Day 5: Trek from Lamkhaga Pass Intermediate Camp-site to Upper Kyarkoti via Lamkhaga Pass (5282 Mtr)

Trek date during Lamkhaga Pass Expedition: 24th May 2017 (Wednesday)

Trek distance: Around 15 to 16 Kms.

Time Taken: Around 12 hours

Difficulty level: Difficult

Highlights during the trek:

1. Very High Altitude Lamkhaga Pass Intermediate Camp-site.
2. A memorable ascent on Huge Snowfields & Extremely Scenic Snow-slopes of Kinnaur Valley.
3. Ascent on Moraine stretches of Upper Baspa Valley.
4. Breathtaking views of 3 passes of Jalandhari Gad Valley – Chhotkhaga Pass, Dudhiyan Pass & Lamkhaga Pass throughot the walk on Upper Baspa Valley.
5. Adventurous experience of crossing Lamkhaga Pass.
6. Lamkhaga Pass nested between Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand.
7. Breathtaking view of Indian Himalayas from Lamkhaga Pass.
8. Jalandhari Gad Valley of Govind Pashu National Park, Uttarakhand.
9. Huge Snowfields & Snow-slopes of Jalandhari Gad Valley of Uttarakhand.
10. As many as 4 Snow-sliding stretchesat Jalandhari Gad Valley.
11. Ridge walk while closing in Upper Kyarkoti Meadows.
12. Getting down to Upper Kyarkoti Camp-site.
13. High Altitude Upper Kyarkoti Camp-site.
14. Brilliant Weather throughout the day.
15. Best day of Lamkhaga Pass Expedition – 2017.

Challenges:  Most difficult day of the trek since all of us need to cross the Lamkhaga Pass and face all challenges to reach next camp-site on other side of the Pass.

Altitude Meter: Please find altitude details for the day below:

• Lamkhaga Pass Intermediate Camp-site comes around 4650 Mtr.
• Lamkhaga Pass comes around 5282 Mtr (17,329 ft).
• Upper Kyarkoti Camp-site comes around 4400 Mtr.

Day in brief:

Day 5 of Lamkhaga Pass Expedition – 2017 & Most important day of the Expedition too since we have to cross Lamkhaga Pass. As informed by Sonu ji, All of us got-up around 4:00 AM in the morning. Morning Tea & Biscuits were served to us since it was too early to have breakfast. Started around 5:30 AM from Lamkhaga Pass Intermediate Camp-site towards base of Lamkhaga Pass.

Initially it was steep ascent followed by flat walk on snowfields of Lamkhaga Pass base. It was classic journey on High Altitude Himalayan Snowfields with views of Chhotkhaga Pass, Dudhiyan Pass & Lamkhaga Pass while approaching towards base of Lamkhaga Pass as we are telling Bye Bye to Kinnaur valley (Himachal Pradesh).

Note: One can witness views of  Chhotkhag Pass, Dudhiyan Pass & Lamkhaga Pass of Jalandhari Gad valley throughout the journey during this phase of the trek from Kinnaur side.

Lifetime Experience of walking on Snow-slopes of Upper Baspa Valley

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Lifetime Experience of walking on Snow-slopes of Upper Baspa Valley

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All of us reached Lamkhaga Pass base around 9:00 AM after 3 and half hours of journey from Lamkhaga Pass Intermediate Camp-site.

Note: Lamkhaga Pass base is used as Lamkhaga Pass Advanced Camp-site many times by Raacho Trekkers during their previous Expeditions but we tried crossing the pass from Lamkhaga Pass Intermediate Camp-site (Kinnaur side).

Lifetime Experience of walking on Snowfields of Upper Baspa Valley

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Epic Lamkhaga Pass Crossing

Sonu Negi ji’s goal was to cross Lamkhaga Pass before 1:00 PM but team of 10 Energetic Trekkers along with Porters made it to Lamkhaga Pass before 11:00 AM. After reaching base around 9:00 AM, Sonu ji sent Happy, Rajeev & Lokesh to make trails on 80 degree steep Snow-slopes. Anand & Aditya also joined them. They made it to Lamkhaga Pass around 10:15 AM. We can see 5 tiny people walking on that snow wall

Rest of us made it to Lamkhaga Pass around 11:00 AM. Relaxed for 45 minutes  and  Experienced Awesomeness & Breathtaking views of Indian Himalayas from the Pass. What a feeling it was! We are at pass which divides 2 Himalayan States of India – Himachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand.

Clicked beauty of Indian Himalayas in our cameras. It was over the moon experience for each of us!

Note: It was fastest summit of Lamkhaga Pass for Raacho Trekkers till date. They never did Lamkhaga Pass Summit before 11:00 AM. This is the first time and Thanks to entire team & crew for their efforts

Breathtaking views of Indian Himalayas from Lamkhaga Pass

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After relaxing for 45 minutes, descended towards Jalandhari Gad valley of Uttarakhand around 11:45 AM.

Descending on Huge Snowfields with as many as 4 Snow-sliding experiences and Ridge walk took us to Lunch point around 3:30 PM.

Lifetime Experience at Jalandhari Gad Valley, Uttarakhand

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View of the valley from Ridge en-route Upper Kyarkoti Meadows

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Had half an hour Lunch break and started around 4:00 PM to Upper Kyarkoti Camp-site. It was another descent inside Jalandhari Gad Valley on Glaciers, Streams, Boulders, & Moraines. Reached Upper Kyarkoti Camp-site around 5:30 PM. With that 12 hour epic experience comes to end!

Hot Water served us for drinking as soon as all of us reached camp-site unlike Ginger Garlic Water which was served to us last 4 days to overcome AMS at High Altitudes. Soup and Maggie followed by Hot drinking water provided as snacks in the evenings at camp-site

Had dinner around 8:00 PM as usual and told Good Bye for the day with return journey to Harsil village is in store for next 2 days!

Camp-site:

Upper Kyarkoti Camp-site is another High Altitude Camp-site which is situated in Jalandhari Gad Valley of Uttarakhand. It is beautiful camp-site surrounded by Snow-caped Mountains, Boulders, Glaciers & many more…

Temperature: Around 0 to -5 degree Celsius at night since camp-site situated at higher altitude.