Pangi/Kishtwar to Zanskar over Poat La

himalayan_monk · Mar 28th, 2007, 19:22

Warm Greetings !

The Poat La Pass on the " Main Great Himalayan Axis " has its unique significance in the context of hiking routes from Himachal to Zanskar Valley ( Ladakh ) due to the following reason :-

The Poat La ( although a considerably high pass 5490 m ) is relatively the easiest and safest crossing from Pangi to Zanskar.
This is due to its " high but dry " characteristics ( like the passes on the Padam - Lamayuru Route during the Trans Himalayan Trekking Season ) .

This is unlike the Kang La Jot , Sersank Pass & Umasi La and a few others in the region which have compulsory 2-3 camps on dangerous and tricky glacial floors .

( The Umasi La is probably the most spectacular route as the pass affords views of Hagshu Peak , Kistwar Shivling and others of the surrounding ranges of J&K ... this is however a subjective opinion ... the Umasi La has also en route birch forests and beautiful Meadows... these factoids were given by a Kistwar local to me in Pangi Valley )

Route details of Poat La :

1./ Reach Kilar over a jeepable road from Manali-Rohtang Pass-Tandi - Triloknath - Tindi - Sach - Kilar .

( The scenic walk on the jeepable road between Sach Village and Kilar along the Chenab is okay it in order to limber up before a trekking expedition to Zanskar from Pangi ... the Poat la is definitely easier and safer but requires proper acclimatization more so than Kang La and Umasi La as it is higher than both and in more dry section of the mountain cordilerra )

2./ Continue your jeep journey to Ishthari towards Kistwar in an almost broken road . ( arrange guide in Kilar or Ishthari )

3./ Via Shol follow the banks of the Padar River ( 12 hours )
( Horses and porters are available at Gularbagh )

4./ Walk from sunrise to sunset to reach Dangel ( moderate walking , try to cover long distance )

5./Long Walking again to ChomoChhumkhor 4100 m ( sunrise to sunset )

6./ Continue along the nallah ( Poat La stream ) to as much distance you can cover towards the pass .

7./To Camp 2 below Pass at about 4900m-5000 m approx.

8./ Over Poat La to Camp 3 on the other side of the Pass. 12 hours .

9./ Full day downhill trek to Sumdo ( Kang La Jot route ends here as well ! )

10./ 2 more days of long-distance easy walking to Padam along stream via Pibcha .

Continue by Jeep to Kargil to end long trek .

AndreasW · Mar 28th, 2007, 22:47

Thanks... valuable infos!
Check out this modified Russian map (pdf file 3,7Mb!) concerning these passes!

Quote:

3./ Via Shol follow the banks of the Padar River ( 12 hours )
( Horses and porters are available at Gularbagh )

4./ Walk from sunrise to sunset to reach Dangel ( moderate walking , try to cover long distance )

Is "Padar river" synonymic "Bhut nallah" at the map or do you mean the Chandra river?
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/india/ni-43-11.jpg

The "Poat La stream" after Machel/Dangel calls "Dharlung nallah". The Poat la is crossable with horses, really?

The road downstream from Killar to Gularbagh isn't continuous passable at the moment... right?

AndreasW

himalayan_monk · Mar 29th, 2007, 23:00

Dear AndreasW,

Let me take the queries on the Poat La (Pangi-Zanskar) Expedition in turn :

Question 1 : Is "Padar river" synonymic "Bhut nallah" at the map or do you mean the Chandra river?

Answer :Indeed the trekking route follows the "Bhut Nallah" and leaves the Chenab behind . So your interpretation is correct !

However, to your kind attention that the Chandra River confluence with Bhaga River at Tandi ( near Keylong ) forms the Chenab ... so beyond this stage the River is called "Chenab" and not "Chandra" .

Question 2 : The "Poat La stream" after Machel/Dangel calls "Dharlung nallah". The Poat la is crossable with horses, really?

Answer : The Dharlang River is the stream that we followed but we detour from its course for "one full trekking day" to pitch our camp below Poat La . If we do not detour and continue along the Dharlang Nallah we would hit the trail descending from the Sersank Pass . The detour away from the Dharlang Nallah is done from the point where it almost seems to disappear into the mountains . This is a detour to the North on a basic "Hiking Compass" from the point where we lose track of the Dharlang Nallah's Course. The snows on the Poat La are not too significant to mention , in the Trans Himalayan Hiking season , a strong horse can give you company over the Poat La , ofcourse with some difficulty . The terrain in this section of the trek
( 5 hours short of the summit of Poat La ) is basically loose stones and gets exhausting ( ofcourse due to the altitude ) and sparsely placed boulders.

