Trekking Himalayas in Summers

Sonu Negi
Sonu Negi
Sep 7, 2018 · 6 min read

Most of the high altitude passes will have snow in summers. I will list some in off the beaten path category like Lamkhaga pass , Kinner Kailash Parikrama , Borasu pass and Larsa we trek.

  1. Kinner Kailash Parikrama trek ( Charang — La )[1] : Mount Kinner Kailash is located in Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. The trail offers panoramic view of the whole range of Kinner Kailash mountain peaks. This region is located on the Indo-Tibet border and it gives a wonderful introduction of confluence of Hinduism and Buddhist traditions. The landscape of the area varies from lush green scenic valley of Sangla Valley to the snow clad mountains of the Kinner ranges. This trek is packed not only with some of the best views of the mountains, but also provides an insight into the rich history of trade, religion and diverse ethnic groups. Itinerary of the trek is tailor made for hardcore trekkers who have extensive high altitude trekking experience. Trek will include 1/2 days of snow camping (which will depend upon snow conditions in the month of June ) and crossing glaciers.

crevasses en route Charang — La

Charang — La pass is visible in the background

Climb the base camp

The base camp

2. Lamkhaga pass trek

Among several other passes which connects Kinnaur to Uttarakhand like Rupin , Kimilay pass , Chotakhaga and Borasu — Lamkhaga pass is lengthiest pass and it is considered most challenging in the western himlayan region . These passes are said to have been frequented in old days of Indo — Tibetan trade. It is a fairly remote trek and is now regarded as the classic route from Gangotri to Kinnaur, which was first crossed by Marco Pallis in 1933. The trek is also known asChitkul to Gangotri trek or Harsil to Chitkul trek. It trek can be done from either side. The beautiful route takes you through some of the most remote areas of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, like the Jalandhari valley that is covered with flowers post monsoon. The snow in the early season could impede your progress. Harsil is famous for Wilson’s Cottage built in 1864. Gangotri is a short drive from Harsil, while Chitkul is the last village in the Baspa valley.

Day 3 Gundar camp. Lamkhaga pass trek 2015[1]

There is nothing else in life like getting to the summit. What’s more, I’ve always felt that the greater the challenge, the greater the reward.
Ed Viesturs

Lamkhaga pass base camp.
Kinnaur — Garhwal Himalaya
June 2015.

Stuff your eyes with wonder…live as if you would drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories — Ray Bradbury

Lamkhaga pass trek — May 31 2015
Day 3 | Gundar Camp

Lamkhaga Pass (Westface)- 5285m-The Great Divide!
Water from the glacier of the western face of the pass, flows into Arabian sea (i.e Baspa> Sutlej> Indus)
Water from the glacier of the eastern face of the pass, flows into Bay of Bengal (i.e Jalandhari Gad> Bhagirathi> Ganga)
Kinnaur to Garhwal Trek | Late May — June 2015.

“ It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living”. ~David Attenborough

Lamkhaga pass trek
June 2014.[2]

“The love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only paradise we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need, if only we had the eyes to see.” — Edward Abbey
Lamkhaga snowfield ~5170m+
Kinnaur side — June, 2015
Mountains of Baspa glacier to the north in the background.

Peak P5810,
Eastern slopes of Lamkhaga & Chotkhaga divide,
Seen from base of the pass at 5110m,
Kinnaur to Garhwal traverse via Lamkhaga Pass.
June -2015

Trekking is addictive. Ask anyone who has been to the Himalaya on the ‘trek of a lifetime’ and it’s odds on they’ll be planning a return. Dreamers are what we become; eyes have a distant glaze and the pulse quickens as memories are drawn into focus with a host of experiences crowding the dreams of day and night to demand a repeat visit. One trip is clearly not enough; that trek of a lifetime is just the first of many.”
– Kev Reynolds

Dumti — Nithal Thach traverse
Lamkhaga pass trek
2015

One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.

Lamkhaga snowfield.

Tiny human lost in the magnificence of the mountains.

Lamkhaga pass trek
May 2017

The mountain doesn’t play games. It sits there unmoved.
— Bruce Barcott
Lamkhaga Pass
May 2017

The savage beauty.

Day 3: Nithal Thach,
Lamkhaga pass trek
June 2015

Lamkhaga Pass Base(not camp) of Kinnaur side ~ 5110m,
Peak-5810m in the background,
Chotkhaga(Nela) Pass lies behind this peak,
This pass connects Baspa valley with Jalandhari Gad Valley at Harsil.
Early June-2015.

Mighty 3 passes of Jalandhari Gaad valley, Uttarakhand — Chhotkhaga Pass, Dudhiyan Pass & Lamkhaga Pass.

Altitude of Lamkhaga Pass is around 5,282 Mtr (17,329 Ft). Chhotkhaga Pass & Dudhiyan Pass Altitude is unknown and as per trek crew, both passes are almost impossible to cross since it’s difficult terrain.

Originally published by Pawan Ranta on Quora

Sonu Negi

Written by

Sonu Negi

https://raachotrekkers.com/about/

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