Nelang and Jadh Ganga Valley trek

The adventure bug is biting again after the successful completion of the Girthi/Kiogaad valley traverse.

Have just finished the base research for the planned trip in next pre-monsoon season to Jadh Ganga valley. The itinerary is finalised and the GPS waypoints have been marked.

Announcing it this early here cause the entry into this valley is a bit difficult from the official permission points of view. Broad outline of the trek as follows: (shall share details later)

1. The entry shall be from the Jadhganga valley ahead of Bhaironghati in the Gangotri route and exit at Badrinath.. probably its shall be a first for a documented civilian expedition.
2. Total route kilometers planned approximately 100 Kms
3. High points would be three high passes/cols above 5800 Mtrs (not sequential)
4. Attempt two closely situated peaks > 6100 mtrs
5. Attempt would be to find a non-technical route connecting Nelang with the Saraswati Valley... let's say alternatives to Saraswati Col (described by Harish Kapadia)
6. Looks like this will take at least 18 to 20 days to complete the expedition (including approximately 4 days planned in for slack/rest)
7. Team members would have to have prior experience in extreme high altitude(above 5000 Mtrs), long snowfield walks and long duration expeditions
6. Basic or Advanced mountaineering certification would help
7. Contacts in ITBP, Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Defence would help
8. Team size shall not be more than 8 members
9. The per person cost should be in the range of 40 to 45K as an outer limit. We shall explore options to limit it below 40K.
10. Confirmed participation would be required before December 2011 so that application process can be started in January 2012.

I shall go ahead with the plan as soon as we gather a minimum membership of 4/5 members.

Shall post details after inputs from veterans of the past like Mr Kapadia and Mr Bhattacharjee.

I'm definitely interested.

as always count me in

Sure guys ..

I would be interested. It would be good if you could mail me @ vsathyanarayan@yahoo.co.in

cheers
sathya

Ashu Dada, this is really tempting and interesting... i myself have been trying hard to get permits for this valley for a long but cud not succeed, but now seems there is some ray of hope god willingly shall be a part of this expedition...

The terrain mapping onto the GPS completed. Latest info suggests that one might approach the office of the commanding officer of the 9Th ind Mt Brigade for lending a kind ear to our application for a NoC to traverse from Jahnavi valley to the Saraswati valley.

I see you're upto your old tricks again - of boldly going where no man (or hardly anyone) has gone before.

You should set up a meeting with Bhatto, I think he wouldn't refuse. He may also provide contacts that would be very useful.

Hey Dilliwala ...thanks ..
yes I have been in touch with Bhatto since the only pics in Google Earth in the Jahnavi (Jadh Ganga) watershed are by him (1980s vintage). In fact thats how I came to know about him.

Have had a first round discussion with him. Now I think its time to meet him since all the research work is over and the final fine tuning remains.

Meanwhile the team formation is at a pretty nascent stage so guess will seek appointment in a few weeks time. If not anything else shall have the opportunity of cross checking the navigation details against that massive library of Maps he has.

For those that haven't seen it, here's a link to rajkumar's post with some relevant info.

Thanks Dilliwala. Did have an interaction with Sadanand as well. He was kind enough to share the scanned pages of Frontline.

Good stuff.... issue is we shall be intend to try a different valley in the Jahnavi watershed (the authorities permitting)... The Mana Gaad and Ghora Gaad area and then explore alternate crossover points to Tara Col and Saraswati Col.

Debu, JP and team are just back from an expedition from the other side where they explored the areas under Saraswati Col. Based on their experience and pictures and comparing and contrasting the possible errors on GE I am almost certain now about the navigation plan.

More to be shared once the official permissions are thru :-)

Members that have shown interest so far

Ashu
Arun Negi
Kuntal
Sathya
Suraj
Tilak

Im in too.

Cheers

Anant

Members that have shown interest and I have talked to
Ashu
Arun Negi
Kuntal
Sathya
Suraj
Bharat
Rajesh
Tilak (will confirm later)
Vishwa (will confirm later)


Anant...can u mail me at ashutosh@snowscapes.co.in ?
or call me at 09811115237 at evening hours? say after 1900 hrs?

Hi Ashutosh,

I would love to be a part of such expedition. In your previous posts you mentioned that team size would be 8-10 members. As of present I am not sure whether I would be able to join you. What if I confirm you...hmmm, say in mid October.

Cheers