Help required for Pindari Trek

Respected Senior Members,

I am planning a solo trek to Pindari Glacier from 22nd Sept to 29th sept. This will be my first trek. Please advise me about the weather, major items to carry with me, any advance booking for accommodation??, regarding porter charges and availability. Is it an easily doable as it will be my first trekking experience.

Thanks,
Ashish

Pindari Trek is a fairly easy trek for a person with basic level of fitness.
There are KMVN guest houses at all the intermediate points of the trek route. While its not necessary to book the trip through KMVN but their guest houses are certainly comfortable. Check if you can book a This is important especially in Phurkiya where its very cold.

I have some contact numbers , maybe these are still valid.
Devendra Prasad (DEBU GUIDE)
Vill - Khati
VIA - PINDARI Route,Khati
PO - BHARARI
DISTRICT - BAGESHWAR
PIN - 263679
UTTARAKHAND
INDIA
PHONE - HOTEL SIDDHARTH (Bageshwar) - 05963220114. We called here and left my number,he called back.
- His second number - 09411049694

I got some other contacts
Bharat - 05963211189
Puran Singh - 05963213070 (Hotel Sangam - Khati )


I made a complete list sometime back before I actually made this trip.

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TREK GEAR
1. Sleeping Bags ( Note there are 2 main varieties of sleeping bags. One is more woolen, for this trek the woolen one is required). We took Wild-craft ones which cost around Rs 2000
2. Sleeping Mats ( You get mats from Rs 100 onwards to Rs 300 / Adventure Sports and Wild-craft both have a wide variety)
3. Trekking shoes ( There is nothing called special trek issues. Its whatever you are comfortable with for at least 20 kms on difficult terrain. As a thumb rule stick to comfortable sneakers/running shoes/basketball shoes that have a good grip). Ensure shoes are not very old or very new.
4. Additional shoe laces 1 pair. Glue/fevi stick to do repairs if needed. ( Shoes are most important part of journey)
5. Socks - few pairs depending on how your feet smells,gets wet.
6. Rucksack that can carry various stuff on all sides ( Again Adventure Sports /Wild-craft Rs 1000 onwards you get a lot of variety.)
7. Carry raincoat with cap facility and that can be easily worn with the rucksack on your back.
8. Adequate clothing. Cargos are best. Jeans are not bad,else any other comfortable clothing including undergarments. No woolen clothes required during the trek. Jackets are required at night and early morning because its very cold.
9. Slippers , to walk around and give rest to feet after a day long trek
10. Torch. Else your day ends with sunset.
11. Watch/mobile/ etc to give alarms , keep note of time/date etc. Mobiles can be switched off to save battery. Most of them still ring alarms.
12. Swiss knifes with functions like knives,openers,scissors etc.



FOOD
1. Good leak proof water bottles to fill and drink spring water. One can carry energy drinks or mix something like Glucon D to get energy.
2. snacks like chocolates/chocolates which provide easy energy, bubble gums which help to build stamina.
3. Chocolates/gums to share with kids on the route
4. Lighter/match boxes, candles etc to aid in cooking/smoking etc if required.



CAMERA/HANDYCAM KIT
1. Ensure your camera is working smooth without problems. Ensure that the straps are perfect and will hold when you walk fast
2. Ensure you have sufficient memory cards, multiple batteries as there are no places either to buy new or download it,no electricity to charge batteries.
3. Ensure you have a good camera bag to keep these things handy. I also see many people use it with belt pouches to also keep money etc.However its best to distribute money on different pockets and also keep some in the bags with porters.


TOILETRY
1. Liquid soap / shampoo/paper soaps ( make sure its not a glass bottle that cna break). Shampoo can double up as liquid soap.
2. Toilet paper
3. hair oil/ moisturizer/deo etc
4. Sunscreen lotion to avoid too much sunburn. Sunglasses with UV protection.
5. Toothpaste/toothbrush/shaving kit etc


MEDICINES
1. Fever
2. Body ache/head ache etc
3. diarrhoea/ amoebic infections , digestion problems etc.
4. Sprains of neck , waist ,backbone etc.
5. Injury of cuts, wounds etc.
6. Zeoline etc to clean water
7. nausea, general sickness of mountains

Thanks a lot Snehansu for this wonderful detailed information.. This information will be very helpful for me. One last question : Is it necessary to carry tent and sleeping bag ?? If yes then where can i get them on rent ?? what will be the approx rent???

Ashish - Sept end is season in Pindari so getting KMVN huts without booking may be tough. Better to book it through their website. If not then tent and sleeping bag are required, else they provide everything.

Thnx Rajat,
which will be cheaper ??? KMVN or tent and sleeping bag... and where can i get that on rent .

KMVN hut is very cheap .. .was around Rs 150 per day , may have increased.
Tents, sleeping bags and mats are available in Bageshwar.
It rains in the afternoon almost everyday , prepare accordingly.

TRH do not need bookings. First come first serve.
There is a TRH in Phurkiya.TRH is there at Dwali too.

Best to take it from Delhi with you. Khati - a few people have it but no certainty of availability.

any specific place in delhi with phone number and rental details. In addition I am alos waiting for your reply on doing pindari , kafni and sunderdhunga together.

