Rupin pass and Minkiani pass in May

pmac

Hi all!

This is my first message to the group, however I am reading the post almost half a year ... thank you all for lot of interesting information!

Currently I am planning to go to India for the third time .. and again to Hiamalaya ... With my girlfriend we have just 3 weeks and we would like to visit Srinagar, then Chamba, Dharamsala, Kinnaur (Baspa valley) and if possible then to trek into Garhwal by crossing Rupin pass ... my plan raised the following questions ...

Did anybody in this group done the Rupin pass trek (going from Sangla to
Garhwal) or Minkiani pass (going from Donauli to McLeodGanj) in May??? I would like to do Minkiani in the first half of May and Rupin in the middle of May - is it possible? Do one need a rope to do the Rupin pass? Any other reccomendations for trekking in Kinnaur in May? What snow conditions could I expect on those passes ... ?

Thank you for answers and wish you all happy trekking ...

Petr

PS: Also could you reccm. some good accom. on one of the Srinagar lakes ...???

himadventures

MINKIANI PASS: Not easy in MAY-require ropes and ice axes. Same is with RIPIN also-this is old shepherd trail but no more shepherds now.
I think-delay your crossing a bit but if you wanna try-TRY minkianai !

Outdoor Adventure

Dear All,

I and some of my freinds are planing to trek this pass on third to fourth week in May, We are taking help of Mr Shambhuji Rawat ( Contact :919359955146) from Uttarkashi( Courtesy Lakshit and Jyoti) and will get the this years probable condition of the trek. Any one interested to join is welcome, we will start from Delhi on 21'st may and start the trek from Garhwal side- ( Netwar) to Himachal ( Sangla) . Any suggestions and help is also welcome. thanks in advance.

Outdoor Adventure.

AvidTrekker

Both Rupin Pass and Minkiani Pass are deep snow bound in May.

Difficult, not impossible.

Question is, are you trekking or mountaineering? As trekkers you can't do it in May. As mountaineers, its an ordinary approach march.

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pmac

Thank you all for replies ... We would like to do some nice treks, and we do not have mountaneering gear / experience.

Could you reccomend any other possible passes that are able to cross in May as trekkers in areas around Dharamsala, Chamba or further on in Kinnaur? I hope we can just hang around Baspa valley for some days or in any other Kinnaur valeys - so just make some there and return treks ...

Thank you and happy trekking!

Petr

pmac

Hi ... would like to join you, but 27th of May we have to leave India ... however wish you nice experience!

Petr

AvidTrekker

May is a problem. Not enough snow has melted. I faced this problem every year when taking school children for treks. The school vacation is between 14th April to around 14th June. I try to time it such that we trek from 25th May to 9th June and return to Mumbai by 12th June. Even so, we cannot do more than 12000 to 13000 foot passes.

All the high passes open after 20th June or so. Trekking across high passes starts around 1st week of July in Chamba region.

Outdoor Adventure

Thanks Him & Avid for freindly advice. With little experience, Local Guide and Gear like Rope & Ice Axe, we will try to cross the pass and if not posssible in an easy manner, we will divert to Har ki Doon and Runisara Lake trek. Pls opine on our plan and give suggestion is any.

Happy outdoor,

Outdoor Adventure

Dear All,

Here is the link to the post by one of IMiker who has returned from Kanda - Near Sangla. It can be reached by crossing the Rupin Pass from Garhwal or from other side from Sangla.

Beautiful Lake - Kanda

Happy Outdoor.

AvidTrekker

In the thread quoted above, Lovemax trekked from Sangla to Sangla Kanda, which is a whole lot different than coming from the Rupin side. See his photos and you will see the snow at Sangla Kanda itself. Rupin Pass is 3300 feet above Sangla Kanda. Even Buran Pass can be done from Sangla Kanda. [same amt of snow...]

I guess you have to make your own mistakes and learn your own lessons.

ALL the BEST, HAPPY TREKKING!!!

AndreasW

Rupin Pass can be done from Sangla Kanda - Gunas Pass and Nalgan Pass too!!!
If you want to cross the Buran Pass from Sangla Kanda side (3600m), you have at first to cross the little Shivaling Pass (3980m). - Than you'll reach the the "Buran ascent" from Chamsu/Shong side...

Hope to visit this valley side as soon as possible...

AndreasW

Edit: Is this the Khanich Pass (4400m) above Kamru at the other valley side?

pmac

Thank you for advice - rope we would take, however ice axe we do not have. Lets see how the snow condition would look like in May 15 to May 20th ... Even the trek to Sangla Kanda lake looks really beautiful ...

Do you think that on northen side of the Rupin Pass (when coming from Sangla) there is less snow then on the Garhwal side??

Outdoor Adventure

Dear AndreasW & Avid,

Your knowledge about the region is making this thread more and more interesting, By the picture (taken in Mid April) the snow condition seems to be moderate and by the time we trek the region( May third to fourth week) I hope we will cross the pass . Can you throw light on day by day Itinerary, what to bring and where to camp. Will it be easy to start from Garhwal side or Sangla side .

Happy outdoor,

himadventures

Take care guys ! More snofall has been seen in this region and I am of the view that you have to be very carefull about it. If you do not know how to use ICE AXE- do not try slopes which are longer and steep.

Ascending is not much problem-descending is always. Be it experienced or new trekker....exposure is always there. Take care !

We all are waiting for your post.

MIKIANI is alsi difficult in MAY. Listen to shepherd before you cross as they know these passes meter by meter !