The Milam glacier teahouse trek - the details

Thanks Kothanda. May I know how you booked your guide? And can you mention how much you are paying per day?

Ashutosh..

I was introduced to Debu by the KMVN-TRH Bageshwar Manager Kamal in Sept 2004. He was my Porter-Guide for my Pindari trek then. Since then I have gone with Debu on several treks ..... he is great guide and very helpful and always smiling and full of cheer. I pay him Rs 150/- per day and bear all his expenses + food.. for period he is with me plus a 20-30% Farewell Bonus/Tip at end of trek ... I think total cost including all that... to me may be Rs 300/- per day.

If you are looking for a reliable porter-guide check with KMVN TRH Manager at Munsiyari or Bageshwar. of course you can also contact any Hotel or Trek agent in Munsiyari.

See Debu details at my Blog: http://kothanda.srinivasan.googlepag...debu-trekguide

My pindari trek blog at:
http://kothanda.srinivasan.googlepages.com/pindaritrek2

- KS

Hi Asutosh,
This year, we had a late snow fall. May second week may be bit early, if the snow does n't melt by that time...and there might be a possiblity of freak snowfall in that time. I think Kothanda's schedule should be fine. When I visited 3 years back it was from May 19th. we had a nice weather.
So postpone by a week if possible. Or contact KMVN, Munsiary for actual situation. May be some trekking parties have left already. Good luck!

Rajkumar .... thanks for that update...

Ashutosh ..if you do postpone by a week you are welcome to join me and Debu and go along with us on Milam trek . My plan is to reach Bageshwar-KMVN on 13th afternoon and meet up with Debu there. And on 14th take bus or jeep to Munsiyari and stay at KMVN Munisayri on 14th night and leave for trek start-point on 15th May 7:00AM........ KS

ksb, am I envious, or what!

and great pics on your blog, thanks.

capt_mahajan .... was this praise for my blog? Anyway, i have take it as such ... thanks! .... KS

ksb, it was actually appreciation for the photos

but i liked the writeup too, and how you decided to do what you are doing.

Capt Mahajan; thanks again .... Actually I was'nt sure if your appreciation was for my post/blog or Someones Else's post..... becos in the "hybrid" display mode, i saw your post was linked to the orginal Main Poster ..... rather than my post. Anyway Now clear .... thanks, again ..... KS

Thanks for your offer Kothanda, but unfortunately I have already booked my flights and I cannot change the travel dates. I would have loved to join you on this trek. Next time for sure, I will try to make the trek with you.

About the snow falling, I don't really mind, I live in a place where it's -40C for half the winter and snows a foot at a time So I would actually prefer to have some snow. I am taking my snowboots along anyways.

How painful is it to get to Munsiyary from Delhi? Can it be done within 24 hours like I plan to do via Haldani/Kathgodam by taking the Ranikhet Express?

Thanks,
Ashutosh

Ashutosh ...

Ok next time then :-)

Ranikhet express leaves Old Delhi stn at about 10pm... reaches kathgodam 6:00am ... you can take a jeep or share jeep Kathgodam to Munsiary reaching by 7PM max ... normally you will have to do that in 2 stages ..... first a share-jeep to Almora (say 7am - 10am) and then another share-jeep from Almora to Munisyari (say 11AM to 6-7PM).

So it can be done in about 20hrs i.e. 10PM to next day 6PM.

-Kothanda

I suggest you take a jeep that goes to munsiary directly from Kathgodam if possible. Because you will save some the time waiting for Munsiary jeep in Almora. You know shared jeep won't start until they get filled up. And remember in the hills travelling is done in early morning. So make it a point that you start early and reach by afternoon/evening. The traffic will be blocked from 8-00PM till 5-00AM next morning in the interior hills.
As for the snow, it's melting fast. But don't underestimate the passage through greater Himalayan range. It's avalanche prone. as you will see it's "effects" in Bogudiar. Once you are thru the Gori ganga gorge, the valley broadens. and the trek will be more or less on a level ground.
Happy trekking!

Thank you everybody for your invaluable replies! I appreciate them very much.

One of the unsettled parts of the trip - the Delhi to Kathgodam train trip.

This being May, I will be glad to get a Sleeper A/C berth, but I don't know if the train has such a configuration. The IR website doesn't seem to show much about the Ranikhet Express.

Is it also true that the Ranikhet Express train now originates in Delhi Sarai Rohilla?

Hi..

For delhi to kathgodam there r 2 trains..

sampark kranti leaves from old delhi sometimes in the afternoon, and reaches kathgodam around 10:30 pm.
it is a chair car train. so if u want AC, u can book urself in the ac chair car compartment.

as for ranikhet express..there r AC compartments..AC 3 tier. it leaves DELHI around 8:30 pm and reaches kathgodam early in the morning.

yes, u r right..both these trains leave from old delhi railway station.

book quickly for the AC compartments.

Unfortunately, it seems the trains have already been booked! Is the road an option? How much time would it take by bus to reach from Delhi to Munsiyari?

There used to be a bus from Delhi to Munsiary directly.And it took 24 hours to reach the destination.
I think the bus to Munsiary from Haldwani(kathgodam) starts at 2-00AM. If you could reach by that time, you can get that bus. Else, take an overnight bus ( Volvo AC) to Haldwani(Kathgodam) from Delhi. And start around 6-00AM by jeep( shared or otherwise) to Munsiary.
Almoraboy could help you in this regard as he travelled this way last time, I remember.