Trek partners reqd: Lamkhaga/ Rupin Pass- Sep-Oct 08

ashutosh69

Hi Guys

Just have been able to shake off the DDK Pass hangover and am bitten again

Propose to do a twin pass trek starting from Harsil at Bhagirathi Valley, move up the Jalandhari Gaad to Lamkhaga Pass (5280 mtrs), go down till Baspa River onwards to Chitkul and Sangla and move on to Rupin Pass (4600 mtrs) following Rukti Gaad and get down to Rupin Valley, proceed on to Netwar in the Tons river valley.

Below is the proposed itinerary.

Members interested to join in may please nominate themselves in here. Prior experience of cross country treks and snow challenge would be welcome and preferred. We expect fresh snow during the trek.

The map and Itinerary follows in the next post

ashutosh69

Triple Valley Exploration– Bhagirathi- Baspa and Rupin Valley
Delhi- Harsil- Lamkhaga Pass (5282 Mtr)- Chitkul- Sangla- Rupin Pass (4625 Mtrs)- Netwar- Delhi
Day 1- Uttarkashi – Harshil (14 Hrs drive H 2600 Mtrs)
Start early morning from Delhi. Reach Uttarkashi after 10 Hrs. Start for Harsil in Jeep after lunch. Reach Harshil, 26 km before Gangotri, late in the evening.Stay at Hotel

Day 2- Harshil – Gangpani (10/11 Kms 06 hrs H 3270 M)
Start trek after breakfast next morning for Gangpani due North along the Jalandhari Gad. The trail rises slowly through walnut, pine and birch forest. Stop for packed lunch. After 03 hrs the path eases and crosses pastures where the valley widens, rocky parts near the river bed lead to Gangpani. Check camp dinner & overnight at camp

Day 3- Gangpani - Kyarkoti (10/11 km. 06/07 hrs H. 3790 M)
Morning after breakfast at camp, then cross the river by a log bridge to the other side proceed over grassy slopes and streams. Packed lunch en route. Gain height gradually and reach the beautiful Kyarkoti meadow. On arrival check into camp, dinner & over night at camp.

Day 4- Kyarkoti - Snout of Lamakhaga Glacier.( 5/6 Kms 05 Hrs H.4435M)
In the morning after breakfast at camp start off on trek. Soon, the path divides; the right branch climbing towards Chhotkhaga Pass (5150mts). For the Lamakhaga, cross the river again and move upwards by keeping the river to left, up till the snout of the glacier. On arrival check camp Diner & over night at camp.

Day 5- Lamakhaga Glacier --Pass 5282 M – Baspa Glacier (08 Hrs H.4300M)
In the morning after breakfast at camp, climb along edge of glacier over moraine which is marked by a line of chortens. Slanting NNE, go up steep snow slops between ribs and possible crevasses to the broad saddle of the pass in 6-7h. Commence the descent with a very steep 75m on snow, heading NE to easier snow slops on the Baspa Glacier, finishing on scree and moraine below its base at the right side. Proceed lower down to camp at Gainder Thach, some 5km form the pass. On arrival check camp Diner & over night at camp

Day 6- Baspa Glacier/Gaindar Thatch– Jangthang ( 5/6 Hrs H.3750M)
Morning after breakfast at camp, Follow an improving trail on the N side of the Baspa River. The route winds and several channels cut through the sandy bed. Pass through the camp ground of Nithal Thaur and Surthi Thathang, fording several turbulent streams to arrive at Jangthang camping site. On arrival check camp Diner & over night at camp.

Day 7- Jangthang – Chitkul – Sangala (06 Hrs H.2835 M /35 km drive)
Morning after breakfast at camp, Continue without much incident in 2hr to Thathang with the valley broadening all the time. On nearing Chitkul, 15kms, trees appear on the slopes. This is roadhead for buses, and PWD REST house. Hire Jeep for 35 Kms drive to Sangla. On arrival check into camps, dinner & over night at camp/ rest house.

Day 8- Sangla Rest day

Day 9 - Sangala – Nuru (12 km H 3600m)
In the morning, after breakfast at camp, cross a wooden bridge over the Baspa and follow trail SW up the right of the Rukti Gad to Sangla Kanda (Kanda Digri) in 7kms. Working along the valley slopes, pass through the hamlets of Palwachang and Kangalti to arrive at Nuru camp ground at the confluence of Rukti Gad coming from the left and Daundaro Garang which rises from the slopes of Rupin Ghati (pass) and flows down on your right.

