tapovan, traill's, kalindi khal

karakal · Sep 29th, 2006, 09:44

have a few questions that have been on my mind for a while, the answers to which i still haven't found. help if you can:

1. how possible is it to do the trek up to tapovan alone? my concerns are centered not so much on the physical aspect of it - i've gone past the kongmaru la to nimaling on my own and managed fine so i think this is doable. i'm more concerned about the route - is it easy to find? if somebody has the energy and the recollection, could you please provide me with a brief description of the way beyond gaumukh...

2. my second question is more out of interest (i don't think i have the technical expertise nor the money to fund this) - has anybody visited traill's pass?? i'd be very interested to know what the route is like? what confuses me a little is that, in spite of it being so clearly marked on a lot of maps, i've come across literature to the contrary - saying that we don't quite know where it is? project-himalaya.com has a very intriguing travelogue about this.

3. also, for all those junkies who need to read about such things while they can't do them, here is one of those rare peeks into kalindikhal. a blog with a write up and pics of a recent trip -
http://expiring-frog.blogspot.com/
enjoy.

lakshit · Sep 29th, 2006, 11:09

Hi Karakal,
Gr8 description of the Kalini trek.
I can answer u r first question as I have been to Tapovan myself. The trek till Gaumukh is an easy one, with a well marked route and can b done without a guide. But in order to reach Tapovan, u will have 2 cross the gangotri glacier, which is full of crevasses. Crossing it without a guide can b fatal. After crossing the glacier, there is a very very steep climb of about 300 meters that lands u in Tapovan. Regarding staying options, u can stay in the many ashrams that r there or u can camp

Cheers
Lakshit

karakal · Sep 29th, 2006, 11:20

thanks, lakshit. if there's a glacier to be crossed, it makes sense having another person (for some reason i thought nandanvan had the major crossing and not tapovan).

jyotipg · Sep 29th, 2006, 12:12

Kara,

You can take a porter from Bhojwas who can guide you al the way till Tapovan. These porters keep on going to Tapovan very often and can help you out while crossing Gangotri glacier.

himadventures · Oct 3rd, 2006, 04:35

Glacier travel should not be done alone. TAPOBAN is easy but take care of weather. Better walk with someone or have a porter from GANGOTRI.

Nadanvan is goodjob and very scenic but as it involves glacier travel- have to take care and should not be done alone.

TRAIL's PASS is not a easy job as there is 80m wide creavasse up there which has sent many INDIAN and OVERSEAS expeditions back to home.

arjunm · Oct 3rd, 2006, 11:28

Dear Karakal

We are a group heading for Tapovan from Gangotri on Oct 16. If you wish you could join us. It is no fun trekking alone in these parts.

If weather permits we would also head for Nandanvan.

Arjun

karakal · Oct 3rd, 2006, 22:14

Thanks Jyoti, Him for your advice.
Arjun, thank you for your invitation, but this is all in preparation for next year. I'm far far away from india as i write this.

himadventures · Oct 16th, 2006, 03:43

TAPOBAN does not require much of planning and resources except that you should have your own supportive sysytem.

But visiting anywhere beyond that should be planned and someone should be there who knows how to handle GLACIER TRAVEL.

Sep 29th, 2006, 09:44	#1
karakal Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York City / New Delhi Posts: 24	tapovan, traill's, kalindi khal have a few questions that have been on my mind for a while, the answers to which i still haven't found. help if you can: 1. how possible is it to do the trek up to tapovan alone? my concerns are centered not so much on the physical aspect of it - i've gone past the kongmaru la to nimaling on my own and managed fine so i think this is doable. i'm more concerned about the route - is it easy to find? if somebody has the energy and the recollection, could you please provide me with a brief description of the way beyond gaumukh... 2. my second question is more out of interest (i don't think i have the technical expertise nor the money to fund this) - has anybody visited traill's pass?? i'd be very interested to know what the route is like? what confuses me a little is that, in spite of it being so clearly marked on a lot of maps, i've come across literature to the contrary - saying that we don't quite know where it is? project-himalaya.com has a very intriguing travelogue about this. 3. also, for all those junkies who need to read about such things while they can't do them, here is one of those rare peeks into kalindikhal. a blog with a write up and pics of a recent trip - http://expiring-frog.blogspot.com/ enjoy.

Sep 29th, 2006, 12:12	#4
jyotipg Lives virtually on IM Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 466	Kara, You can take a porter from Bhojwas who can guide you al the way till Tapovan. These porters keep on going to Tapovan very often and can help you out while crossing Gangotri glacier. __________________ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/himalaya_trekkers/

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Sep 29th, 2006, 11:09	#2
lakshit Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hisar (Haryana) Posts: 38	Hi Karakal, Gr8 description of the Kalini trek. I can answer u r first question as I have been to Tapovan myself. The trek till Gaumukh is an easy one, with a well marked route and can b done without a guide. But in order to reach Tapovan, u will have 2 cross the gangotri glacier, which is full of crevasses. Crossing it without a guide can b fatal. After crossing the glacier, there is a very very steep climb of about 300 meters that lands u in Tapovan. Regarding staying options, u can stay in the many ashrams that r there or u can camp Cheers Lakshit

Sep 29th, 2006, 11:20	#3
karakal Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York City / New Delhi Posts: 24	thanks, lakshit. if there's a glacier to be crossed, it makes sense having another person (for some reason i thought nandanvan had the major crossing and not tapovan).

Oct 3rd, 2006, 04:35	#5
himadventures Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,070	Glacier travel should not be done alone. TAPOBAN is easy but take care of weather. Better walk with someone or have a porter from GANGOTRI. Nadanvan is goodjob and very scenic but as it involves glacier travel- have to take care and should not be done alone. TRAIL's PASS is not a easy job as there is 80m wide creavasse up there which has sent many INDIAN and OVERSEAS expeditions back to home.

Oct 3rd, 2006, 11:28	#6
arjunm Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 213	Dear Karakal We are a group heading for Tapovan from Gangotri on Oct 16. If you wish you could join us. It is no fun trekking alone in these parts. If weather permits we would also head for Nandanvan. Arjun

Oct 3rd, 2006, 22:14	#7
karakal Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: New York City / New Delhi Posts: 24	Thanks Jyoti, Him for your advice. Arjun, thank you for your invitation, but this is all in preparation for next year. I'm far far away from india as i write this.

Oct 16th, 2006, 03:43	#8
himadventures Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: India Posts: 1,070	TAPOBAN does not require much of planning and resources except that you should have your own supportive sysytem. But visiting anywhere beyond that should be planned and someone should be there who knows how to handle GLACIER TRAVEL.

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