INTRODUCTION:
Here are 5 reasons to do the Kedarkantha trek in winter: Not many people know that it will snow by April
, but on the Kedarkansa Trek, the winter snow starts in his mid-December and lasts until the third week of April. Above 10,000 feet in elevation, you may encounter snow as you lie on the pine forest floor. Once you reach the meadow, chances are you are surrounded on all sides by a vast blanket of white.
Most Beautiful Campsites
This trek has some of the most beautiful campsites in the Himalayas. Not every trek can boast of the beauty of a campsite like the Kedarkantha trek. Each campsite is unique in its beauty. The Juda Ka Talab campsite is located in a clearing surrounded by giant pine trees, the Kedarkantha Base campsite is in an open meadow surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and the Hargaon campsite is in a clearing of pine and oak trees. is in It’s almost as if they are competing against each other in beautiful surroundings.
Himalaya’s Best Drive
The drive to Kedarkantha goes through Mussoorie, Nougaon, Prora, Moli, and Nightwear. It is a very exquisite remote route and one of the most scenic drives in the Indian Himalayas. Be especially careful on the section from Purora to Sankuri at Base Camp.
The Joy of Walking on a Carpet of Brown Leaves
The Kedarkantha trek begins in a dense pine forest. The road is always covered with a carpet of brown leaves. It’s a crunchy treat when you walk on it!
Snow Peak
This is a great advantage of trekking in Kedarkantha. Directly from Kedarkantha Base Camp, you can admire his breathtaking 360-degree views of the famous peaks surrounding him.
When you reach Kedarkantha Peak, you feel like you’ve touched the sky, with all peaks at eye level.
About the Kedarkantha Trek in Sangkuri: Here are some quick details about the
Kedarkantha Trek:
Difficulty: Medium difficulty. No trekking experience is required.
Trail type: circular trail. The trek starts and ends in Sangkri.
Region: Uttarakhand
Railhead: Dehradun is the closest railhead to base his camp.
Elevation/ElevationElevationElevation: The hike starts at 6,000 feet and climbs to 12,500 feet.
Base Camp: Sangkuri (10 hours drive from Dehradun)
Campsites: Judah Katarab, Kedarkantha Base, hurgaon
Best Season: Winter. Expect plenty of snow from mid-December through late April.
Please be aware that Himalayan winters can be unpredictable. The weather can get a little tricky as temperatures drop to about -10 degrees Celsius. So if you plan to travel in the Himalayas in winter, make sure you have plenty of winter gear, at least 5 layers.
BEST TIME TO GO
Kedarkantha is perfect for winter hiking from December to April. These months are pure snow hikes. On the first day of the trek from Sangkuri to Judah, Ka Talab sees the first snow.
Kedarkantha is also one of the few hiking trails accessible in winter.
The Himalayas are not always accessible in winter. Too much snow on most trails can make the weather out of control and make the entire trek inaccessible. But Kedarkantha promises a decent amount of snow while giving you access to peaks as high as 12,500 feet. Standing on the top of the mountain at sunrise feels like heaven. The beauty of majestic mountains all around you and the amazing golden light harmonize as if you were from another era. It is a sight beyond all superlatives.
December to January
Daytime temperatures range from 13 to 18 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures can drop as low as -7 degrees Celsius after sunset.
The higher you go, the colder it gets. Kedarkantha’s base also has a cold wind blowing in his camp. Therefore, please prepare enough warm clothes.
March to May
Daytime temperatures range from 16 to 20 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures drop to 3-4 degrees at night and can drop to 0 degrees with snow.
Summer vacation is also the best time for Kedarkantha he trek, given that there is snow until April. This hike is categorized as intermediate, so it’s also suitable for children.
Difficulty
Kedarkantha was rated as an easy hike in the summer and a moderate hike in the winter. What does that mean?
So first things first. When trekking in the Himalayas, the main factors that help determine the difficulty of the trek are: Evacuation
How wide is the trail / can you see clearly?
What is the gradient (up and down) of the hike?
That means an altitude gain of 6,500 feet in a 4-day trek. On average, it climbs about 1,500 feet each day. This corresponds to the amount of altitude gained in one day. Most of the Indian Himalayas involve forced ascents of over 2000-3000 feet daily. However, the trek to Kedarkantha climbs at a comfortable pace, rising only about 1500 feet each day.
The trail is easy from the terrain. From Sangkuri to Kedarkantha Base, the road passes through a beautiful forest. Most of it is forest floor with crispy brown leaves that are fun to step on! This forest floor serves as a guide for his first two days of hiking, after which he begins hiking on snow.
The trail is well-signposted and easy to walk even if you are traveling alone. Climbing Kedarkantha Peak can be a bit challenging without a guide in the snowy winter months, but with a clear view of the target, there’s no chance of getting lost.
Kedarkantha is very low in difficulty when compared to some of India’s most demanding treks such as the Rupin Pass trek and the Gochara trek. So if you want to trek the Himalayas in winter but it’s your first time, do the Kedarkantha trek.
Risks and Precautions
Kedarkantha Trek doesn’t come with too many risks.
Snow
Of course, if you go hiking in winter, you can see a lot of snow in the Himalayas. In winter, snowy scenery from the first day of climbing! So I wear micro spikes and spats. This gives a better grip on the snow and prevents slipping.
Climb
Kedarkantha The trek may be easy, but unlike flat trails, it requires a lot of ups and downs. Just 30 minutes of constant ascent can be exhausting. So bring your trekking poles. The trekking pole acts as his third leg, greatly reducing the strain on his legs. You can save up to 40% of energy. It also improves balance and stability. Make your hike more comfortable. The method is as follows.
Ascend Altitude
The only thing to watch out for is ascending altitude wisely. On the first day, the distance from Sakurai to Judah Ka Talab is about 800m, so hike slowly to acclimatize.
As you ascend to 12,500 feet over the next two days, it’s important to keep your body well-hydrated to keep the symptoms of altitude sickness at bay.
Acute mountain sickness is important to know before embarking on a high-altitude hike. You can learn more about it and take appropriate precautions in this video. AMS is commonly seen when trekking the Himalayas. Taking Diamox the day before hiking can greatly reduce the chances of AMS.
So try to drink 5-6 liters of water a day. Drink water right after you wake up, while trekking, and before going to bed.
Emergency communication is difficult as most of the road to Sankri has no mobile phone service. If you’re hiking with a group, chances are they have a walkie-talkie that connects you to base camp where you can reach them by cell phone.
HIKE PREPARATION
Whether the hike is easy or difficult, high-altitude hikes require preparation.
Fitness
Days 1 and 2 of the Kedarkansa trek are very easy. But on summit day, leave the huffs and puffs behind and wish you had more stamina! Be sure to jog at least a month or two before your trek. You should be able to jog 4 km in 25 minutes.
In addition to jogging, do some stretching exercises to strengthen the thigh muscles. Also, do some stretching so you don’t get stiff. In particular, work on stretching your shoulder muscles so that you can comfortably carry a backpack on a hike. This allows for comfortable hiking. This video will show you how to prepare.
Speaking of backpacks, let’s talk about what Kedarkantha needs for his treks.
His most important trekking equipment in the
highlands to bring on the trek is good trekking shoes, a comfortable backpack and warm clothes.