Day 10- Nuru –Rupin pass 4625 M. – Dhanras Thach (H.3450 m.14 km by trek)
Morning breakfast at the camp then Ascending W towards the pass the valley narrows. The path runs close to the sandy bank of the Daundaro stream and hugging the stream reaches a point at 4000mt about 5km from Nuru. where it divides. To the right lies Guans Ghati (4795m), and straight ahead (WSW)Rupin Ghati a steep climb of 2.5km leads to the top and a panoramic view of several Kinnaur peaks. On the other side, go down a small glacier steeply into the Rupin valley, passing a fine 75m high waterfall. The path below crosses the torrent and follows the left bank to re cross it after 03km. to reach Dhanras Thatch. Upon arrival check in camp, have dinner& over night at camp.

Day 11- Dhanras Thach – Jiskon village (H. 2950 M, 12 km. trek)
Morning breakfast at the camp then proceed for trek. The Rupin Gad path leads through several meadow , crosses and recrosses the stream several time and arrives at Hooligan in 08 km. After another 04 km enter Jiskon village . Upon arrival check camp Dinner7 over night at camp.

Day 12- Jiskon - Sewa Dogri (H. 2000m, 12 km trek)
Morning breakfast at the camp, then follow down trek via Sari Dogri to reach Sewa Dogri, Dinner& over night at camp.

Day 13- Sewa Dogri - Netwar (H1380 M. 17km by trek.)
Morning breakfast at the camp then Greadualy down trek along passing through forest , village (with picnic lunch) to reach Netwar. Dinner& over night at camp.

Day 14- Netwar – Uttarkashi /Delhi
Morning after breakfast, drive for uttarkashi/ Delhi. Lunch enroute while driving , on arrival check Hotel overnight at hotel .

ashutosh69

Here is the map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?t=h&h...de6a690cf&z=10

sandeep9868

hi ashutosh, when you are planning to leave? i wonder if a guy can join u upto chitkul only??

ashutosh69

We have not yet decided on a confirmed date. As the members join in, we can decide on a mutually convenient date.

I will have to ask and find out as to how the economics can be worked out. Cause the porters that would go from Harsil, disposing them midway would be an issue. For a trek like this borderline on the onset of winter the agency shall probably provide 2/2.5 porters per person.

I am sure one can work a way around that. Let's see.

ashutosh69

Proposing dates to be 4th till 16th October....

The route shall be Netwar- Nalgan Pass- Sangla- Chitkul- lamkhagaPass- Harsil

AvidTrekker

Very much tempted to join.... my trek concludes 25th Sept at Sangla

But my leave budget is being stretched, and so's my financial budget...

OR
??
??

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kiranrawat

hi ashutosh,
do let me know the dates, i wanna do this trek
chees
kiran
kn_rawat at yahoodotcom

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ks_bluechip

Ashtosh69: I had a look at your link and the placemarks you have put on this googlemap. My question is how did you identify these locations? i.e. where did you get the location positions from? How sure are you of these location/names?

The reason I ask is this: I was trying to do the same for the Buran Ghati Trek Trail (see that post here) on Google Earth in these *Low-Res* areas and I could not find any identifying info for village names on/along that trail to make positive identifications. Though, I did manage to get some more data after I added the WikiMapia layer onto GE.
.

__________________
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ashutosh69

Hi KS

my main reference document is the 1956 US Army Map of Indian Himalayas available for free from some site in texas.edu
This map is a direct adaptation of British Army map of those times which is based on the data base of Survey of India.

I will try to send you the link...but u should be able to get it easily from a google search.
AFter you have that map and then you get to google earth you can easily correlate features and identify approximate location of the various villages, routes and other geographic features.

I do a final modification of it after I complete the trek, but usually the US Army map is reasonably correct. If there are errors it wd be to the tune of 100/200 mtrs. Also after completing the trek you get to realise that some of the snow/glacier features have significantly changed compared to 1956. But village location and bugyals and camping grounds are reasonably correct.

ashutosh69

Hi Kiran

the current proposal is start at 4th October and finish by 16th/18th October.
do keep in touch at ashutosh69@gmail.com

ashutosh69

Boss ....give in to the temptation!!!
Would love to have u in the team

ashutosh69

Triple Valley Exploration– Bhagirathi- Baspa and Rupin Valley
Delhi- Harsil- Lamkhaga Pass (5282 Mtr)- Chitkul- Sangla- Nalgan Pass (4600 Mtrs)- Netwar- Delhi
Day 1- Uttarkashi – Harshil (14 Hrs drive H 2600 Mtrs)
Start early morning from Delhi. Reach Uttarkashi after 10 Hrs. Start for Harsil in Jeep after lunch. Reach Harshil, 26 km before Gangotri, late in the evening.Stay at Hotel

Day 2- Harshil – Gangpani (10/11 Kms 06 hrs H 3270 M)
Start trek after breakfast next morning for Gangpani due North along the Jalandhari Gad. The trail rises slowly through walnut, pine and birch forest. Stop for packed lunch. After 03 hrs the path eases and crosses pastures where the valley widens, rocky parts near the river bed lead to Gangpani. Check camp dinner & overnight at camp

Day 3- Gangpani - Kyarkoti (10/11 km. 06/07 hrs H. 3790 M)
Morning after breakfast at camp, then cross the river by a log bridge to the other side proceed over grassy slopes and streams. Packed lunch en route. Gain height gradually and reach the beautiful Kyarkoti meadow. On arrival check into camp, dinner & over night at camp.

