Yuksom-Dzongri La-Goecha La Trekking in October 2012

Hi All,

This is my first post though i have been following several posts and forums for a long time. I am fond of travelling and with a thirst of adventure as well. Recently i am gaining interest in trekking. This year only i have completed the Sandakphu-Phalut trek in August, followed by the Santlabari-Lepchakha one day trek and Taktsang Monastery trek in November.
Although i am quite new to this form of travel, yet i am dying to do the Yuksom-Dzongri-Goecha La trek(Oct 2012).

From the knowledge gained over the numerous posts i have chalked out the following itenary, making the trek a 10 day venture as most of us are novice. Please advice and give your kind suggestions.

Trip Plan:

Confirming the Dates for the Trek:

Wed Oct-24th-2012 Day 01: From Kolkata overnight train to NJP.

Thu Oct-25th-2012 Day 02: Reach NJP - Drive to Yuksom - 6hrs Halt-Yuksom.

Fri Oct-26th-2012 Day 03: Trek from Yuksom (5,840 ft) - Sachen (7,860 ft).[8Km/6hrs/moderate ]. Halt-Sachen.

Sat Oct-27th-2012 Day 04: Sachen(7,860 ft) to Tsokha(10,000 ft).[8km/6hrs/moderate ]. Halt-Tsokha.

Sun Oct-28th-2012 Day 05: Tsokha(10,000 ft)- Dzongri (13,300 ft).[10km/6hrs/strenuous ]. Halt-Dzongri.

Mon Oct-29th-2012 Day 06: Early morning climb to top to catch a glimpse of Mt.Kanchenjunga. Return.Acclimatization.[4-5Km/4hrs/easy ] Halt-Dzongri.

Tue Oct-30th-2012 Day 07: Dzongri(13,300ft)-Kokchurung(12,500ft)-Thansing(13,000ft). [10km/6hrs/strenuous ]. Halt-Thansing.

Wed Oct-31st-2012 Day 08: Thangsing(13,000 ft) - Samiti Lake(14,500 ft) - Lamuney(13,780 ft). [6km/4hrs/easy ]. Halt-Lamuney.

Thu Nov-1st-2012 Day 09: Start Early morning(3.00 am) (Longest Day) Lamuney(13,780ft)-Goechala View point 1(16,030ft)-Goecha la View point2(Alt unknown-??) - Lamuney. [8km/12hrs/tough ]. Halt-Lamuney.

Fri Nov-2nd-2012 Day 10: Lamuney(13,780ft)-Kokchurang(12,500 ft).[10Km/6hrs/moderate ]. Halt-Kokchurang.

Sat Nov-3rd-2012 Day 11: Kokchurang (12,500 ft)- Tsoka (10,000 ft). [10Km/6hrs/moderate ]. Halt-Tsoka.

Sun Nov-4th-2012 Day 12: Tsoka (10,000 ft)- Yuksom (5,840 ft).[15Km/8hrs/challenging ]. Halt-Yuksom.

Mon Nov-5th-2012 Day 13: Drive from Yuksom to NJP 6hrs overnight train to Kolkata.

Tue Nov-6th-2012 Day 14: Reach Kolkata early morning.

Total of 12 days and 13 nights.


We will be in a group of around 8-10 members with a couple of ladies. (Average age of group being - 25 yrs).

Please have a look at the trip plan and suggest us the necessary things to note. i will be posting my queries shortly.

Warm Regards,
Saurabh Baidya

Hi Saurabh

Plan is good. Just be careful about Goecha La View point-2.
1. Make sure your group is fit and fine.
2. Not all guides will take you to view point-2,
3. You start very early in the morning (night) for the view point-2.

I have done this trek twice, in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, we could not go upto view point-2 because of 'bad' organizer, so in 2011, I avoided organizer and went with the same guide, who was with us in 2010.

Regards
Jagdish

Nice to hear about your successful attempt for the trek. will love to know more about your experience.Thanks for the suggestion.

Merry Christmas
& Happy New Year,
Saurabh Baidya

dear jagdish

i am planning for the same trek during april 2012.
can you please provide me with the contact number of the guide and also a brief description of the budget.

regards

souvo

Hi Souvo,

If you shift it to May, I may be interested to join. Let me know.

thanks

Rajat

Hi All,

Anybody interested to Join our team are most welcome. Your experience will help us a lot.

Happy New Year,
Saurabh Baidya

Anyone interested in doing the Goecha la trek in April .The itinerary by Saurabh seems reasonable.Wouldnt mind doing it in May too.Thanks.
Simran Gupta

Hi All,

I wish I could do the trek in april only...but i have to loose my job if i dare that.
who ever goes there in spring please do share the experience and tips.
goodluck and happy hiking.

cheers to life,
Saurabh Baidya

Simran,

I would like to go for this in mid april. Will reach NJP on 14 Apr. We are 3 member team from Delhi (Self, my wife and my daughter).

See if you want to consider joining us.

thanks

I may have to defer my plan to the last week of april or first week of May.Am definitely doing the trek though.I think Saurabh's itinerary seems do able....gone through so many blogs and various fixed departure groups too.They are a bit pricey but then there is no headache of planning.Rajat are u sure about mid april?How old is your daughter?Cos I think this will be a pretty strenous trek.
Simran

She is 9 years. And has been following her parents closely. So far, she been to multiple high altitude treks. In November, she completed Thorang La with us. She has been to places like Sandakphu, Hampta Pass, Khalia top etc.

What I realized is if one acclamatizes well, mountain treats everyone similar way !

More you are close to May, there are more chances of bad weather. Let me know, once your plan finalizes.

thanks

Rajat

Hi Rajat,
I have decided to join the group departure of india hikes.They are charging Rs 9450 from Yuksom to Yuksom .And it is a 10 day trek.Trek starts on 28th April.So I have to be in Yuksom on the 27th.They will arrange a pick up from NJP at an extra cost.Do visit their site.If you plan to do the same then we can all meet in Kolkata station on 26th April pm.
Regards,
Simran

Hi,

You carry on Simran. The minimum age limit in India Hikes is 10 yrs.

We will have to continue to organise this privately for another year or so.

Anyways let me know how it goes.

thanks

Will surely let you know.They do all sorts of intersting hikes....check out the Kashmir great lakes trek...looks awesome...I still have 15 weeks to go....am waiting eagerly.
All the best.
Simran

sorry rajat

couldnt access net for my busy office schedule. again sorry for the delayed revert, hopefully if everything goes as per plan, we will be leaving kolkata on 5th april. 6th being good friday. but the problem is, i need to join office by 16th,(the reason being i have planned for the annapurna base camp trek during oct-nov 2012) so i need to work on the itinerary.

regards

souvo