Highway Writing: Hampta Pass Trek

Highway Writing: Hampta Pass Trek:

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Foreign tourists give a miss to Himalayan treks

MANALI: The decrease in the number of foreign trekkers on the famous trekking routes of Himachal is pinching the tourism industry of the state this season. Despite peak trekking season, most routes are wearing a deserted look and cancellations of tours are continuing.

After the slowdown in domestic tourism, very few tourists from abroad are daring to visit the mountainous regions in north India, in the wake of the recent devastation in Uttarakhand and Kinnaur. Rumors about landslides, rigorous monsoon and dozens of cloudbursts in Himachal is another reason that tourists from abroad are concerned about, prompting cancellation of their Himachal visit. According to travel agents, dozens of cancellations are taking place every day.

Spiti circuit of Himachal, famous among foreign tourists, is the most affected, having seen a sharp drop in tourist arrivals this year. Bhaba pass trek, Kanamo peak trek, Prang La treks, Pangpo, Pin Valley and Sara Umga pass are the popular treks of Spiti valley among foreign trekkers. But all these routes have been left longing for guests from abroad this time around, sources said.

"There is no particular reason behind the drop in arrival of tourists from abroad, but we have many hunches. The international media presented cloudbursts and floods in some parts of India in a way that visiting hills here seemed not less than jumping into hell," managing director of Himalayan Caravan Adventure, Ravi Thakur, said. According to him, very few tourists have reached Himachal this year and several jeep safari and bike tours on Shimla-Kinnaur-Spiti have already been cancelled. "We have got very few trekking expeditions this year," he added.

About 4.8 lakh foreign tourists visited Himachal last year while 1.4 lakh foreigners visited Kullu district alone. July to September is the time when thousands of foreign tourists visit Himachal - mostly for trekking, bike and jeep safaris while others opt for leisure, historical and cultural tours. Kasol, Manikaran, Old Manali and Vashisht are the main destinations where foreigners prefer staying in. However, few foreigners are being spotted in these locations now, sources added.

"Most cancellations are happening at the last moment as tourists are keeping track of weather conditions," a trekking guide in Kasol, Sunil Kumar, said, adding that his customers are afraid of cloudbursts and floods. "Though trekkers have nothing to do with blockade of roads, they are concerned about floods and cloudbursts. They also apprehend that the aggressive monsoon may spoil their programme," he said.

Hampta Pass trek in October

I reach 3 days early for Roopkund trek to explore nearby places like Almora, Ranikhet, Gwaldam etc but god had some other plans for me. I reached Kathgodam early morning and took a shared cab to Almora It was the time of Nanada Devi fair in Almora. I checked into a hotel did some research on the nearby places. Late September is the time when monsoon retract and trekking in Himalayas is most enjoyable because of the green cover over the Himalayas and clear skies. But this year it was different I was struck in Almora  for 7 days all the road links were broken and my dream of completing the Roopkund trek shattered some how I managed to came back to Delhi and booked myself for Hampta Pass trek in October second week.

Chandrataal - Hampta Pass trek

Photo: Puneeth B C

Himachal Pradesh is safe in monsoon than Uttarakhand. I reached Manali a day before, Manali is a nice place to relax for day or two and I like the ambience of old Manali economy hotels, nice food and awesome music. Hampta pass trek in October I guess the best time because of clear skies and trekking in Himalayas with clear skies gives you the best views of snow clad peaks. We were team of 12 trekkers loaded our stuff and drove from Manali to Jabri which took around 2 hours. Then we started our trek to HamptaPass. The initial trek was through tick forest of Maple, Oakwood, Deodar trees after crossing a wooden bridge over Rani Nala it was a nice walk for about 2-3 three hours to our first camp Chika alongside river. The day one of trek was easy and not very tiring but we enjoyed it a lot.

