STOK SUMMiT

shikhar88

Hi all,

I am 19 and extremely keen to scale Stok Kangri this summer in june.

I was hoping that members could answer the following questions-

1) is the weather favorable for climbing at the time i am planning to go (around the 8th of June)
will the peaks still be snow capped?

2) any advice on tour operators i can get in touch with whom memebers have had a good experience?

thanks!

aman_pruthi

Hey Shikhar,
I am also planning to attempt Stok this summers, but a little later than your date...are your dates flexible maybe by a week or so...if u don't mind a joint attempt?... and there's this guy from Mumbai who's been there twice and he's organizing another expedition this year too starting from 17th June...he's charging around 19k(Leh to Leh). I am not very keen on joining but since I don't have any experience in high altitude trekking, I don't want to try solo. About snow conditions I've heard that the last 100 metres are snow covered almost round the year(except for some guys who try in september or July and that too with alot of bad luck) and there might be snow from 17000ft only, till mid-June. But weather in mountains...it might snow anytime heavily even at the base camp. And lastly, this year there've been heaviest snowfall in last few years in the Ladakh area so snow season is expected to last longer

shikhar88

hey,

I am also keen to find more people to go with on the trek. My dates are a bit inflexible because as is it i am missing 2 weeks of college...however if i am able to delay my trip i will definately tell you and we cn tie up. alternatively if you can prepone your trip, that would be great too

i am exploring a couple of leads from agents based in delhi so will also tell you how that pans out.

if other members can still gve their personal recommendations for agents, then that would be very useful.

one last thing- how does snow on the slopes affect chances of reaching the top?

thanks

shahronakm

You can land up in Leh talk to some of the agents (there are many who can facilitate your climb of Stok Kangri) & finalize who suits you best.

Ronak.

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aman_pruthi

Well...my dates are infexible too Earliest that I can manage is 16th June starting(from Leh)...You have some high altitude trek exp or ne mountaineering/ ice craft course? And yes one more thing...by when will you finalize your decision on dates and everything?

shikhar88

no i have not done any formal mountaineering course but I have trekked to 13500 ft. before. I dont think it shld b a problem for us since most ppl say Stok is more of a 'trekking' climb than a technical climb.

i will know my dates as soon depending on how fast the agents work so i am hoping within a week everything should be set up...

are you planning to get to leh and then set up the climb? Or do it from mumbai itself?

aman_pruthi

I'd prefer to go to Leh and arrange the trip there itself but I don't wanna do it alone so if I don't get a partner then I'll get it setup from Mumbai itself...might be a lill costlier then it'd be but atleast it'd be confirmed. And another problem is that I got to know through this forum that this year there has been hell lot of snow in Ladakh so there are chances that it won't melt till even July and one might need technical climbing for it in June...have had lots of mixed reviews..chalo dekhte hain...Tell me your plans asap...I am leaving for Sarpass trek organized by YHAI on 30th and then would be going to my hometown on 16th May...

solo_trekker

Guys... Stok Kangri is better done only after June - preferably in July and August actually...

Reason why I say so is that for an amateur, things can get to be quite dicey as the weather is unpredictable... You may have clear weather right through; and then, all of a sudden, there could be a snow storm reducing the visibility to zero...

July would make things slightly better and ok for an amateur mountaineer to scale the peak...

Yes, I agree that Stok Kangri is actually just a trekking climb - and nothing majorly technical about it - but all that is only true if you go in the right weather... You just have to be prepared... And if you go when there is lotsa snow already there and chances of the weather going bad - well, rest assured, it very much is technical...

Cheers...!

For more on Ladakh, Check this out...
Ladakh in 5 Days...???!!! (Or 6 or 7 or 10 or 15...!!!)

adventure_unlimited

Aman, others

Are you planning your own trip to Stok Kangri this year? I would be interested in july.

aman_pruthi

hey adventure unli...I am in Leh right now waiting to start d trek after 2 days...d news is accdng to 2 agents there have been many many attempts(maybe more than 50 teams) this climbing season(arnd 40 days) but 1st summit was today(another guy said yesterday 1 of his men was d 1st to stand on summit tis season).snow conditions r xtrmly bad tis year...lots of snow...lets c wat happens...wait a few days for 1st hand info

VSK Sharma

Hi,
All the best to you for a good and safe climb. take care.
VSK

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adventure_unlimited

Goodluck with your *safe* climb. I hope things get better following days.

aman_pruthi

hello all,
just returned from Stok Kangri expedition...we made the summit, it was awesome...lots of snow...slightly technical after ridge(last 1.5-2 hours) but doable even for first timers after lill demonstration by the guide(i was 1 :d). we had 5 groups together on tht day...3 made it...2 returned from halfway. weather was perfect...cloudless..low winds..temp never went below -6-7'C

aman_pruthi

n 4 adventure...u might want to check with Mr. Prateek Deo lifeawayfromlife.com he'd be arranging an expedition in July and august...although he's a lill on the costlier side but still if you wanna contact him...9869158351

shahronakm

Aman, Congrats on your summit climb. Can you please give details like your day by day itinerary along with expenses.

Ronak.