Bali pass successfully crossed

We (a team of 4 with 1 guide, 1 camp incharge, and 4 porters) successfully crossed bali pass from yamunotri side on may 18th..

Once I'm back home I'll post a detailed report with pictures..

Just a bit about the route.. We ran into snow starting from somewhere just above lower damini camp and the snow ended just before tange camp on the other side.. There was lot of fresh snow high up on the mountain, and on one of the days we had to face a snowstorm accompanied with a whiteout..

Also just when we crossed the pass from yamunotri side, another team crossed from the opposite side.. So I guess that makes us first teams to cross the pass successfully this season..

Congratulations. Waiting for elaborate report and pics.

Here are pics:

https://picasaweb.google.com/kuntalj/BaliPassTrek#

Detailed report to follow.. a bit exhausted!

Congrats!!
Nice pics, especially those from the pass

Congrats. Nice pics

congratulations dear kunsjoi am too glad that you done it

Thanks everyone!!

Here's the itinerary we followed:

Day 1 - Delhi - Dehradun - ChinyaliSaur (via Uttarkashi shortcut road) - Barkot - Jankichatti
Day 2 - Jankichatti - Yamunotri darshan - Lower Damni
Day 3 - Lower Damni - Damni CG
Day 4 - Damni CG - to - somewhere just before Bali Pass Base (Still on the Yamunotri side)
Day 5 - near Pass Base - Bali Pass - Taange Camp
Day 6 - Taange Camp - Dev Thach
Day 7 - Dev Thach - Seema (Osla)
Day 8 - Seema - Taluka - Sankri
Day 9 - Sankri - Purola - Naugaon - Mussorie - DDN.

A detailed trip report to follow...

hi kunsjoi,im wiling to go for bali pass treck after hearing that you successfully completed so please give me complete detail about guide,porters, cost estimated for the treck and any permit required(if yes any deposit.we are 3 members starting on 11th june from kolkata so as we have less time please provide perfect information with phone numbers of guide and porters.

I've PM'ed you my response.

don't mean to be a pest but if you could post the numbers for the guides and info on the permit business I'd be grateful. planning to do this in the next week or so, and if possible go on to borasu afterwards. thanks for the pictures.

Just wondering if you had to obtain any forest permit along the route. We are starting on 2nd June for Bali pass-DDK combo. Your help is appreciated!!

PS. Fantastic pictures, btw.

hi trektrek can you provide any information about guide number,porters and equipment for rent and other issues about this balipass treck

aaaag hi when are you planning to go for balipass as we are planning to go on 11th june from kolkata.

not sure of the exact date but should be early next week, 7th or 8th. that's departure from delhi, so trek starting date should be 9th or 10th.

we went with an agency on a full package (they organized guide/porters/rations/tents/sleeping bags/equipment etc for us).. So I don't have very much information on how to organize that stuff..

In terms of permits, I remember that when we entered Barkot we stopped at some check post (or forest post?) and did an entry and mentioned that we are going to Bali Pass trek.

On our return journey we had to stop at Naitwar forest post. I think from the conversation I heard between the guide and the forest guy, it seemed like forest guy was demanding 3 days entry fee for each person since this was Bali Pass trek, and he was telling that it's standard to charge for 3 days for a bali pass trek.

Apart from the above, I don't think we applied for any permits etc (now if the agency did then I wouldn't know). Hope the above helps!

In-case you folks have queries about the route, do let me know.

And to answer the question about which side to do Bali Pass trek, after the fact that I've completed the pass, I would still do it from the Yamunotri side. It's challenging from both sides, but I felt Yamunotri side was a "bit" more intense with a rock patch to climb (between Lower and Upper Damni), a steep ascent to the pass (during the last portion), and a bit more inclement weather, which didn't seem to be the case on the other side.