Information about Rupin Pass

AndreasW

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AndreasW

ani rch

Thanks.I will try to contact them.

AvidTrekker

Thanks Andreas

You are a gem, as always
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arjunm

Hi Everyone

Good to see some thread on Rupin Pass. We are a group of about 15 who are doing it this June end.

Any ideas where we can pick up porters? Any phone numbers? Also, will mules tread this trail around June end?

Anyone want to join us, do let me know.

Arjun

uttam

Try to get porters at Netwar itself. Guide can be hired from any of the villages enroute if you don't pick one at Netwar. Keep Sankari option only for the last because people from Sankari are more familiar with Har-ki-doon area rather than Rupin. You can think about Jairam from sankari too.
All the best!

arjunm

Hi Uttam

Good to see you writing back. Because you are the local expert on Rupin Pass here are some more questions for you:

1. When you went there last time, what was the size of your team? Did you face any logistics problems?

2. How many porters were there in your team?

3. How did your teamates fare? Did all of them cross over to the Kanda side? How was their general fitness level?

4. Did your teamates carry any load or did the porters carry everything?

5. Could you give me day 1, day 2 campsite locations? And average walking time that it took to cover the distance (a guess from your memory will do, need not be very accurate. It is just for us to get a range)?


Arjun

uttam

Arjun, the team was of 18 including five girls when started from Dhaula. I was the 19th member but joined them three days later at the pasture above Jakha village. Last year Dhaula was the last motorable point. So it was first camping place. Then, they camped (2nd day)near sewa village. Team stayed at a Govt. rest house at Jiskon (3rd day). 4th Day Hudaknaal- place where route winds across Rupin to follow the Nalgan pass route.
They were going very slow because our team consisted of 13 first-time-trekkers. I started three days later and managed the distance in one day to catch-up with them at Hudaknaal. So you can guess its not so long to keep four days to cross habitable part of Rupin. You can be flexible according to your team.
We carry everything on our own (including ration) except kitchen equipments and vegetables.
Team started with 2 porters but hired one more at Jiskon (porter-cum-guide)because main guide was a bit nervous owing to snow condition in the area.
Ponies do traverse the area but doesnot go across the pass in June. However, ponies can be taken till the pasture near the famous waterfall.
We did not have to do with logistic problems.
Two of members fell ill (alt. sickness.) All new members had mild headache. Severe to mild snow blindness to 7 members. Our guide was 8th member and had severe snow-blindness.
Everey one made it to Sangla. Fitness level at the outset was O.K (All university students).
Trek is not notorious but our team suffered because of heavy snow and new people were a bit negligent. Whereas guide broke his glasses in the way.

I'll be back with more on your fifth question.
Addios!

arjunm

Uttam

Two things cross my mind as I read your account.

One, you are a fast trekker. No matter how slow your group is, covering distances of three camps in one day is like moving at gallop speed. Good for ya, and I would love to trek with you someday.

Two, actually it is a question. I haven't head of this place before -- Hudaknaal. Is this the meadows just before you approach the lower water fall?

Finally, if you could give me the walking time distances of your campsites, it would really help. And now that I know your speed, don't give me your time! Give me an average time of any memeber of your group!

Did you take temperatures when you were up there? Any idea how cold it got?