[ One small comment on boulders ( reference : our thread on Kinner-Kailash Shivling Spire and Parvati Kund Trek ):

The stretch between Dwar or Pilgrim's Cave via the small pond
"Parvati Kund" to the Shivling has the worst boulders I have encountered in Himachal Himalaya ...hundreds of gigantic boulders...absolute chaos ...]

Question 3 :The road downstream from Killar to Gularbagh isn't continuous passable at the moment... right?

Answer : The road beyond Kilar is problematic and badly broken due to annual landslides ...to drive to Isthari may not be passable currently in 2007 but could certainly be done walking over a few days...about the road aspect and current safety the "sub-divisional Officer" at Kilar can comment accurately ...

Greetings

AndreasW · Mar 30th, 2007, 00:08

Hi trekking expert,

a source of inspiration again... thanks!

To my shame, how could I confounded "Chandra" with "Chenab"?...

... should visit Pangi soon!

... but unfortunately no Himachal journey possible this year...

Greetings
AndreasW

landoormama · Mar 30th, 2007, 00:32

Hey ,
Great Info .Possibly would want to make it to pangi this year ..
Thanks .

AndreasW · Mar 30th, 2007, 13:44

It seems there are 2 more very difficult and seldom used passes to the Dharlang valley...

Shinkil Pass and Mun La Pass... Experiences?...

Quote:

PASSES IN THE NORTH PANGI RANGE IN ORDER FROM THE NORTH WEST

30.Sarsank Pass: Between Sural Nala and Danlong Nala; Height 16200 feet; large glacier,road difficult,
takes two days from Kansar.

31.Shinkil Pass: Between Hunan Nala and Danlong Nala: Height 16300 feet; road very difficult and
seldom used.

32.Mun La Pass: Between Tuan in Saichu Nala and Danlong Nala; Height 16500 feet; very difficult
and seldom used.

PASSES IN THE WESTERN HIMALAYA OR ZANSKAR RANGE IN ORDER FROM THE NORTH WEST

33.Kag Pass: Between Danlong Nala in Padar and Bardan Gompa in Zanskar; Height 17500
feet;rough road.

34.Poat La Pass: Between Danlong Nala and Padar; Height 17500 feet; rough road, one day on snow.

35.Kang La Pass: Between Miyar Nala in Chamba Lahul and Bardan Gompa; Height 17500 feet; road rough,
three days on snow, journey takes five days.

Note: The Kag Pass and Poat La were just outside the State Territory, but were crossed by travelers from Pangi.

Source: http://hpchamba.nic.in/mountainpasses.htm

Greetings
AndreasW

damoizo · Jun 18th, 2008, 20:10

hello himalayan monk,
i was very interrested by the infos you give about the Poatla. I plan to cross it this smmer, but not passing by padar valley but by the Sersank pass. I plan to do itwith too friends of mind, without horse-man.
How difficulte is this pass? Do i need to take special glacier material (ropes, pics...)? Is the Serank pass dangerous(cracks)?
Thanks for informations...

shaleen · Jul 18th, 2008, 16:52

Hi all. upto what point we can go by 4wd in these places.are these all only for trekking

Mar 28th, 2007, 19:22	#1
himalayan_monk Active Hiking Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kuwait Posts: 31	Pangi/Kishtwar to Zanskar over Poat La Warm Greetings ! The Poat La Pass on the " Main Great Himalayan Axis " has its unique significance in the context of hiking routes from Himachal to Zanskar Valley ( Ladakh ) due to the following reason :- The Poat La ( although a considerably high pass 5490 m ) is relatively the easiest and safest crossing from Pangi to Zanskar. This is due to its " high but dry " characteristics ( like the passes on the Padam - Lamayuru Route during the Trans Himalayan Trekking Season ) . This is unlike the Kang La Jot , Sersank Pass & Umasi La and a few others in the region which have compulsory 2-3 camps on dangerous and tricky glacial floors . ( The Umasi La is probably the most spectacular route as the pass affords views of Hagshu Peak , Kistwar Shivling and others of the surrounding ranges of J&K ... this is however a subjective opinion ... the Umasi La has also en route birch forests and beautiful Meadows... these factoids were given by a Kistwar local to me in Pangi Valley ) Route details of Poat La : 1./ Reach Kilar over a jeepable road from Manali-Rohtang Pass-Tandi - Triloknath - Tindi - Sach - Kilar . ( The scenic walk on the jeepable road between Sach Village and Kilar along the Chenab is okay it in order to limber up before a trekking expedition to Zanskar from Pangi ... the Poat la is definitely easier and safer but requires proper acclimatization more so than Kang La and Umasi La as it is higher than both and in more dry section of the mountain cordilerra ) 2./ Continue your jeep journey to Ishthari towards Kistwar in an almost broken road . ( arrange guide in Kilar or Ishthari ) 3./ Via Shol follow the banks of the Padar River ( 12 hours ) ( Horses and porters are available at Gularbagh ) 4./ Walk from sunrise to sunset to reach Dangel ( moderate walking , try to cover long distance ) 5./Long Walking again to ChomoChhumkhor 4100 m ( sunrise to sunset ) 6./ Continue along the nallah ( Poat La stream ) to as much distance you can cover towards the pass . 7./To Camp 2 below Pass at about 4900m-5000 m approx. 8./ Over Poat La to Camp 3 on the other side of the Pass. 12 hours . 9./ Full day downhill trek to Sumdo ( Kang La Jot route ends here as well ! ) 10./ 2 more days of long-distance easy walking to Padam along stream via Pibcha . Continue by Jeep to Kargil to end long trek .

