Goecha La Trek

roy_supratim05 · May 5th, 2007, 12:42

Hi guys, I'm new in trekking. Have some experience coz I've already trekked Rothang, Katra Hill (Vaishnu Devi), Menam La (Sikkim) etc. Now I wish to go Goecha La. Can somebody help me knowing about the best season, suitable gears and other tips?? I generally use Ubac gears and Power shoes.

Bhaswaran · May 5th, 2007, 13:30

Goecha La will be tougher than the others you have done. It will also require multiple days, it will be higher. Beware of leeches. carry raw tobacco and salt for them. Put them inside your socks. October-early November will be good, i think. and finally, go at a slow pace as you body will permit.

Try to book the trekkers hut dormitories in advance.

roy_supratim05 · May 5th, 2007, 14:28

Thanx buddy, one more thing that I want to know that, I have a 50 ltr. ruksak, can we carry some weights on our backs?? if yes, how much is feasible?? we are also going to take a yak.

Bhaswaran · May 7th, 2007, 11:04

CaRRY as least as possible. Better if you carry nothing, then u can enjoy more. If you are taking yak, then why yourself carry. Ok, you can carry some soft food, water bottle, and camera with you, and let the yak go at its own pace to the required destination.

roy_supratim05 · May 7th, 2007, 11:21

Thanks again. I saw in the forum that we should take stove, kerosene and foods for cooking. What kind of food should we take?? Flower/Atta or Rice. We are also taking lots of dry foods with us like Biscuits, Breads, Cakes, Nuts, Chattu etc.

Bhaswaran · May 7th, 2007, 12:39

take chal and dal so that you can make khichuri quickly, take some pickles to add taste

arjunm · May 9th, 2007, 00:20

Dear Supratim

I did the Goecha trek a few years back. So here's my two bit of suggestions.

Food: Rice, dal is a good idea. Nothing like a warm plate on a cold night. We carried them. Also, atta for rotis. Chattu is an excellent idea and makes up for a lot. Take plenty with you. You need lots of potato and onions. You can buy them at Yuksum.

Arjun

roy_supratim05 · May 9th, 2007, 12:10

u did the trek recently, so u have a nice experience. could u provide me a rough estimate of costing?? Our schedule is as follows:

Yaksom to Tsoka
1 day stay in Tsoka
Tsoka to Dzongri
Dzongri to Samiti Lake
Samiti Lake to Goecha La and back to Thansing
Thansing to Tsoka
Tsoka to Yaksom

we are a group of 4 and decided to take 1 Yak and 1 porter.
we will journey through NJP and back.

it would be very helpful if u can provide a rough estimate.

Supratim

arjunm · May 9th, 2007, 22:47

Dear Supratim

Your plan seems to be ok. However, a rest day at Tshoka is really not required. The Goecha trek helps you to get used to the altitude in its own sweet way.

However, for folks who are not used to trekking or not fully fit for the trek, an alternative would be to camp at Sachen on Day 1. Sachen is on the foot of Prek river after which it is a steady climb to Tshoka. There's a log hut (that no one uses) and you could camp there comfortably.

In case you are fit, then you could do Yuksum to Tshoka in a day. After which it is rocking climb up to Dzongri. You do feel the height here. Usually next morning, most folks go on to Dzongri top to see the sun hit the Kanchenjunga slopes. That's a further height gain of about 700-800 ft.

After that you drop height up to Kockchurang (again on the Prek) 10,500 ft. This trek from Dzongri to Kockchurang helps you to aclimatise to the effects of altitude. Then it is an hour and half easy trek further on to Thansing and a bit of a height gain.

The rest of your plan is fine.

One Yak and 1 porter is adequate for the 4 of you.

About the costs: well, it is one of the chepeast treks you can do in our country. Your cost is food, permit fees, porter and yak services. Yak will cost you about Rs 300 per day with driver. Porter about Rs 200 per day. Now you calculate. Permit fees I have kind of forgotton but not too much. I think about
Rs 500 per head all put together. Perhaps less.

All in all you can do it at less than Rs 3000 per head from Kolkata to Kolkata.

Arjun

roy_supratim05 · May 11th, 2007, 16:41

one of my friend was asking that is it possible to stay a night in goecha la in camp? I don't have any idea. If anybody of u did that please give me a suggestion. It is certain that it will be very very cold and may be problematic also. But is there any danger?? Please let me know.

arjunm · May 14th, 2007, 17:41

Dear Supratim

Perish the idea. You can't camp at Goecha. Get back to Thansingh.

