The
Hidden Peak.
Introduction Spiti is a mountainous region
situated in the northernmost part of India, close
to the Tibetan border. It has been off limits to
visitors until very recently and has many unclimbed
peaks and hidden valleys.
After a very short sightseeing in Delhi we make
our overland journey to the alpine valley of Manali,
before driving over a high pass and into the Spiti
valley. We then begin the trek. over passes and
trekking along broad arid valleys in a complete
wilderness environment. The landscape is starkly
beautiful and very dramatic, don't expect green
Alpine meadows and dark, cool forests! We pass through
the odd village and gradually climb higher into
the mountains to reach our base camp from where
we aim to make the ascent of Hidden Peak (6,140m)
The peak provide interesting snow climb with incredible
views out across the Tibetan plateau.
After the climbs, a four day trek eastward towards
the Tibet takes us out of the mountains and into
the open plains and lake Tso Moriri. We drive to
the fascinating city of Leh, the capital of Ladakh
before flying back to Delhi.
Destination:Dumla-Thaltok-Leh -Delhi
Duration: 22 days
Best Time: July to Mid September.
Focus: Remote Valleys, High Peaks and Passes,
Wildlife, culture, people an d Monasteries.
Highlights: Ascend to the Hidden Paek ( 6140mts).
Physical challenge: Demanding/ Challanging.
Red Tape: Need inner line permission &
Peak Booking (for details please contact us).
Day 1,Upon arrival at Delhi's International
airport, garland welcome and transfer to your pre-
booked hotel. Morning free. Afternoon visit to the
splendid 16th century Mughal City of Shahjahanabad
, visit Red Fort, Silver Market (Chandni Chowk)
and Jama Mosque. Breakfast and overnight in hotel.
Day 2, After breakfast we drive 5hrs through
the plains of Punjab to Nalagarh, and stay in delightful
Heritage Nalagarh Fort, with fine views of Shivalik
hills. Afternoon visit to the nearby temple or just
relax and swim in the hotel. Dinner and overnight
in hotel.
Day 3, Nalagarh - Manali. A picturesque (8hrs.)
drive through rolling hills, dense forests and from
Kullu, along the bubbling River Beas. The route
is also dotted with lovely villages, apple orchids
and temples. We arrive in Manali late evening and
stay for overnight in hotel. Breakfats, dinner and
overnight in hotel. ( Lunch in local rasturant).
Day 6, After breakfast we drive (175 kms
/ 5hrs.) to Chatru over Rohtang Pass (3978 M), which
offers spectacular views of Pir Panjal range and
Lahauls haunting beauty. We drive along the Chandra
River to our overnight stop at the beautiful camping
spot of Chatru.
Day 7, Today we drive (8 hrs. /127 kms) into
the remote district of Spiti valley, crossing over
Kunzum La (4551 M), with spectacular views. We decend
into Spiti valley over a rough road, to our camp
site at Kaza.
Day 8, We visit Kye monastery in the morning
and afternoon we make a short hike to the village
of Kibber (4205 M), stay overnight in tents.
Day 5, Trek to Dumla (4,200m).We leave the
Spiti valley as we turn into the zone of plateaux
and gorges that precede the higher peaks around
the Parang La. We are still on a rough road as far
as Kibber, a village perched on the edge of the
gorge of the Paralungbi Chu and then we head off
into the wilderness as after Dumla, the next house
is 17 days away at Karzok! A steep descent into
the gorge is followed by a more gradual ascent by
water-powered corn mills to the sheltered fields
of Dumla.
Day 6, Trek to Thaltok (4,600m).It should
take us 3 hours to reach the next campsite. It is
a long, steady climb to cross a ridge at 4,760m
and then a quicker descent to camp in a small bowl
overlooking a deep canyon, with a great view to
the 6,100m peak of Kanikma beyond.
Day 7, Acclimatisation day at Thaltok (4,600m).Again,
we need to halt a while and get used to the rapidly
increasing altitude. This is a good day for a range
of interests: fossil hunting, washing in the stream,
lying on your back or maybe strolling out across
the plateau to a headland that teeters above a 400m
drop into the canyon of the Paralungbi Chu. This
is also the first chance to see the Parang La, slung
between two peaks, some 1,000m higher than this
viewpoint.
Day 8, Down, then up, to the base camp of the
Parang La (5,100m).A steep descent into the
gorge, a river crossing and then a long stony climb
takes us right into the high peaks. A herd of 'Bharal'
or blue sheep might watch quizzically as we make
a very measured ascent to over the 5,000m contour.
The campsite is an arid corrie and the quietness
is absolute.
Day 9, Across the Parang La (5,600m). It
should take less than 3 hrs to reach the pass, a
steady climb over scree slopes and a final zig-zag
to top out by cairns festooned with prayer flags.
Behind, there is ridge upon ridge of rocky peaks,
in front of a broad glacier leading down to the
valley of the Pare Chu. On either side, there are
ice faces and hanging glaciers. To be walking gently
downhill at this altitude is a joy! The glacier
is benign but a wary eye should be kept just in
case. As the glacier steepens towards its snout,
we clamber off onto the true left bank and continue
down to the first of the gravel plains that characterises
the Pare Chu valley. We camp at Kharsa Gongma (4,950m),
where we find a small stream of fresh water. The
main river is a murky grey torrent at this time
of day and its crossing must wait until the morning.