Read More at http://renokadventures.com/1672/hampta-pass-trek-in-october/

Malana Trek - Chandrakhani Basecamp Manali Trekking Renok Adventures

Malana Trek - Chandrakhani Basecamp Manali Trekking Renok Adventures:

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Packing list for trekking in Himalayas - Renok Adventures

Packing list for trekking in Himalayas - Renok Adventures

Planning a trek in himalayas but confused with a packing list for trekking in Himalayas. Trekking in Himalayas is mostly high altitude and extreme weather conditions, during our trekking trips and mountaineering expedition we carry all the trekking gear like tents, sleeping bags, Cooking gear etc but our trekkers carry their backpacks on their own. Packing list for trekking in Himalayas should be prepared with utmost care because every gram counts when you trek the himalayas -

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Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra deferred indefinitely in Uttarakhand - Renok Adventures

Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN: The Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra in Uttarakhand slated to begin on August 29 from Nauti village in Chamoli district has been deferred. The Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra is 12 day journey to Roopkund Lake Trekking. 

The decision came in the wake of extensive damage on the route due to the environmental catastrophe that struck Rudrapryag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts on June 16 and June 17.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the 15-member Nanda Devi Rajjat Committee headed by its president Rakesh Kunwar and general secretary Bhuvan Nautiyal.

Kunwar said members and office-bearers unanimously decided to defer 21-day long Yatra on repeated requests from state government and other social and religious organizations to put off the Yatra indefinitely due to unfavourable conditions in the region.

"Keeping in view requests and sentiments from members of different organizations, we have finally deferred the Yatra indefinitely," Kunwar said.

Kunwar and Nautiyal said the committee will chalk out a plan for the Yatra next year after damage has been repaired.

Committee's general secretary Bhuvan Nautiyal said after the entire pedestrian track and all its 10 main destinations on the Yatra route were completely washed away in deluge, it had become virtually impossible to proceed on religious and spiritual journey.

"Under the circumstances, we were left with no option but to put it off," said Nautiyal.

Uttarakhand government and different organizations took the decision saying that decision was taken in the interest of thousands of yatris and devotees of Godess Parvati.

"We are extremely happy at the decision as it will prevent possibility of any major mis-happening during the Yatra," said an office-bearer of Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee.

Nanda Devi Rajjat Yatra deferred indefinitely in Uttarakhand - Times Of India:

Altitude Sickness

A large chunk of our treks/expeditions are at high altitude. So it is always desirable to know the Altitude Sickness associated with an increase in altitude.

 What is High Altitude?

 

Altitude is defined on the following scale High (8,000 - 12,000 feet [2,438 - 3,658 meters]), Very High (12,000 - 18,000 feet [3,658 - 5,487 meters]), and Extremely High (18,000+ feet [5,500+ meters]). Since few people have been to such altitudes, it is hard to know who may be affected. There are no specific factors such as age, sex, or physical condition that correlate with susceptibility to altitude sickness. Some people get it and some people don't, and some people are more susceptible than others. Most people can go up to 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) with minimal effect. If you haven't been to high altitude before, it's important to be cautious. If you have been at that altitude before with no problem, you can probably return to that altitude without problems as long as you are properly acclimatized.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="717"] Leh Ladakh - Altitude Sickness is common[/caption]

What Causes Altitude Altitude Sickness

The concentration of oxygen at sea level is about 21% and the barometric pressure averages 760 mmHg. As altitude increases, the concentration remains the same but the number of oxygen molecules per breath is reduced. At 12,000 feet (3,658 meters) the barometric pressure is only 483 mmHg, so there are roughly 40% fewer oxygen molecules per breath. In order to properly oxygenate the body, your breathing rate (even while at rest) has to increase. This extra ventilation increases the oxygen content in the blood, but not to sea level concentrations. Since the amount of oxygen required for activity is the same, the body must adjust to having less oxygen. In addition, for reasons not entirely understood, high altitude and lower air pressure causes fluid to leak from the capillaries which can cause fluid build-up in both the lungs and the brain. Continuing to higher altitudes without proper acclimatization can lead to potentially serious, even life-threatening Altitude Sickness.

Read full article at  : http://renokadventures.com/1597/altitude-sickness/