Roopkund in June 1st week

jyotipg

Hi,

I am planning to trek to Roopkund in June 1st week. Any advices on it??
Is it the right time to be there?? how much snow to expect??
Which is the best place to get the guide and porters. Any recomendation on guides which you may have hired during your trip??

I have seen the many people are not able to complete the trek to Roopkund. Any specific reasons? and what special preparations/precautions to be taken to complete it successfully??

Thanks in Advance,

JP

landoormama

Hi I did the roopkund trek in september'99 ..i did the transhimalayan starting from loharkhet in kumaon and then winding up trek thro roopkund and finally to wan ...you can start the trek from Wan ( which has a g .m.v.n) guest house and then trek to bedni bugyal to bagubhasa and then finally to roopkund ..on the way back I started from Roopkund and hit Wan directly instead of taking a halt .but for roopkund from bhagubhasa you have to start off very early ,since the weather later can get very unpredictable @ 5000 mts ..roopkund trek is a delight and a feast for the eyes ..you should definitely goahead and do this .if u want to veiw pics go to this site www.geocities.com/giribaba69/roopkund.html ...cheers and have fun

himadventures

I think ROOP KUND should not be tried in June.
We tried to do it in June but thats's in June 1997.
We could not reach at top of KUND and have to use ice axe and rope at many places.
Being a mountaineer-it was fine and enjoyble but weather plays havoc in this area-be carefull !

SUGGESTION: Visit ROOP KUND after August !

rahul550

Dear Jyoti,

You have not mentioned anything regarding your Himalayan treking experience. Assuming that you are not very experienced in this field, my personal advice to you would be:

NOT TO TRY ROOP KUND IN JUNE.

the reasons are obvious, the monsoon would have hit the northern belt and weather could get Really Really bad with capital letters. You have also not mentioned about the size of the group. How much experience they collectively have? What is their fitness level? etc.

It is suggested that you should try this trek towards the end of August to early september. The weather that time should be Ok (exceptions maybe there).

Anyway the final decision lies in your hands.

So, take a wise decision, have a safe and enjoyble trek.

Rahul

jyotipg

Folks,

Thanks for your sincere suggestion. I myself had doubt abt the conditions in June so wanted a second opinion. I would keep it in mind..
Now that Roopkund is ruled out, would you suggest anything else for the first week of June which can be done in 10 days ex- Delhi.

Any suggestions on Kagbhusandi Tal or Santopanth lake??
I am also contemplating on Ghuttu-Reeh-Gangi- Kharsoli-Kalayani-Bhelbagi-Khatling-MAsar Tal- Vasuki Tal- Kedarnath route during that time??
Any advice on feasibility of doing this route??

I am planning to hit Garhwal this year.. no plan to go to Kumaon..

Thanks,
JP

babuchand

hi jyotipg,

again u havn't mentioned few very imp issues....no of members, their age,fitness and experience.

in any respect Ghuttu-Reeh-Gangi- Kharsoli-Kalayani-Bhelbagi-Khatling-MAsar Tal- Vasuki Tal- Kedarnath trek is very good.......dont forget to visit gandhi sarovar at early morning from kedar...may be on the day u r leaving kedar its possible to do it and then go down to gourikund by 4pm (takes 4hrs descending for fit ppl)

u can also try valley of flowers trek.....even amidst rain u can see some flowers (wont be seen in other seasons....u can go thru' one good guiding post by avidtrekker in this very forum).

another good trek......less known one....may fascinate everybody....and hey Rahul for u (its in that way to badri from kedar)....
u can go to BUDA MADMAHESHWAR and MADAIGALLA TAL starting from ukhimath....this is a historic trail and u can find some intersting fact in
Trekking frm Badrinath to Kedarnath

madmaheshwar is a known temple...one of panch kedar and buda madmaheshwar is a bit higher....the tal is also near the upper temple.

going to satopanth tal was a good option but i have heard that recently due to receding of glacier and some consequent land slides the path after Vasudhara falls is in very dangerous condition.....think before going there.

plan well...Njoy....send pics...share experience.

babu

himadventures

I am of the view that follwing trails could be done in June.

1. Beas Kund: A Glacial lake and origin of river Beas in Himachal. Base is Solang Nala near Manali.
2. In June-you can try this trail which I found very very impressive for just wandering in Garhwal Jungles. I started from WAN ( which is first village when you start for ROOP KUND ) and then a hard days climb to BEDNI BUGYAL and spend one day extra here.If trek is xlear and visible-you can trek to PATHAR NACHAUNI and this is a squere where four trails meet-coming and going to 4 directions. You can take left one and now you are descending for RAVNI and SITEL villages. You can do Outer Nanda Devi Sanctuary and when you will reach PANA-you can have information about pass being open or not.
I think-that it should open or shephers would have started crossing it. You can also follow them and clear the pass. Even you can stay with them-this will also go long way to understand the mountain. Real knowledge of trekking and survival in adverse conditions lies with them.They even know how to read clouds,air flow and stars !!

If you could not cross PASS-hire a local person who will guide you for CHAMOLI. This is on NH and you can catch a bus for Haridwar.
CAUTION: Take some spray for insects-In June Garhwal is moist and humid.


PINDARI GLACIR: In June you can do this trek and I think you will love it.
Macleod Ganj to Chamba: Something new !!

There are numerous trails...just be sure and discuss your plan with someone who can tell you write thing. Read carefully what Avid says !!