Monday 6 October 2014

Updates of trekking routes in Ladakh

I try to post updates regarding trekking routes in Ladakh after my every visit to the region. I post them at my guidebook page of my website. I've just posted an update on Padum-Darcha road construction works and description of an alternative start of the "Tsarab Chu" trek.

Saturday 4 October 2014

Tsarab Chu trek in Sept


I did Tsarab Chu trek with a small and brave group earlier this month (major part of the route #2 in my "Trekking in Ladakh" Cicerone Press guidebook). It confirms again that it is one of the best treks in Ladakh and that September is the best time for trekking in the region!

This was posted at Ladakh.pl/blog on 29/09/2014 at 22:58.

A way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 1st visit


It is 10 years in 2014 since my first visit to Ladakh. There is something to celebrate I believe and thought going to Ladakh in winter would be a good way of celebration. That's what I did last January. Without any booking except that for the flights, with no specific plans, without big preparations. Just there was more cloth than usually in my rucksack.

I wanted to check how Ladakh looks like in winter. How much snow is there? How freezing is it?

I wanted to check what an independent trekker could do there in winter. I didn't mean the famous chadar which would require going in a group. As usually, I wanted to trek independently with all my stuff on my back (no guide, no horses) and on my own.

I expected it would be cold so decided not to take tent and rely on homestay accommodation. I also expected high passes to be difficult and quite dangerous for a solo trekker so I was thinking about rather easier routes along valleys with relatively short daily stages which could always finish in a village.

So I landed in Leh on Jan the 5th and checked in the Asia Guesthouse - one of my favourite places in Leh hosted by Sonam Angchuk and his family. They are normally closed in winters but seeing them in Sept last year we decided I could stay there on the homestay basis. Sounds perfect, doesn't it? This meant no heating in the room, no running water, Ladakhi composite toilet, etc. Quite fine for me... But I remember the thermometer in my watch laying next to me on my bed, showing -8°C at night. And the fantastic view of Stok Kangri in the morning from my room window. That is how it started. :)

This was posted at Ladakh.pl/blog on 4/04/2014 at 21:49.