Day 4- Kyarkoti - Snout of Lamakhaga Glacier.( 5/6 Kms 05 Hrs H.4435M)
In the morning after breakfast at camp start off on trek. Soon, the path divides; the right branch climbing towards Chhotkhaga Pass (5150mts). For the Lamakhaga, cross the river again and move upwards by keeping the river to left, up till the snout of the glacier. On arrival check camp Diner & over night at camp.

Day 5- Lamakhaga Glacier --Pass 5282 M – Baspa Glacier (08 Hrs H.4300M)
In the morning after breakfast at camp, climb along edge of glacier over moraine which is marked by a line of chortens. Slanting NNE, go up steep snow slops between ribs and possible crevasses to the broad saddle of the pass in 6-7h. Commence the descent with a very steep 75m on snow, heading NE to easier snow slops on the Baspa Glacier, finishing on scree and moraine below its base at the right side. Proceed lower down to camp at Gainder Thach, some 5km form the pass. On arrival check camp Diner & over night at camp

Day 6- Baspa Glacier/Gaindar Thatch– Jangthang ( 5/6 Hrs H.3750M)
Morning after breakfast at camp, Follow an improving trail on the N side of the Baspa River. The route winds and several channels cut through the sandy bed. Pass through the camp ground of Nithal Thaur and Surthi Thathang, fording several turbulent streams to arrive at Jangthang camping site. On arrival check camp Diner & over night at camp.

Day 7- Jangthang – Chitkul – Sangala (06 Hrs H.2835 M /35 km drive)
Morning after breakfast at camp, Continue without much incident in 2hr to Thathang with the valley broadening all the time. On nearing Chitkul, 15kms, trees appear on the slopes. This is roadhead for buses, and PWD REST house. Hire Jeep for 35 Kms drive to Sangla. On arrival check into camps, dinner & over night at camp/ rest house.

Day 8- Sangla Rest day

Day 9 - Sangala – Nuru (12 km H 3600m)
In the morning, after breakfast at camp, cross a wooden bridge over the Baspa and follow trail SW up the right of the Rukti Gad to Sangla Kanda (Kanda Digri) in 7kms. Working along the valley slopes, pass through the hamlets of Palwachang and Kangalti to arrive at Nuru camp ground at the confluence of Rukti Gad coming from the left and Daundaro Garang which rises from the slopes of Rupin Ghati (pass) and flows down on your right.

Day 10- Nuru –Nalgan pass 4600 M. – Suriwas Thach (H.3450 m.14 km by trek)
Morning breakfast at the camp, descend into Rukti Gaad and follow the river up to the Nalgan Pass. Descend down from the pass to Suriwas Thatch near the head of Narayani Gaad river.

Day 11- Suriwas Thach – Jiskon village (H. 2950 M, 12 km. trek)
Morning breakfast at the camp then proceed along the right bank of the Narayani Gaad. The path leads through several meadow , and approaches the confluence of Rupin Gaad and Narayani Gaad. The last stretch involves a 600 mtrs climb to Jiskon Village.

Day 12- Jiskon - Sewa Dogri (H. 2000m, 12 km trek)
Morning breakfast at the camp, then follow down trek via Sari Dogri to reach Sewa Dogri, Dinner& over night at camp.

Day 13- Sewa Dogri - Netwar (H1380 M. 17km by trek.)
Morning breakfast at the camp then Greadualy down trek along passing through forest , village (with picnic lunch) to reach Netwar. Dinner& over night at camp.

Day 14- Netwar – Uttarkashi /Delhi
Morning after breakfast, drive for uttarkashi/ Delhi. Lunch enroute while driving , on arrival check Hotel overnight at hotel .

ks_bluechip

ashutosh69: Thanks for your detailed explanation. I will follow your advise exactly. Will search for that US Army Map link. Meanwhile, if you have that readily, do give it.
.

ashutosh69

here is the link/....
NI43 and NH44 map pages would serve your purpose
In fact for Uttaranchal NH44-1, NH44-5 and NH44-6 provide enough detail