Trek to Roopkund -1 week of June-Likeminded travel partner required.

Hi i am planning for a trek to roopkund this June , 2012. I am a solo trekker , for rest of my trek partners could not manage to get their leaves sanctioned. And for this same reason i am the only one left for the trek .For the very same reason i am searching likeminded travel partner or group where i can join in .I have done many solo trips throughout India and this will be my first trek in the himalayan ranges for which i virtually have no personal experience , but very much eager to have one and hell bent for successfully doing this.

Got to read so many threads on Roopkund in IM and i have got pretty much idea about the terrains and level of difficulty involved .Still reading on . But thing is that those informative threads are some 2-3 years old and no recent new posts are available , describing present conditions and information on the region.

I have some dilema in my mind and for this i have some question to the senior members -

1)Is it a good idea to do a solo trek to Roopkund .And what will be the do's and don'ts if solo trekking .
2)How is the weather condition during June, 2012.
3)What all i need to have along with me required for the trek, i.e should i require ice axes, ropes , raincoats etc etc for this trek.
4)From where it is advisable to buy rations ,hire porters and a guide for the trek.And how trustful they are(porters, guide) if i go ahead for a solo trek to roopkund.
5)What is the present prevelant hiring cost for a guide and a porter.
6)I have a stiff timeline due to leave shortages . So can i complete this trek within 6 days? FYI- i will be starting from Rishikesh(2nd Jun)->Lohajung->didina->Bedni Bugyal ->Bhagwabasa->Roopkund .


Any suggestions and relies will be deeply appreciated .Anyone who has recently concluded the trek can please share their experience .

Refer to links below
Roopkund in detail and explained
&
Walk to a mysterious frozen lake high in the Himalayan Hills (June 2011)

No problem in solo trek. You may find many trekers in your way. Porters and guides are honest, no need to fear.
Ice axe is not required but raincoat is necessary. I suggest to take accompany of another group, that you will surely find in Loharjung.

Hi Neeraj,

I am also planning to go to roopkund exactly the same time. We (me and my friends) are planning to start the trek on 3rd June. Do you know any guide over there? If yes could you please give his contact info so that we can fix the date and he can arrange whatever necessary.




@Commando: As per the info I received we can do this this trek in 5 days. Wan to Wan 45km but it gets substantial height so its a good idea to keeps 1 day for rest or acclimatization.

Thanks.

Hi Straphanger ,Can i join you both for the trip .

I will be starting from Varanasi on 1st Jun and reach Kathgodam via Delhi/Moradabad/Kanpur route on 2nd of Jun . Will do a night halt there and from 3rd Jun i am planning to start my trek .

Can you share some information on your preparations and the trek route plans so i can liase with mine . Have you done any prior hotel reservations or anything ?Thanks


nkothiyal (Naveen) has provided some contact number in his posted link above where he has provided some detailed insight on the trek . I think we can use his provided information .

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Originally Posted by nkothiyal
Dear Dhuraba Da

You can use my reference (Naveen Kothiyal) while talking to our guide Mahender at 09411564578 & 09410925427. They have an excellent team and do take care of the team very well. These guys are based out of Loharjung.
---------------------------------------------

You can contact Mr. Patwal (Ex-Army), the owner of Patwal Lodge at Lohajung. He will help you with cooks, porters, tents etc. His contact nos. are:

+919410480308
+911363280211

I took a group in Oct last year there and the rates were as follows:
Cook: Rs.350
Helper: Rs.300
Guide: Rs. 450
Mules: Rs. 300

The tricky and confusing part (which hit us later) was that they charge these rates on per "DESIGNATED" destination and NOT based on how many stoppages YOU make. The designated ones are Didna, Tolpani, Aali, Bedni, Patar Nachauni, Bhaguabasa and I can't remember clearly but perhaps they also count (Ghoda Lotani). So in all, seven. There reasoning, the mules and themselves have to work harder if the trip duration is shorter and stoppages fewer and further apart! Makes sense. But since it was not mentioned earlier to us and we were under the impression that these are on per day basis, they were good enough to charge us for 5.5 days.

