Indrahar Pass without guide, possible?

kinky_lizzard

Hey guys, been a long time but am just back from a bike jaunt in leh and judging from the posts here seems like everyone is doing it this summer
Anyway the point is that am planning a trek across Indrahar pass late september or first week of October (From the pervious thread i figured this would be the best time).
Plan to hike across without a guide / porter etc, so was wondering if someone could help me with the trail once i cross over the pass from "Lahesh cave".
Am taking an Eureka Alpenlite 4 season tent and down sleeping bag other than the usual trekking gear. No crampoons or anything special for the snow, other than waterproof ankle shoes.
Please let me know if there is any specific gear that i am missing here.
Plus i would like ur inputs on doing it without a guide as there is little info i can dig out on the net over the trail (assuming its not a well defined one)
Thanks fellas and keep walking

kidsan

hi! you're the 2nd person to ask this question in the last few days...maybe you'll link up?!

I have been up to lahesh cave twice and the pass once but no further and you can easily do this part with no guide or even a tent. There is a chaishop at the 'snowline' (not there will be snow there for a while) where you can sleep and eat for some rupees and you can also kip in the cave.
The route to the cave is pretty straightforward, and there is a well defined route up to the pass but you need to be careful that you dont stray off it as it makes life a lot easier!

I understand that the other side is less well used and therefore less clear but have met various people who have done it solo no problem. What you may want to do is get to the chaishop or cave and hang around till a group comes along with a guide

You will need to wait for the rains to stop as well which has not been till the end of september the last coupla years though is apparently 'supposed' to be earlier.

Ok, hope this is of some help...K

kinky_lizzard

now thats an excellent idea kidsan, piggyback on some unsuspecting group tracks
I was at snowline cafe this august so thought i'd carry on this time around, but was worried about the route from Indrahar to Kurasi, any tips on that...

himadventures

First leg is steed descending and later on it is all walking in scenic meadows. But ascending and descending from passis only challenge in this trek. Both sections are bit exposed.

kinky_lizzard

any landmarks to keep track of? i was told to keep to the left of the ridge while descending and cross a frozen stream and then i'd hit a meadow

bruce

Hey quick question for you guys... Where is the trail from Triund to the cave? I hiked to triund in a hurry without a guide in november last year. I tried to go a bit futher but I think I went the wrong way. I took a narrow and level path to the right of the ridge well below the gompa but after about an hour the trail became really narrow and hard to see, I had to scramble back and get down to catch my ride out of mcleod ganj. I don't think this was the right trail to the cave and this has been bugging me since.

Was this the right trail? How do you continue to the cave from triund?

kidsan

the trail leaves triund heading pretty much straight uphill at first and then to the right. It is very clear though and it should be pretty obvious when you're on it. It does pass a small shiva temple if that's what you mean. you should also see painted signs on the rocks to snowline cafe which is where you're headed. From the snowline you can actually see the cave (well, the distinctive brown and black rocks above it) and the guy who runs the snowline will point it out.

good luck K

bruce

Thank you for your reply kidsan. I was definitely on the wrong path then. This path was roughly level with the rest house to the north (to the right of the ridge), I didn't go uphill.

I will have to go back and spend some more time there. I would like to make it to the pass and back.

Thanks