Ladakh - Rupshu Valley Trek - Jun '21

Oh no, Ladakh again!! Yes yes Ladakh again!!

Not sure why I am attracted to Ladakh – is it the beauty of the place, the people, terrain, adventure, …. All my previous trips have been for photography and one was a family vacation. This time it was a trek and so I couldn’t resist. I have never done a serious high-altitude trek in Ladakh. The last one was the Chadar trek in Jan ’16. Ladakh, with low Oxygen level and dry climate, I thought this will be a great opportunity to test my fitness.

Travel Date : 19th Jun ‘21 to 5th Jul ‘21

Company : Countryside Adventure Holidays led by Milind Bhide

The trek was split into two parts. First was in Sham Valley and the second one in Rupshu Valley. Sham Valley trek was more of an acclimatisation with easy walks and not in high altitude and was for about 5 days. The stay was a combination of 3 days in a hotel and 2 days in camps. This trek also has the option of walking and car pickup if someone wants to walk less and hence this is well suited for a family trek.

Sham Valley

Rupshu valley was undoubtedly a very challenging one – long walks, crossing multiple passes with steep ascent and descent and trekking above 15,000 ft. on all days. With SpO2 around 80 % every step in an ascent was challenging. It was a great sigh of relief when we reach the top of a pass (pass is the top most post for crossing and before a descent). One positive point here is that the trekking path was well marked and was a clear path. Hence the walking terrain wasn’t difficult. The statistics below will give an idea on the intensity of the trek.

Note : a) Source of data - Garmin Enduro b) The author is not responsible for the accuracy of the data

On all days the stay were in camping sites. Location of the camp site was absolutely amazing – surrounded by mountains, water streams, snow clad peaks and so on. The normal routine was 6,7,8 (decided by the trek lead) – 6 AM Coffee/Tea, 7 AM breakfast and 8 AM start the trek. Most of the days the lunch was a packed one and was a bliss to have lunch surrounded by mountains. Breakfast and dinner was simply superb with a good variety of menu on all days.

The entire walk was so scenic – high mountains, snow peaks, amazing coloured rocks on the mountains, rock formation, nomads with herd of sheep and Yak, water streams, salt lakes, Kiang wild ass) and so on. I had decided to use my Iphone and not to take the DSLR while on treks. But knowing about Ladakh and the photography opportunities, this time I decided to take my DSLR and I definitely have no regrets.

Fresh banana pie being made ...

Glimpse of the lunch / menu ...

Landscape of Ladakh ..

Trekking path.. Just a sample !! Reaching a pass at 16000 ft.

Rupshu valley trek certainly is demanding and it requires good fitness. For me, yoga, especially the pranayama, has really helped and that too in high altitude with low oxygen. It is important that has to be thoroughly prepared in all aspects before doing such treks.

Happy Trekkers

Finale ....

To view Rupshu Valley Album --> http://ladakh-rupshu-valle.gopsview.com/

To View Sham Valley Album --> http://ladakh-sham-valley.gopsview.com/