Manali - Padam and beyond -- anybody interested in joining in end Aug

sidred22

hi,
I am planning a Manali to Padam and beyond (depending upon the supplies and time taken)trek around third week of August. ANybody interested in joining in may pls contact me. The idea is endure, enjoy and feel the mountains and living off the land.

AvidTrekker

Please clarify whether it means trekking 40 km average per day ??

Because you have set that standard.....

Very few people can follow it

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sidred22

hi, In mtns you dont measure kilometers but hours you clock. We plan to travel 10-12 hrs daily and if possible and depending on the supply situation, weather and most importantly stamina left, the ultimate aim to reach as close to Lamayaru.

AvidTrekker

10 to 12 hours daily IS a tough standard.



All the best, and

I am glad and proud that our Country's safety is with tough guys like you...
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Larsuld

I'm coming from Leh so I might cross you on the way. Will be sure to keep my camera's opening time very fast.

Are you planning to go via Darcha? Or will you go via Pangi Valley and via the Kang La to Mune and then Padum, or Poat la or Umasi La to Padum?

One humble piece of advice - especially if you choose some more technical routes than the more or less straight forward Darcha-Padum-Lamayuru route: do not underestimate the potential hazards of traversing glaciers and other difficult terrain in high altitude - crevasses, adverse weather conditions ... Bring proper equipment and supplies.

The strongest trekkers sometimes end up exposing themselves to higher risks than weaker ones, because they may tend to believe that sheer stamina can get them out of anything, which in many cases of course it can.

Best wishes
Lars

sidred22

thks for your reply. Kindly give me a more detailed suggestions regarding the best route considering that I would be doing this trek with only one buddy. Do also let me know about the supply enroute and places where we can refurnish our exhausted supply.
thks

Larsuld

Hi Sid

I've only done the Darcha-Padum-Lamayuru trek so I can't advise which is the better route, but I do believe that this is probably the least technical. The path is very easy to find. And supplies are probably more readily available.

This thread has some info on the passes enroute from Pangi valley . Pangi / Kistwar to Zanskar over Poat La

Umasi La and Kang La requires travelling on glacier, but if you have guide and proper equipment - crampons and probably rope and an ice-axe, and warm clothes etc, then it is probably more adventurous. Without guide and proper equipment it would be too adventurous in my opinion. But the Darcha-Lamayuru route is very beautiful in my - and most others' - opinion.

About the supply situation on the Darcha-Lamayuru, I hope someone else can come with some updated advice. I was there 8 years ago and trekked with my own tent and food only between Darcha and Padum, and as far as I recall I think food was available on roughly half of the normally used campinggrounds. (I was too tired to cook my own food even though I had brought it, so I bought it when I could.) At the two campsites following Darcha (last one before Shingo La, at Zanskar Sumdo), then at the campsite closest to the trail to Phuktal gompa (which you should visit if you have time, by the way).

On the Padum-Lamayuru stretch I was with two ponymen and we cooked together all the time, and carried all food stuff from Padum, so I didn't even survey the food availability situation. However, this last stretch is more populated - many more villages - so there probably are some opportunities. At least Lingshed and Skyumpata I think there should be something. And of course in Lamayuru and Padum you will have quite a range of choice in guesthouses and restaurants.

I wouldn't be surprised if it is now possible to find food more or less on all campsites, but you should check on that. Unless someone can vouch where exactly supply is available then I would carry some supplies and a stove.

Best wishes
Lars

sidred22

hi , THk you lars for your advice. It has really been helpful and has more or less cleared lot of fog one encounters during planning. ANy other suggestion or input from your side would be most welcome.

Larsuld

Glad to do at least a little good today!

I haven't been able to find any good online trekking maps (with routes shown). But if you search on google you can find the standard itinearies listing the campsite/village names. Then you can take a look and find them at Google earth. Alternatively you can look at some old US military maps at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/

I like these ones. They're not up to date w/ regards to roads and stuff like that, but though the Himalayas are pretty fast moving from a geological point of view, 50 years is not much
Files are large and will take some time to load on a slow connection and slow computer.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ni-43-12.jpg
This map has most of the route, from just after Shingo La and all the way to Sengi/Singi La (beware that there is sometimes a small chaos in the names of places around these areas). Follow the route from the lower right corner of the map to the upper left.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ni-43-16.jpg
This shows Darcha-Shingo La section (upper right area)

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ni-43-16.jpg
And this one for the last bit to Lamayuru (lower left corner)

And for what it's worth I have some photos from my own trek across Zanskar, at http://12357.dk/ladakh - mostly uncensored.

Best wishes
Lars

Larsuld

To clarify - I was talking about the Darcha-Lamayuru bit only, in the last post!

Ashish kaul

The title Darcha / Padum drew me in...
Firstly I am looking for the company of experienced trekkers who are very fit, preferably familiar with climbing / technical treks. I plan to go over the Shingo La, but from Padum to Darcha and not Darcha to Padum in order to acclimatise better. I would like to reach Leh by 2nd August. Anyone interested?
Now on the discussion I have read:
1. This area is not for novices. You need a reasonably decent size group for safety sake
2. kang la is very difficuly - there are camps on a highly crevassed Miyar glacier which is a stretch of 28 kms.
3. Abandon thoughts of trekking 10 nto 12 hours but be ready for 6 to 7 hours.
4. Shingo La is easier but bloody tough.
5. Zanskar is not for children.

Anyone coming? We trek cautiously despite experience...

Larsuld

Hi Ashish
On the route between Darcha-Padum or vice versa across the Shingo La there is no need for mountaineering/climbing experience. As far as I recall there is perhaps only one minor river crossing. If you just know in advance how much you can comfortably carry on your back and then plan accordingly there is no worry.
Kang La and Umasi La are different stories, you're right.

Happy trekking
Lars

Ashish kaul

Communication gap Lars. I meant technical for Kang la and also meant that this is not for first timers. That was in response to some of the earlier posts in the thread!

sidred22

When I say , trekking for 10-12 hrs , it implies that you walk- rest- walk - rest.... and not continuously walk. It is your comfort level coupled with perseverance rather than any fixed agenda although planned timetables have to be adhered to.

kolobar

Walking hours mostly depend not on perservance but on acclimatization rate (in first days of the trek) which can slow you down considerably but for the good reason. Later on walking time depends on location of camping sites (availability of water, tent dhabas, grass for horses etc.).