Snow trek : Har - Ki - Dun in December

amitsankrani

Chits.

Any idea of the cost of FRH at Har Ki Doon?? WIll 7 members be able to accomodate in it??

chits007

no idea but cheap...may be 100/150 ....

amitsankrani

Buddy,

Another question. Me and one more from mumbai will be carrying SLR cameras with additional lens kit. Is there any problem or permit required for high end SLR cameras in HKD route??

amitsankrani

Friends.

Any ideas on camera permits if required in HKD area.

Also another question.
Three of my team guys are enthusiast, not that experienced trekkers in north india ranges. They want to know the difficulty of the last stretch which is a steep climb from Seema to HKD.. Can someone throw some light on this?? What is the level of difficulty on this stretch and do you think it will be possible for enthusiasts who have just three or four trek expereince in the mumbai sahyadri ranges..

chits007

no permit problem with any cam/....but i face lots of problem at HKD ..battery discharging very fats rate..new duracell just lost in 5-6 pics..i have make it warm by rubbing ..
this time at roopkund i do proper insulation and it worked...

before sankri..u have to pay forest fee ..govind wildlife sanctuary..for required days..around 300 for whole trip..

chits007

seema to kalkati dhar ( apoint on way to HKD)..is a bit steep..but manageable...after ward nothing much....make arrangement for lunch..we did only on chcocalates..no foods..

amitsankrani

Thanks Chits.

You are a darling advisor to me :-)

Dilliwala

amit,
1. From Dehradun to Sankri, your own vehicle is very convenient, but if u want to save money u can take a bus too. In fact there was, certainly up to last year, a Himachal RTC bus going from Dehradun to Vikasnagar-Kalsi-Nainbagh-Naugaon-Mori, where u wud have to get off. Then take a jeep to Sankri, even Taluka. Or if lucky and your timing is perfect, u'll meet the Shimla-Tiuni-Mori-Sankri bus of HRTC!
Here's info I posted for another member in a different thread (note: he wants to travel opposite direction).
If u decide to call, I suggest HRTC Shimla. Ask them "Does the HARIDWAR to ROHRU bus still operate? And does it still go via Dehradun and Mori?" If they can't or don't answer your Q's satisfactorily, just ask them for the fone nos. of their Rohru and Dehradun depots and call there.

2. There are dhabas at Taluka including one in the GMVN compound, but in the dead of winter I wudn't bank on them being open, espesh if no jeeps are going upto Taluka. Any supplies are best purchased at Mori preferably, or Naitwar. I wudn't bank on Sankri either, certainly not in winter, it's a very small bazar, and u definitely shud not bank on buying stuff at Taluka, unless u are sure all u need will be available, before u leave Mori.

3. Not that it matters if the road is still closed in Dec, but Manishi is right, it's 12 km, not 4. And it's NOT a motorable road, it's a JEEPABLE (and bikeable) road only, as fine a distinction as that might be. No trucks, no buses, no small cars. That's why I mentioned the jeeps (regular commercial ones) above. If they are plying, u can travel upto Taluka even.

4. Re guides/porters/cook, etc: - No point doing this in Dehradun, Sankri is a good place to do so if still required. IM member ks_bluechip did the trek in July and has posted lots of useful info. Read his posts starting here:
Valley of Flowers vs. Har-ki-Dun
Also his blog.
He mentioned that his guide was the non-drinking kind, BTW. U cud PM him for more details. If u stay at GMVN Sankri, the chaukidar Kedar Singh Rana is also a helpful guy. A real character! Especially useful wud be checking with him re availability of food and supplies en-route - he's from Osla himself.

5. Re HKD FRH: - Officially u need a booking from concerned DFO, unless the chaukidar allows u to stay unofficially. That's if he hasn't locked up and gone home. Sorry, I don't know where the DFO for this area is, maybe Purola or Naugaon even. Then again I do remember there's a big janglat complex above the Sankri GMVN, so maybe the FRH can be booked here, or in Naitwar. If no one comes up with the right info, best is to check in Dehradun - Ansari Road, off Chakrata Road.
But why bother, if GMVN is available? There are 8 dorm beds, Rs. 150 each. Double-room is Rs. 500. U can book online even, tho I'll suggest u wait till u get to DD. Worst case u'll have to pick up the keys at Sankri. The manager for all 4 enroute GHs stays there.

