From Malari to Milam

VSK Sharma

Thanks for the links.Most of the info is with me. Lets hope to complete it without any problem.

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enimsaj

Is this trip planned for Sept 2008? I'm looking for a trip that I can join in the Garhwal area from mid-sept to end of sept and it wasn't clear when you are going .. thanks.

trooooon

Hello all,
I am planning to do the Malari Milam trek too, in october. not finding much info, save for this post in India Mike -

Tibet is just 3 passes away

. . . it seems. "Unta dhura (the ridge shaped like a camel back), Jandi Dhura and Kingribingi dhura( because of the convoluted way), you are in Tibet.
But for Malari, one has to cross Unta dhura and camp at Topi dunga and then go across Khinger pass to Lapthal and then onto the road head at Sumna and finally Malari.
It seems there are two routes from Topidunga to Malari. One is the above route and the second one seems to be along Girthi river by-passing the the disputed territory of Lapthal and Barahoti which constitute the middle sector in India-China contention over actual border. Google earth which shows the line of actual control does n't show Lapthal to be in Indian territory.Very few trekking parties who went to that area also visited Lapthal as per the trek reports.
Someday I think I should be able make it as the tentions ease between the two countries."

I wrote to Harish Kapdia, and i thought i'd share his response -

Dear Tarun,

Good to note that you are undertaking some relatively unknown treks.

The Malari-Unta Dhura-Milam trek is beautiful. Not great difficulty at all as there is a beaten path which is even fit for mules. ITBP keep moving on the area. That brings us top main difficulty-- ITBP itself ! The permits can be obtained from Gopeshwar to start but they do not issue permits for photography. ITBP makes big fuss over it and has asked people to deposit camers and even mobile phones with camera! It becomes difficult to collect these cameras in case of a circular trip like this. So try and use some contact (only that works in India!) to sort this if you can.


Hope you will enjoy this lovely trek

Harish

PS. I think trekking is best done in groups of 2 or 3 without guide or porter, and i strongly advocate getting lost! and i'm crazy about cooking at an altitude!

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what if . . . maybe . . . say . . . suppose!

Almoraboy

hey troon, were you actually able to contact harish kapadia? wow, that guy is like my role model in life.
maybe someday i will also be lucky enough ...

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Trek blog over here

trooooon

yeah i just wrote the mail, i was shocked to get a prompt reply!
my role model too!

Musk

Guys you plan a good trek but I think this area is not open for trekkers at all by order of the Govt.

Almoraboy

no, it is open. many ppl have done this trek before. in fact, i met some on my trip to milam village. they had reached lilam and had started from joshimath.

rajkumar

Getting lost on the desputed international border with China is no fun, I guess. Infact this is one of the reasons given for not issuing permits by the administration.

trooooon

hey raj,
don't u think it might be the experience of a lifetime?
any way, its not the getting lost which is coveted, its the satisfaction of finding your own way as opposed to holding onto someone's pinky as they lead you across a path they've trodden a thousand times before.

that's my pov any way . . . and i don't think i quite get yours!

and i speak froom an experience on umasi la, where we did get lost, and crossed the width of the glacier over a million crevices, which was not required at all. but we made it across, and lived to tell the tale, and that's what makes it special.

i'm quite convinced.
but opinions are welcome

rajkumar

hello troon,
On normal treks I would love to get lost without guide. But this is a trek that passes through disputed territory. And it involves crossing high passes like Khinger and Untadhura. And a guide is a must. Tresspassing into a foriegn land could generate something like this:
Briton treks into Uttaranchal jail

VSK Sharma

Well to me it is not a good idea to be lost in mountains. Any info about the last check post in Garhwal before one crosses Untadhura into Kumaon.

ashutosh69

Apparently its Gangapani..

Because one can see a well construted check post in Google Earth!! I shall try to create and send you that particular kml file. Gangapani is just below the pass...a good distance away from the Topidunga camp

VSK Sharma

Thanks, I look forward to seeing it.

ashutosh69

Check here
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=31.03... 11&t=h&hl=en

and I have attatched the kmz file with this message. Open it in Google earth. You can see some checkpost like structures about 100 mtrs East and about 100 mtrs west of that placemark called Gangpani1

Attached Files

Gangpani1.zip (765 Bytes, 15 views)

gaurav_pande70

The altitude of 3000 meters over and around Milam glacier spreads upto 37 sq kms around 52 noticeable high peaks. The climatic condition in Nanda Devi biosphere, range from temperate to alpine. The monsoon season showers active rainfall due to ongoing low level cyclonic circulations. The withdrawal is by and large close to 15 Sep and at most occasions get delayed to early October. The delay equation for October 08 is more paramount. Winter sets quickly by late October and continues till April. This is the longest season of the year. Alpine vegetation is predominant above 3500 mtr and extends right upto the snowline.

Precipitation: Precipitation both in from of rain and snow is experienced in this region. The South-west monsoon causes heavy and widespread rain all over this area. The monsoon breaks in occasionally seen and continues to bring rain to the whole area till the middle of September. Very heavy snowfall is experienced frequently through out the winter season at an elevation of 2200 mtr and above. Snowfall varies locally and may be thicker on northern slopes than on their south facing counterparts.

Temperature: The temperature conditions vary with altitude, aspect and physiography . In summer the mercury usually does not rise more than 22° C at higher elevation and 32° C in the valleys at lower regions. On the high altitudes during winter the temperature remains below the freezing point during the day, for many weeks .

Winds: The glacial basins and the upper slopes experience strong diurnal winds. Strong winds are regular features on the higher slopes for a couple of hours after sunrise to sunset, though nights are invariably calm. The diurnal winds produce clouds in the afternoon hours with the onset of the SW Monsoon , there is considerable inflow of warm air up the gorge resulting in a high mist over the high meadows. This warm air has a profound effect on the winter condition that continues late into the summer season. The winter snow rapidly melts under the influence of these warm winds.

Sky: In the month of Sep the state of the sky may vary from partly cloudy ( 3-4 Octa ) in morning hours to generally cloudy ( 5-7 Octa covered ) in the evening hours. This month the catchments receive second highest total rain of the year as the highest rainfall is received in the month of Jan. Rain/Drizzle can be expected very frequently during the evening hours. However, during the month of Oct ,state of the sky remains partly cloudy and occasionally ( upto 6 hrs duration ) becoming generally cloudy.

Temperature: The temperature as generally 14-17°c between these periods reducing to 08°C during night hours. During rain/drizzle in the night hours minimum temperature may even drop to 03-04°C.

Visibility: Visibility remains between 04-06 Kms through out this period. Visibility generally reduces to 1000-2000M in case of Rain/Drizzle and upto 3000M in early morning haze.


Gaurav, in case this is copied from other sources, please provide a link, as per our copyright rules. Thanks

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gaurav