Arjun

travel joy · May 17th, 2007, 16:48

Hey I agree with Arjun; the extra day at Tshoka is not required. It will be better if you carry that day forward so even if you get bad weather at Goecha la, you can have one extra day for a second attempt.
Camping at Goecha la !!! not good at all for trekkers. If you have some experienced person/guide with you, you can try camping at Zemathang or Chemathang. The sound of the avalanches coming down from the distant mountains at night, will make it pretty thrilling.Beware of the cold though.

roy_supratim05 · May 17th, 2007, 19:07

we decided to not stay in Goecha La. Another thing is in my mind, what about the wind power there in Dzongri and Thansing. Should we use a Dome Tent or the normal one will be ok??

arjunm · May 17th, 2007, 20:48

Dear Supratim

You'll get most of your wind between Thansing and Samiti, where it is a open valley. Not at Thansing because it is at the end of the valley. Dzongri too, not much of a wind -- there could be some at Dzongri top.

Your regular 'A' tents are enough. You don't need the dome tents.

Arjun

travel joy · May 18th, 2007, 17:31

Normal "A" tent will be good enough.
If you cross the ridge infront of the Dzongri trekker's hut and advance a bit towards the path for HMI base camp, there is a lovely meadow with a great view of Pandim and Kabur rock.

You can try camping there if you want, instead of staying near the crowded trekkers hut.
Be a bit choosy about the guide/porter you take.Better take an experienced person who will be able to guide you right upto the pass.
Since you are taking a yak, keep in mind that the Yak man will also share your ration.I have faced instances where the porters in this area were reluctant to go ahead due to shortage of ration, specially rice.So calculate your ration carefully.
Don't forget your raincoats in this area and keep some salt near hand to get rid of the leeches.
Have a great trek.

May 5th, 2007, 12:42	#1
roy_supratim05 Mountain is calling!! Dare to Challange . Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Bengal, Barrackpore Posts: 238	Goecha La Trek Hi guys, I'm new in trekking. Have some experience coz I've already trekked Rothang, Katra Hill (Vaishnu Devi), Menam La (Sikkim) etc. Now I wish to go Goecha La. Can somebody help me knowing about the best season, suitable gears and other tips?? I generally use Ubac gears and Power shoes. __________________ Supratim Please visit my Homepage.

May 9th, 2007, 12:10	#8
roy_supratim05 Mountain is calling!! Dare to Challange . Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Bengal, Barrackpore Posts: 238	Thanks Arjun u did the trek recently, so u have a nice experience. could u provide me a rough estimate of costing?? Our schedule is as follows: Yaksom to Tsoka 1 day stay in Tsoka Tsoka to Dzongri Dzongri to Samiti Lake Samiti Lake to Goecha La and back to Thansing Thansing to Tsoka Tsoka to Yaksom we are a group of 4 and decided to take 1 Yak and 1 porter. we will journey through NJP and back. it would be very helpful if u can provide a rough estimate. Supratim

May 17th, 2007, 19:07	#13
roy_supratim05 Mountain is calling!! Dare to Challange . Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Bengal, Barrackpore Posts: 238	Thanks we decided to not stay in Goecha La. Another thing is in my mind, what about the wind power there in Dzongri and Thansing. Should we use a Dome Tent or the normal one will be ok??

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May 5th, 2007, 13:30	#2
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 964	Goecha La will be tougher than the others you have done. It will also require multiple days, it will be higher. Beware of leeches. carry raw tobacco and salt for them. Put them inside your socks. October-early November will be good, i think. and finally, go at a slow pace as you body will permit. Try to book the trekkers hut dormitories in advance.

May 5th, 2007, 14:28	#3
roy_supratim05 Mountain is calling!! Dare to Challange . Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Bengal, Barrackpore Posts: 238	Thanx buddy, one more thing that I want to know that, I have a 50 ltr. ruksak, can we carry some weights on our backs?? if yes, how much is feasible?? we are also going to take a yak.

May 7th, 2007, 11:04	#4
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 964	CaRRY as least as possible. Better if you carry nothing, then u can enjoy more. If you are taking yak, then why yourself carry. Ok, you can carry some soft food, water bottle, and camera with you, and let the yak go at its own pace to the required destination.