6. Cameras: - I don't remember a charge for still cameras, only movie cams I think (they don't know what a digicam is!). ks_bluechip wud know, he had a digital along. Otherwise just hide yours in the bottom of the bag!

7. Gradient/difficulty: - ksb is 59, and he did it! Altho he didn't have to contend with snow, he did have rain. There are a few spots enroute which are of interest though - take a look at this clip from YTube.

amitsankrani

Hey Dilliwala..

Thanks for your inputs.. Im eager and reading your response line by line adding to my excitement and looking forward to conquer HKD in winter..
Also the blog of KS_Bluechip looks cool.. The writeup and information posted is extremely valueable. Thanks for this too..

Do you have contacts of any good driver and porter cum guide who can carry luggage and cook food based on ur experience.. I read from KSB's response about a guide Tikkam Singh but looking for his contact, because for sure he doesn't drink, is what I want for my trek. I dont want to compromise on the start time of my trek. Would you be able to help out of driver and Tikkam Singh..

ks_bluechip

Just noticed this thread and my ref in it ... I was away last month to EBC.

I feel Tikkam Singh is good and knows the route uptodate on regular basis well (i.e. the latest landslides etc.) because he travels between Osla & Sankri frequently ...why? becos his wife lives in Sankri (with one school going kid) and rest of family & farming is in Osla I don't know of any way to contact Tikkam ... maybe only via that garrulous GMVN-Sankri caretaker.

The GMVN cottage is HKD is basic; but has A Dorm with 8-9 beds/cots. Location is superb.

Any other questions? ... I think the Trail and Stay conditions could be quite different in Dec, than in July when I went. Also Tikkam was teetotaler in July, but in winter's cold who knows??

-KS

__________________
ks_bluechip [My Travel Blog] [My Flickr Photo Sets]

Dilliwala

Arre sir, welcome back!
Been wondering where u were. I forgot u had gone to conquer Everest!

amit,
Sorry I don't have any contacts for drivers in DD. I will be passing thru on my way to Muss soon, I'll def enquire what the correct rate shud be. If u can beat Khajan Singh down, then no reason not to go with him, I suppose. I'm guessing u can wait 10-15 days before u need to freeze the transport arrangements? BTW, no doubt u've probably considered this, but just want to mention as soon as your departure date from home is finalised, make your train bookings first thing. There will be a spurt of tourists around the year-end break going to DD, espesh if it snows in Muss.

There is no electricity or mobile tower in Sankri and northwards, so there's no chance to call Tikam Singh. So I guess u shud write to him (in Hindi), the foll address shud work as Osla is very small -
Shri Tikam Singh
Vill. Osla
P.O. Sankri
Dist. Uttarkashi, UA
PIN 249185

From what ksb reports he is an experienced guide, so shud be able to arrange porter/cook as well. From what I hear guides don't cook or carry loads.

amitsankrani

Dilliwala and KS.

Thanks for response,
Yeah I plan to finalise my train bookings by 23rd Oct (60 days in advance) through etickets. Our meeting point will be Delhi. I guess a couple will join from bangalore and Noida. So we will all meet together,

I spoke to Khazan Singh and he gave me Rs. 3,000 one way rate. Have told him to tentatively block it and will confirm by Oct end. By I was just thinking that winter is an off season and should be a source of income for them. So trying hard to bring them down. I cannot rely on buses during winter due to visibility and weather changing conditions instantly.

Would you advise any precautionary measures for the winter trek to HKD. Do we need to carry ice axes and slings of ropes to climb. I dont think it would be steep high and so technical...
Basically 3 os us are enthusiasts and trekkers in Sahyadris mumbai range, However one claims to be a pro-trekker.

Regards,
Amit

chits007

I dont know what the condition today..but last year in december. Sankri-Taluka road is broken by a huge landslide...so u can go max 4 km and then u have to walk to Taluka..
ideally if u start from dehradoon around 6 ..reach Sankri by 2 and get the stuff and continue with ur porters

amitsankrani

Chits.

We have planned for a full trek walk from Sankri to Taluka. We want to take the beauty of forest also.

Where is the Govind Forest sanctuary check post located??

Also how did you insulate the camera batteries?? My SLR camera has a Lithium ion battery (not pencil battery). Do you know any special way to keep them insulated.

chits007

Forest checkpost is located few kilometers before sankri ...
for insulation..wrap the battery in multiple layer pf paper/polythene and tape it...
also when u go for sleep keep the battery in ur pocket...