Tapovan and Kedartal in October 2008.

travel joy

Hi Somnath,
Kirti glacier is a very good option for one day camping.Nice views of Kharchakund & Kedardome.
As far as I know there is a climb en route Vasuki Taal where one needs to fix the ropes.I am sure you have taken care of that.

roy_supratim05

@Somnath

While you are going upto Vasuki Taal and Kirti Glacier, I was thinking about our previous year schedule (2007 October). We also planned for Kirti but we can't go beyond Tapovan due to deep snow. Kirti is really a good choice. But I think Nandanvan is the best place to have a nice view of Kedardome. From Kirti camping ground you can view Kharchakund and Choukhamba 4 very well.

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somnath

Honestly speaking right now I do not have enough info regarding Vasukital. Since, now we have some comfortable time and as per the map the distance is 6 KM it is included on request. I am just trying to know something on the following points:

1. Nandavan > Vasukital (Joy, thanks for the info). I’ve not even started my homework any recommended link / info, please?
2. Tapovan > Nandavan (thanks to Ashu for sharing his experience). Is there another route from Gomukh to Nandavan (GMVN map shows something like that)?
3. On return trip – Nandavan to Bhujbasha (bypassing tapovan / Gomukh) – do you recommend this trail?

Ashutosh, Supratim, Joy and friends as it is mentioned drinking water may be a factor at Nandavan…. It would be very helpful if you share your experience. How did you guys manage? We were dependent on streams in Dzongri – Goechala route which is OK, so not really expecting bottled water ha ha ha….

- thanks in advance.

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travel joy

You can check the accounts of Kalindi khal trek in the forum for the details of the route to Vasuki tal.But you will surely find experienced guides avaliable in Uttarkashi who can manage the technical aspects of the route.
Tapovan and Nandanvan are on the two opposite banks of the Gangotri glacier i.e. on the true lhs & true rhs repectively.There are independent paths from Gaumukh to the two places and also a connecting route between the two across the glacier.After one starts climbing up from Goumukh via the true right side of the Glacier there is a direct route to Nandanvan. Heard that it has deteriorated further in the last year or so.The path to Tapovan turns right across the glacier & finally climbs steeply thorough the scree bank ( the true lhs) to reach Tapovan.

somnath

Sure Sir, . I am going to find some Kalindikhal acc. But hey, no answr...... no response regarding source of drinking water !!!! come on don’t tell me “Save water Drink Beer”.

praks

Sorry, but I can't let this pass without comment. I have spent years trekking in different mountain regions of the Himalaya and have yet to experience even a hint of rudeness from the mountain folk. I can list several instances where many of them have gone out of their way to help and accommodate me and/or my teammates without any expectations whatsoever. I can't imagine why they appeared rude to you.

praks

Provided you are acclimatised, Nandanvan to Vasuki Tal should take you a good five to six hours of walking at a good pace. Just before you reach Vasuki Tal there is a steep scree descent to a stream coming down from the Bhagirathi snowmelt and a steep scree ascent to Vasuki Tal which may require fixed ropes, depending on the experience of your team.

Tapovan to Nandanvan is a glacier walk best done in the morning so as not to get caught on the glacier in the fading light of the evening. I would avoid doing Neeltal/Kirti Bamak in the morning and a post lunch attempt to reach Nandanvan. Water will be an issue at Nandanvan during October. We had difficulty finding water in late September but that was many years ago. I do not have the latest info on that. In any case, it is pointless to return to Gaumukh from Tapovan and then go to Nandanvan. Best to go direct from Tapovan to Nandanvan.

Nandanvan to Bhujbasa, bypassing Tapovan is not a problem except at one place, past Raktavarn Glacier where you may encounter rockfall. Be very alert while crossing this area.

In case you go to Kedar Tal, it is possible to reach Gangotri from Kedar Tal in one long day. Reaching Gangotri late is not a problem as food and stay are available there.

In any case, when in the mountains, it is best to leave for your destination as early in the morning as possible.