Dear Himalayaneagle,
I got some addresses and numbers.... they might be helpful :

CARABIN ADVENTURE okhla delhi,, its site adress is ....Adventure Equipment In India,Adventure Equipment In
Delhi,Camping Equipment In India and phn no is ...91 9873780333,,9818889767,,011416 11082,,01165544434


Camping and Trekking Equipment stores in Delhi and NCR

Trekkers Point
Main Entrance, Mezzanine Floor
PVR Plaza, Connaught Place
New Delhi - 110001
Tel : 23325475, 23323362 Fax:23713245
Mob : 9313709326
mail : eagle@eagle-grp.com coleman@eagle-grp.com

STIKAGE
(Outdoor Adventure Sports Equipment and Tours)
7-UB, Jawahar Nagar-Kamla Nagar, Delhi-110007 India
Phone: 91 11 23850036, 23850026 Telefax: 91 11 23850026
Mobile: Surender Sonik- 9810025536 / Ravi Sonik- 9868064114

Rocksport Outdoor Gear Store
127, Rajendera Bhawan, Rajendra Place,
New Delhi
+91 9811398050
+91 9810215848

Adventure18
Contact: Mohit Oberoi
18, Satya Niketan, (Opp. Venkateshwara College), New Delhi - 110 021 (India)
Ph: +91-11-32970400 Fax : 26878888
E-Mail : mo1@vsnl.com, adventurers18@yahoo.com

Wildventures SF-002
Contact: Kashav Jani
Dlf Galleria Shoping Complex,Dlf City, Phase-Iv
(Above: Sitaram Bhatia Clinic),Gurgaon-122002,Haryana,
Ph: +91-124-4057778, 9313979994, Email: wildventures@vsnl.net

Carabin Adventure
Contact: Rajat Sethi
C-62/3, OKHLA INDUSTRIAL AREA, PHASE-2,
NEW DELHI 110020
EMAIL: info@carabinadventure.com / rajat.sethi@hotmail.com
WEB: www.carabinadventure.com
Telephone:+91-11-41611082 / 65544434
Mobile: +91-9810002676 / 9873780333 / 9818889767

CARABIN INC.
K17/4A, D.L.F. Phase -2,
Gurgaon-122002
Tel.No.0124-4362362,4362636
Fax.No.0124-4362636
Mobile:9811076556/9811615298
Email:yashhanda@yahoo.com

Adventure 18 Noida :
Bhoja Market, Behind Vinayak Hospital,
Sector 27, Noida
(Ph. 0120 2532400)

Chogo Ri - Mr. Hemant Sachdeva
511, Kailash Building
26, Kasturba Gandhi Marg
phone- 01123312783, 01123312787

Han-Yin, Korean Equipment:
B-58
Basement
Sarvodaya Enclave
New Delhi 110017
Rakesh : 98919 40627
Gauvrav : 98919 00627

Himalayan Gear, (previously Dimension Wilderness)
25, Chirag Delhi. Ph: 9350225713.

Shradha Outdoor - Gurgaon-01242561675

Zanskar Outdoor Equipment
Office: Pocket A-2/110 F,
Mayur Vihar, Phase 3,
Delhi - 110096
Workshop: RZ-1174/23, Tughlakabad extension,
New Delhi - 110019
Phone no.: 32961516, 22627453
Mobile no.: 9811676556, 9873323362
Email: zanskar@hotmail.com

Challenger Industries
Phone No. 9810639698 and 9810129698

and when are you planning for Pindari trek?? Please do inform me about your program.

Dear Ashish,
Beware of this guide"Debu" or "Devendra "of Khati.
I had very bad experience of him around year back on my trek to "pindari/Kafani trek"
He is very money minded man & will promise you lot of things.
He has become famous due to"IM" & now he wants to rip apart its members.
This is not only my experience, another respected IM "jyotipg" also had bad experience of him on his "sunderdunga trek"
He had posted the same elsewhere on IM
Pindari & kafni is soft trek (since now you dont have climb Dhakuri top)
You will get many giudes/porters before khati village or last village kharkiya (motorable)
You can contact guide Nandan : cell no 09411661147 for the same he can arrange porter also
Alternatively you can ask both giudes their respective charges & compare
milind

Thanks a lot Milind,

Yes, You are right... Debu has become famous due to IM only.. I spoke to him.. One of my friend Mr. Neeraj Jaat (I hope you know him) also suggested me.. Not to take any guide or porter unless you have heavy luggage with you, as this is a easy trek for beginners also. So I will try to carry minimum luggage and save money. Thanks for Nandan's number, I will call him. Thanks for the help

Dear Ashish,
Jyotipg, senior & respectable IM'er has written on IM a thread " pindari can be done in rs 3500/ " pl go through for pointers
milind

Planning Pindari ,Kafni and sunder dunga (if time and energy levels permit) from 30 sep to 10 oct. No plan.No porter or guide. Just start trekking from loharikhet.
)
I was in delhi today and bought a rucksack(wild craft rs 5300 with top and bottom loading 55 liters)and sleeping bag for rs 2500. Wildcraft is in karol bagh near ratnakar bank. They have a good variety of trekking material and also good customer service but no discounts !.

I want to travel with less luggage but not sure whether i should carry a tent. However I am scared as to what to do if there is no accomodation enroute
What are your plans ?

I am planning only for Pindari from 22nd - 29th september.