Mar 29th, 2007, 23:00	#3
himalayan_monk Active Hiking Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kuwait Posts: 31	Thank you for writing in ! Dear AndreasW, Let me take the queries on the Poat La (Pangi-Zanskar) Expedition in turn : Question 1 : Is "Padar river" synonymic "Bhut nallah" at the map or do you mean the Chandra river? Answer :Indeed the trekking route follows the "Bhut Nallah" and leaves the Chenab behind . So your interpretation is correct ! However, to your kind attention that the Chandra River confluence with Bhaga River at Tandi ( near Keylong ) forms the Chenab ... so beyond this stage the River is called "Chenab" and not "Chandra" . Question 2 : The "Poat La stream" after Machel/Dangel calls "Dharlung nallah". The Poat la is crossable with horses, really? Answer : The Dharlang River is the stream that we followed but we detour from its course for "one full trekking day" to pitch our camp below Poat La . If we do not detour and continue along the Dharlang Nallah we would hit the trail descending from the Sersank Pass . The detour away from the Dharlang Nallah is done from the point where it almost seems to disappear into the mountains . This is a detour to the North on a basic "Hiking Compass" from the point where we lose track of the Dharlang Nallah's Course. The snows on the Poat La are not too significant to mention , in the Trans Himalayan Hiking season , a strong horse can give you company over the Poat La , ofcourse with some difficulty . The terrain in this section of the trek ( 5 hours short of the summit of Poat La ) is basically loose stones and gets exhausting ( ofcourse due to the altitude ) and sparsely placed boulders. [ One small comment on boulders ( reference : our thread on Kinner-Kailash Shivling Spire and Parvati Kund Trek ): The stretch between Dwar or Pilgrim's Cave via the small pond "Parvati Kund" to the Shivling has the worst boulders I have encountered in Himachal Himalaya ...hundreds of gigantic boulders...absolute chaos ...] Question 3 :The road downstream from Killar to Gularbagh isn't continuous passable at the moment... right? Answer : The road beyond Kilar is problematic and badly broken due to annual landslides ...to drive to Isthari may not be passable currently in 2007 but could certainly be done walking over a few days...about the road aspect and current safety the "sub-divisional Officer" at Kilar can comment accurately ... Greetings

Jun 18th, 2008, 20:10	#7
damoizo Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: berlin deutschland Posts: 3	about Sersank pass hello himalayan monk, i was very interrested by the infos you give about the Poatla. I plan to cross it this smmer, but not passing by padar valley but by the Sersank pass. I plan to do itwith too friends of mind, without horse-man. How difficulte is this pass? Do i need to take special glacier material (ropes, pics...)? Is the Serank pass dangerous(cracks)? Thanks for informations...

Jul 18th, 2008, 16:52	#8
shaleen Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: GHAZIABAD,U.P. Posts: 117	Hi All Hi all. upto what point we can go by 4wd in these places.are these all only for trekking

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Mar 30th, 2007, 00:08	#4
AndreasW Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 232	Hi trekking expert, a source of inspiration again... thanks! To my shame, how could I confounded "Chandra" with "Chenab"?... ... should visit Pangi soon! ... but unfortunately no Himachal journey possible this year... Greetings AndreasW

Mar 30th, 2007, 00:32	#5
landoormama Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Nepal Posts: 141	Hey , Great Info .Possibly would want to make it to pangi this year .. Thanks .

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