So, the moral of the story is that you should clearly decide beforehand with them what and how much they'll be charging and on what basis.

We did this trek in 5 days (Lohajung-Lohajung), so if you're counting it from Rishikesh-Rishikesh, you'll still need 7 days.

Many thanks Travelosophic for the info.

Yeah Commando, why not. We will be glad to have you with us.

We are reaching Kathgodam early in the morning and drive to lohajung that same day.

Our tentative itinerary is as follows -

Day1: Kathgodam to Lohajung. Make necessary arrangements. (Drive)
Day2: Drive to Wan (10 km) Wan to Bedni Bugyal (Drive and trek)
Day3: (Optional) Bedni to Pathar
Nachoni/ Baguabasa/ Ranikhesulera/ Kalu Vinayak (Trek)
Day4: Acclimatize and Rest (Trek)
Day5: Day2 Halt to RoopKund and Junargali col to Bedni.(trek)
Day6: Bedni to Wan (trek)
Day7: Drive to Kathgodam.(Drive)

Let me know ur plan and suggestions.

Not a problem Straphenger. Though June is still one and a half month far but still the wait and preparations are worth the pure awesomeness that awaits you...Enjoy!

I have got a question from our group that do you need any permit for the Roopkund trek?

If so, how can we arrange that?



Thanks.

Some information about permits mentioned (click) here (click)

Following fees are required to be paid at the Forest Office at Lohajung:-

Member Entry - Rs. 60 per head
Staff Entry (Porters, cooks etc.) - Rs. 20 per head
Mule Entry - Rs. 25 per mule per halt
Waste management fee - Rs. 10 per Member per halt
Tent Fee - Rs. 100 per tent per halt, i.e., if you plan to stay in tents. The other option is to book Forest Dept. fiber huts at different stoppages. These also can be booked from the same office at Lohajung. These are quite big huts with a capacity for 10-12 people. I don't remember the booking charge but you may inquire at the number given at the end of this post.

(Note: Ours were 4-men tents. Fees might be lower for 2-men tents. Also note that this is NOT tent rental fee but the fee for pitching your own tents.)

No separate permit is required. The receipt works.

At our time, the forest officer was one Mr. G.S.Bisht, quite a helpful guy. His number is +919411577379. Better to call him in advance and arrange for booking those fiber huts if you're not carrying your tents.

Hi, we are going on June 1st from Kolkata and reach Rishikesh 2nd Jun 12. If u want to go, please conact soon, We have already book everything.,.

Thanks & Regards
Abhijit Mitra


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Many thanks Avijit. You are reaching to Lohajung/Wan on 2nd June itself right? So that we can start on the trek on 3rd June and finish it by 7th June. We are 4 guys in group. Tell me your group size. Please drop me a PM with ur no.

Thanks.
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Hi , Straphenger

We are reaching Lohajung on 3rd june:
1/6/2012 : Howrah to Haridwar Jn
2/6/2012 : Haridwar Jn and will Stay rishikesh
3/6/2012 : rishikesh to Lohajung
4/6/2012 : Lohajung to Didina
5/6/2012 : Didna to Bedni Bugyal - via Ali Bugyal
6/6/2012 : Bedni Bugyal to Bhagwabasa
7/6/2012 : Bhagwabasa - Roopkund- Junargali- Bhagwabasa
8/6/2012 : Bedni Bugyal to Wan
9/6/2012 : WAN to Haridwar Jn

This is our Schedule,We have booked Train Ticket , We are already booked Potter and Guide also. we are three member team from kolkata.If you are interest please contact with me. Please drop your no so that I can contact with you. sending you a friend request. you can send your no though skype also.



PM function to not available to me ....so please contact though Skype. I have share my skype Id.


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