi,
Im also planning this trek with some friends in Mid April.

Just wanted to check two things:
1. How many days are required including descending from Hanuman Chatti via Yamunotri.

2. In april will the weather/ snow pose a problem to cross over to Hanuman Chatti.

Thanks,
Swapan

austinivor

Hi,
here's some info. I've done Sangam Chatti to Dodital, straight, in 8 hrs....But you can stop at Bebra , 4 hrs from Sangam chatti, for the night. leave early next morn and yre in dodital by 11 am. spend thae day at the lake and start the next day, early morn,for the long ascent thru the gorge up to Darwa pass, the watershed of Yamuna/ganga waters. this should take max 3.5 hours, then its mostly traverses and down hill to Seema meadow for the night halt. there are 2 shepherd huts there, minus roof planks usually, and good water streams, you may get snow on the way down for sure. Leave next morn descending from Seema thru thick forest to Kundola village , on to Nisni gaon and to Hanuman chatti. the descend takes 3.5 hrs only. if yre doing Yamunotri the next day, on foot, its 15km from hanuman C and just 5 hrs, but you can get a jeep to Janakichatti abt 9km away and trek the last few kms which are a climb. stay the day in an ashram aand return the same way the next day, its a pleasant walk actually, just 5 hrs max.
Dodital will be abt 8 deg at night and Seema meadows too, you get views of bandarpooch peak from there. You WILL NEED a guide for the Darwa top to Hanmaan Chatti crossing as paths are quite vague. I met 4 from Slovakia, lost for 24 hrs on top, till they met a group .You will have to carry food for the day over the top as there is abs nothing once you leave Dodital, best take Parathas, boiled eggs/omellettes from Dodital !!!

Ive done this route twice from Hanuman Chatti climbing to Seema on to Darwa top after passing Kinasaur top, and down to Dodital and Sangam chatti, always in end September. Its a nice trek Enjoy
Austin

aman_pruthi

Hey, I just completed Dodi-tal trek last week, had 20 hours of continuous snowfall and about 2 feet of overnight snow at dodital. Couldn't attempt Darwatop as locals said there would be 6-8 ft snow up there. itinerary we wanted to follow was

day 1) sangamchatti - manjhi
day 2) manjhi - dodital
day 3) dodital - darwa-top - seema
day 4) seema - hanumanchatti

but ended up with...

same till day 2
day 3) dodital - agoda
day 4) agoda - sangamchatti (both days can be easily combined)

another point is locals told it has almost never snowed this heavy in march ever in the past at Dodital.

aman_pruthi

Link to pics...incase you want to have a look

http://picasaweb.google.com/lifesaysiloveyou/