Have a safe and enjoyable trek.

somnath

Parks, thank you so much for your help. As soon as I came to know that you are going to post your views here I was really excited. Thank you once again.
Allow me to post my answer :

“Provided you are acclimatised, Nandanvan to Vasuki Tal should take you a good five to six hours of walking at a good pace………. , depending on the experience of your team”
- If every member is not acclimatized / fit enough / weather looks like not very friendly / guide is not comfortable – we’ll just stop at that point (no second thought - no argument). I don’t consider myself as ‘experienced’ moreover we have 3 beginner (their first trek) in the team.

“I would avoid doing Neeltal/Kirti Bamak in the morning and a post lunch attempt to reach Nandanvan.”
- Then it would be better to keep Kirti away from the plan and instead of that we could plan (as suggested by Debu in another thread) to camp at upper Nandavan. This can help us next day : Nandavan > Vasukital > Nandavan back). Sounds OK?

“, it is pointless to return to Gaumukh from Tapovan and then go to Nandanvan”
- Thank you, it will be Tapovan > Nandavan. And Nandavan to Bhojbasha.

“In case you go to Kedar Tal, it is possible to reach Gangotri from Kedar Tal in one long day.”
- Kedartal is no more in our plan this year (but…… but….. we’ll definitely do this in future).


- Somnath

praks

The terrain from Nandanvan to Vasuki Tal is mostly very easy and comfortable to walk on except at the end, near Vasuki Tal. You will have to decide there itself, depending on the prevalent conditions of the members and weather.

Keeping Kirti away from the plan is advisable unless you change your mind about visiting Nandanvan for any reason. In which case you have the time to visit Kirti. Your campsite at Nandanvan, whether upper or lower, will be determined solely by the location of the water source.

If you get an early enough start, you can reach Gangotri the same evening. Be prepared for bitter cold during October, especially before sunrise and after sunset.

somnath

Thank you once again for your valuable inputs, Parks.

We tried to book our gears like tent / sleeping bag etc. but the organization – Chakra Equipment is going to close their service. They are no more interested to give equipments on rental basis (no more profitable). But thanks to my friend Debu who helped me to contact “Alpine 360 Degree” at TTF (yesterday was the last day). But a bad news was waiting for us. They cannot provide holofill sleeping bag because it is full. But Acrylic fiber sleeping bags can be provided.
- Should I go for it or I must take holofil one (considering the temperature at Tapovan / Nandavan)? Any suggestion?

praks

Temperature is not the consideration between Hollofil and Acrylic fiber. Weight is. Hollofil is also a type of acrylic fiber except that it is hollow, thus trapping air which is the main insulation in a sleeping bag. Plain acrylic fiber is not hollow, so a larger quantity, thus more weight, is required in a sleeping bag to give the same degree of warmth as a Hollofil filled one. So if weight is not an issue, make do with the acrylic fiber. Otherwise try to find Hollofil or even better, down sleeping bags. Hope this helps.

roy_supratim05

Hi Somnath, may I help you??

Try to contact "Alpine, Bullygunge Place East, Near Dey's Medical (Bus stop)". Proprietor name is Sudeb Da (Sudeb Hazra), Mob: 9830194296.

You can refer my name as "Supratim from Barrackpore" and I think you will get all your required gears .

As per my suggestion tell Sudeb Da to give the sleeping bag of Hollowfilled Expedition type, rate @15/- per day, but a nice and warmth sleep is guaranteed, I used this thing in my previous trek and it was really good. I think in October and in a place like Nandanvan, you will need this.

Happy trekking.

somnath

Praks, now I can understand the difference. Thank you.
Supratim, thank you. I just called Mr. Subodh Hazra with your reference. And he told me that all the items are available till now. We need to pay the total amount in advance and we need to deposit the same amount of money as security deposit. Sounds good – we do not have any problem. It was my request to him to wait till Saturday. Because it is not possible to go to his office in weekdays.

BTW, one of my teammates went to Ria Mountain Support near Great Eastern Hotel. They also open for booking. Looks we are not that late. Saturday we’ll go to both the organization and it will be finalized. Supratim looks very influential ……. 1 KG fuchka is due .

roy_supratim05

my God , do you want to kill me with 1 KG fuchka ????!!!!!

AvidTrekker

He means 100 gms into ten times

(I had to "google images" the term "fuchka" to see what is it ) We call it paani poori here.

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