Toughest Winter Treks In Indian Himalayas
The Himalayan range demands physical and mental toughness of gargantuan proportions. Indian Himalayan range stands apart with its natural beauty and unmatched flora and fauna. Trekking in Indian Himalayas during the harsh winter months can be a tricky affair. Here are some of the toughest winter treks in Indian Himalayas,
Pin Parvati Trek
Winter treks to Pin Parvati are under a constant threat of snowfalls, making the trails extremely treacherous at a steep height of 5335 m. The stunning scenery of mountain ranges, Pin and Parvati valleys and snowflake covered forests flowerbeds is well complemented by a hostile surface, precipitous slopes and body numbing weather. Scaling this summit takes around 12 days and only seasoned trekkers should attempt it. This trek requires around 11 days and covers an astonishing 100 km, taking you from Kullu to Spiti Valley across expansive glaciers, steep slopes, and dense forests.
Stok Kangri Trek
Stok Kangri trek is one of the difficult treks in India mainly due to its high altitude and rough terrain. You will be involved in proper mountaineering while scaling the peaks, which require adequate skills and strategies. Apart from the mountain trekking, you will be rope and rock climbing and hiking your way towards the Stok Kangri Peak. With an altitude of 6,153 m, this trek has perilous slopes, dry terrain, icy glaciers, furiously flowing rivers and thinner air, thus requiring stamina, endurance and mental toughness along with proper acclimatisation to such high altitude.
Kalindi Khal Trek
Set at an altitude of 5946m, the Kalindi Khal Pass Trek is easily one of the toughest treks in the Garhwal region. The trek offers a never-ending excitement to the trekkers as it is replete with snow, glaciers and boulders. It takes almost two weeks to complete the trek from Gangotri to Badrinath and a total distance of almost 100 km featuring beautiful sight of the various peaks like Satopanth, Vasuki, Bhagirathi etc. You must possess decent mountaineering, boulder-scaling and glacier-climbing experience to surpass its snowfields, glaciers and boulders.
Dzongri Goecha La Trek
The Dzongri Goecha La trek is undoubtedly one of the most difficult treks in India. Trekking in the winter months gets extremely difficult as the slopes get more and steeper with layers of ice and weather plays spoilsport, particularly after Dzongri. If you are an experienced trekker with handsome past experiences and the proper equipment in your backpack, this can be an interesting challenge for you. You’ll climb up to a maximum altitude of 4939 m through vast glacial over 10 days, at a temperature of even -20 degrees.
Auden’s Col Trek
Auden’s Col Peak connects the Gangotri III and Jogin I peaks and has a maximum elevation of 5450 meters. The heavy snowfall makes this a particularly difficult winter trek. Besides, you will find fewer accommodation options during that time of the year. Known for the shallow crevasses and the tricky Khatling glacier, Auden’s Col offers a majestic view of snow-covered Himalayas apart from views of pristine forests and picturesque villages along the way. The crevasses, in particular, require exceptional skills to cross.
Snow Leopard Trek
This trek lies in the adventurous Ladakh region and rises to a maximum altitude of 3800 m. it covers 80 km over a 13 day period with at least 9 days of trekking. Set in the Hemis National Park, winters here sees a drop in night temperature to even -25 degrees. This trek gives you a vista of the beautiful Rumbak Valley and has rich wildlife presence. The torrid climatic conditions characterised by freezing winds make this a tough physical test for any trekker.
Frozen River Trek
The thought of treading the length of a fierce river that has been frozen by the harsh Himalayan winter is enough to shoot the adrenaline levels up. The river in question is the famous Zanskar River of Ladakh. Also known as the ever thrilling Chadar Trek, the temperature in this trek can dip to a low of -25 to -30 degrees, thus giving a very chilly daytime experience and freezing nights. Apart from climbing glacial peaks, icy rocks and boulders, you may have to create alternate routes in places where the riverbed is thinly frozen.