This is a place of stark beauty - the vastness of
the plain, the sudden steep slopes of surrounding
peaks and high snowfields catching the evening sun.
Day 10, Valley of the Pare Chu to near Thaktote
(4,840m). This valley is a glaciated trough
cutting straight through a maze of 6,000m peaks,
many unclimbed and with side valleys yet to be visited.
After 3 river crossings, passing the occasional,
small green oasis and 5 hours of walking, we reach
the confluence with a side valley where we camp.
The side valley has no name - it is that sort of
place!
Day 11, Move up to Base Camp (5,140m). As
we begin walking up, the side valley seems to be
leading nowhere as it becomes narrower and narrower,
with frequent river crossings, scrambling over piles
of loose scree and bypassing the debris of old avalanches.
After a while, a high, snowy wall seems to fill
the end of the valley and the valley sides open
out where a tributary descends steeply from a series
of glaciated cirques. Base camp is on a terrace
high above the streams and littered with fossils
and rare, ground-hugging plants.
Day 12, A chance to rest a bit or else there
is a convenient peak (5,850m) right above the campsite,
the route following quite a steep, well-defined
but technically straightforward ridge to the top.
From here there are superb views of the possible
objectives for the next few days.
Day 13, Ascent of "Hidden Peak" (6,140m).The
ascent is fairly straightforward, following the
moraines in the lower part of the glacier and then
walking up the glacier itself to a steepening near
the main ridge. As the glacier is likely to be snow
covered from here onwards, we rope up and so continue
up steepening snow slopes. The views get better
and better, glaciated peaks in all directions and
you can be pretty confident there is hardly another
human being in the whole of the area you can see!
The snow slopes lead to the summit ridge and a huge
drop to the north side. A short scramble brings
us onto the summit itself and the full 360°
panorama unfolds, towards Tso Moriri to the North,
the inaccessible and difficult peak of Gya on the
Tibetan border to the east and a tangle of peaks
around the beautiful snow pyramid of Shilla to the
south. Ascent time should be no more than 7 or 8
hours. We descend to Base Camp.
Day 14, Rest day at Base Camp.Have a lie
in, a late breakfast, a wash in the river and generally
rest on your laurels!
Day 15- Day 18: Trek to Karzok (4,600m).Not
to be underrated as the 'stroll back to the road'!
We need to allow 4 days to do so! We return down
to the valley of the Pare Chu and follow this increasingly
broad, grey, glacial torrent eastwards towards Tibet,
before turning sharply to the north, rounding a
corner to reveal a whole new landscape! After the
hot, dusty, enclosed valley of the Pare Chu, the
mountains pull right back to the open plains surrounding
the Tso Moriri, this high, brackish lake, home to
migrating birds, marmots by the score, the rare
'Kyang' (the wild ass of the Tibetan plateau) and
snow leopards! Don't expect to see them wandering
through the camp, but you may see the pug marks
of a mother and young in the sand of the lake shore.
You should also expect to meet the 'Chang pa' people,
the nomads of these high plains - they gallop across
the grasslands towards you and you await with some
trepidation, but all they want is to shake your
hand, grin wildly and ride off over the next horizon
in a small cloud of dust! Savour the campsite at
Kiangdom, the blue of the lake, the space, the peace
and also the dramatically sited and unspoilt village
of Karzok.
Day 19: Drive to Leh.Still keep your camera
handy for this spectacular drive, initially along
the shores of Tso Moriri and then up into the arid
hills and mountains to the north, before dropping
down into the confines of the Indus valley - on
the way we pass the salt lake of Kiagar Tso in this
truly alien environment. The hot granite gorges
of the Indus eventually lead to the wider valley
of central Ladakh, passing the famous gompas of
Hemis and Tikse, The hotel at Leh comes as a welcome
refuge of shade, greenery (the novelty of trees
again!) and hot water.
Day 20: Leh to Delhi. Early morning transfer
to the airport for one hour classic flight over
Himalaya to delhi. Arrive Delhi and transfer to
the hotel. Afternoon free.
Day 21: Delhi- Departure.We will have rooms
today till 1200hrs. Afternoon we visit Qutub Minar,
Humayuns tom and then transfer in the evening to
the airport.
Day 22: Early morning fly back.
IMPORTANT NOTE :
Every effort will be made to keep to the above itinerary,
but as this is Adventure Travel in a remote mountain
region, we cannot guarantee it. Weather conditions,
road conditions, vehicle breakdowns and the health
of climbers can all contribute to changes. The Expeditions
Leader and our local guide will try to ensure that
the trip runs according to plan, but an easy going
nature will be an asset!
Hidden Peak is graded 3B.
Is suitable for those with previous ice axe and
crampon experience on Grade II winter climbs. The
expedition is a long journey and members should
be prepared for the relative isolation and stark
landscape which are characteristic of this region,
one of the remotest parts of the Himalayas.
Equipment
To join the expedition you need the following
specialist equipment:
Ice Axe
Crampons
Harness
Plastic or Leather Mountaineering
Boots 3 or 4 Season Sleeping Bag