Arjun

uttam

Arjun,
Hudaknaal is little known by its name. I too did not know about it before I went there. It is about one an half hour ahead of Jakha beyond stretch of Jungle. There is a diversion for Nalgan pass route near this place. If you go up the Rupin valley in June, chances are that you will encounter some bit of winter snow here itself. Surwas Pasture is still ahead of this place.
My team members took 5-6 hours to reach Sewa from Dhaula. They camped little ahead of the Sewa village. To reach Jiskon they trekked 5-6 hours again the next day. There’s a little hike near Jakha, so it took 6-7 hours for them to reach the camping site (Hudaknaal) beyond the forest above Jakha from Jiskon.
Here’s some fares to reach Rupin valley.
Bus/Jeep fare:-
1. Dehradun to Purola =Rs. 112/-
2. Purola to Mori =Rs. 35/-
3. Mori to Netwar (Jeep) =Rs.10/-
4. Netwar to Dhaula [(jeep) 11kms] =25/-
There are two places for night stay at Dhaula. These neither pinch your pocket nor force you to compromise your hygiene concern unless you are used to big hotels and not open to idea of clean Dhaba. These two charge Rs.50-75 for dinner & night stay.
Dhauli is situated at the confluence of Istergad and Rupin streams. Istergad originates near Chansal/chanseel ghati. There is a waterfall at 20 minutes walk from these hotels. Dhaula village has got a micro HEP too. From Dhaula there is another shepherd’s trail along Istergad to Chanseel ghati. Villagers of Dhaula, Adwadi and Bitri who use pastures of Istergad valley hold that this trail is prettier than the Rupin.
Are there any takers for Chanseel Bugiyal through Istergad valley????
Those who are interested in Baraadsar lake-Kukurkaandi taal- Third lake (name do not remember) & and Bhedwa + one more waterfall trail to Sangla-Chhitkul, can approach from Duni-Mushri villages too.
If you are a small group and do not want to camp at/near Jakha, a very helpful village businessman takes in trekkers for meager amount of money. Few westerners went on to stay with his family for weeks. His is a decent wooden house. As I am bad at names, i am unable to recollect this gentle soul’s name. His house is first one if one approaches Jakha from Jiskon side.
Arjun, i am at best a normal trekker with average ability.I took less time because i stopped in between just to eat, drink and to speak with locals. It would be nice to trek together, let's see when our time and plan matches.
we had nothing with us to record temperature. We did observe thin layers of ice-film over minor brooks on Surwas pasture and above the waterfall everything was white (you can observe in the photographs).

ani rch

Thanks.
this information will help me too.Can you tell me about the baradsar lake and the others two little bit more.Did you go there? Is there any trails from where we can visit the lakes and the pass both without returning back.I mean is there any connecting trail between these two?

Dilliwala

uttam,
I'm a bit curious about where Dhaula is. I take it it's upstream the Rupin. I've been to Naitwar's sangam-point (Rupin/Supin), i.e. start of the Tons. How far is Dhaula from the sangam and what's the condition of the road? How much further does it go beyond, if at all?

grizzlyofalaska

Hello guys,

I am not a treker but i am inspired by nature and I think I would have been a treker if i had a group of peoiple who had encouraged me during teenage years. Anyways, I have recently quit my job to travel and I was wondering where shoudl I start if I want to seriously trek in India. Also, do you guys trek alone. My concern is even in a group what if you are chased by wolves and bears? How likely is it? Sorry if I am being paranoid but any safety tips will be helpfull. Also as someone new to trekign I would like to find a group or a treking community any ideas where i should start looking? In or outside Indiamike?

Regards,
grizzly

uttam

Ani, i have not been to Bradsar. The trail to Barradsar starts from Dhaula via Bitri village along left bank of Rupin. shephereds of the area are said to be familier with the trail. Villagers say a few years back a foreigner couple went to Barradsar ,however, they are not sure where they ended up. This trail reaches Sangla valley, so i guess, there has to be a pass. But the question remains which pass? As Andreas says " it's explorers' territory! Please support us with informations and pics..." if you happen to do the trail.

Dilliwala,
Dhaula is on right bank of Rupin and about 11 kms away from Netwar. Till last year unmettled road existed on which only Jeeps used to ply. Situation might have improved by now as road construction work was going on when i was there.

Grizzly,
I trek with groups and alone both. I am yet to hear that someone was chased by wolves in the Himalaya. Sometimes bear can pose danger. But its freak. According to food habit of bear, 90 percent of their food basket comprises veg. articles.
I remember my manirang pass trek where a bear came near our tent sniffing the left over food we threw. Basically, we invited trouble for us. The bear was not bothered about our presence. He/She was too preoccupied with the business of getting food and left after sometime.
Once a local advised to me to run down hill if chased by a bear. His reasoning was their sense of balance is not as good as humans and their long hairs partially cover their vision during down hill chase. It makes them uncomfortable.
You can join youth hostel groups or if interested in rupin pass, think about trekking with Klysamik or Arjun and his group. He has invited all.

arjunm

Hi Uttam

Thanks for the info. I was up away doing a little trek in Himachal and didn't log in.

Meanwhile, I am going to be pumping you with a few more questions on Rupin, so just keep a close eye on this space.

Arjun

arjunm

Uttam

Here is another Rupin Pass question for you. After Hudaknaal, what was your next camp?

2. How long did it take your team to climb from the foot of the waterfall to the top of the waterfall camp?

3. How long was the pass day for your team?

Arjun