May 7th, 2007, 11:21	#5
roy_supratim05 Mountain is calling!! Dare to Challange . Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Bengal, Barrackpore Posts: 238	Thanks again. I saw in the forum that we should take stove, kerosene and foods for cooking. What kind of food should we take?? Flower/Atta or Rice. We are also taking lots of dry foods with us like Biscuits, Breads, Cakes, Nuts, Chattu etc.

May 7th, 2007, 12:39	#6
Bhaswaran Landscape Photographer Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Kolkata. INDIA bhaswaran@redifmail.com Posts: 964	take chal and dal so that you can make khichuri quickly, take some pickles to add taste

May 9th, 2007, 00:20	#7
arjunm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 213	Dear Supratim I did the Goecha trek a few years back. So here's my two bit of suggestions. Food: Rice, dal is a good idea. Nothing like a warm plate on a cold night. We carried them. Also, atta for rotis. Chattu is an excellent idea and makes up for a lot. Take plenty with you. You need lots of potato and onions. You can buy them at Yuksum. Arjun

May 9th, 2007, 22:47	#9
arjunm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 213	Dear Supratim Your plan seems to be ok. However, a rest day at Tshoka is really not required. The Goecha trek helps you to get used to the altitude in its own sweet way. However, for folks who are not used to trekking or not fully fit for the trek, an alternative would be to camp at Sachen on Day 1. Sachen is on the foot of Prek river after which it is a steady climb to Tshoka. There's a log hut (that no one uses) and you could camp there comfortably. In case you are fit, then you could do Yuksum to Tshoka in a day. After which it is rocking climb up to Dzongri. You do feel the height here. Usually next morning, most folks go on to Dzongri top to see the sun hit the Kanchenjunga slopes. That's a further height gain of about 700-800 ft. After that you drop height up to Kockchurang (again on the Prek) 10,500 ft. This trek from Dzongri to Kockchurang helps you to aclimatise to the effects of altitude. Then it is an hour and half easy trek further on to Thansing and a bit of a height gain. The rest of your plan is fine. One Yak and 1 porter is adequate for the 4 of you. About the costs: well, it is one of the chepeast treks you can do in our country. Your cost is food, permit fees, porter and yak services. Yak will cost you about Rs 300 per day with driver. Porter about Rs 200 per day. Now you calculate. Permit fees I have kind of forgotton but not too much. I think about Rs 500 per head all put together. Perhaps less. All in all you can do it at less than Rs 3000 per head from Kolkata to Kolkata. Arjun

May 11th, 2007, 16:41	#10
roy_supratim05 Mountain is calling!! Dare to Challange . Join Date: May 2007 Location: West Bengal, Barrackpore Posts: 238	one of my friend was asking that is it possible to stay a night in goecha la in camp? I don't have any idea. If anybody of u did that please give me a suggestion. It is certain that it will be very very cold and may be problematic also. But is there any danger?? Please let me know.

May 14th, 2007, 17:41	#11
arjunm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 213	Dear Supratim Perish the idea. You can't camp at Goecha. Get back to Thansingh. Arjun

May 17th, 2007, 16:48	#12
travel joy Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: India Posts: 94	Hey I agree with Arjun; the extra day at Tshoka is not required. It will be better if you carry that day forward so even if you get bad weather at Goecha la, you can have one extra day for a second attempt. Camping at Goecha la !!! not good at all for trekkers. If you have some experienced person/guide with you, you can try camping at Zemathang or Chemathang. The sound of the avalanches coming down from the distant mountains at night, will make it pretty thrilling.Beware of the cold though.

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May 17th, 2007, 20:48	#14
arjunm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 213	Dear Supratim You'll get most of your wind between Thansing and Samiti, where it is a open valley. Not at Thansing because it is at the end of the valley. Dzongri too, not much of a wind -- there could be some at Dzongri top. Your regular 'A' tents are enough. You don't need the dome tents. Arjun

May 18th, 2007, 17:31	#15
travel joy Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: India Posts: 94	Normal "A" tent will be good enough. If you cross the ridge infront of the Dzongri trekker's hut and advance a bit towards the path for HMI base camp, there is a lovely meadow with a great view of Pandim and Kabur rock. You can try camping there if you want, instead of staying near the crowded trekkers hut. Be a bit choosy about the guide/porter you take.Better take an experienced person who will be able to guide you right upto the pass. Since you are taking a yak, keep in mind that the Yak man will also share your ration.I have faced instances where the porters in this area were reluctant to go ahead due to shortage of ration, specially rice.So calculate your ration carefully. Don't forget your raincoats in this area and keep some salt near hand to get rid of the leeches. Have a great trek.