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Black Peak Expedition (KALANAG)

Sankari, Uttrakhand
Not Rated

Duration

16 Nights / 17 Days

Tour Type

Specific Tour

Group Size

12 people

Languages

English, Hindi

Overview

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Region: Uttarkashi
  • Difficulty Level: Difficult
  • Trek Distance:
  • Highest Altitude: 6387m/ 20956 feet
  • Pick Up Point: Dehradun
  • Closest Railway Station: Dehradun
  • Closest Airport: Dehradun
  • Closest Bus Stand: Netwad
  • Best Time: May-June, September-October
  • No. of Days: 16
  • Black Peak is the highest peak in the Saraswati mountain range of Uttarkashi district in Uttarakhand. It towers at a staggering altitude of 6387 meters and takes you through the most pristine and isolated locations. The literal translation of Kalanag is ‘Black Cobra’. It gets its name Kalanag due its shape and as one side of the mountain is composed of black granite and due to its gradient snow never settles on that side giving it the shape of a Cobra’s hood. The route for the peak takes you through Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and is home to various types of flora and fauna that you will encounter during the course of this expedition. The attempt of the summit is done from the Southern face of the peak which provides a panoramic view of other peaks of the region like Bandarpoonch massif and Swargarohini massif. Apart from the beautiful peaks and terrain that one encounters during the course of the expedition, the valley that you will be crossing holds mythological value in Hindu folk tales. It is believed that the Pandavas crossed this valley to climb on top of Swargarohini which translates to the ‘vehicle to heaven’ to reach their heavenly abode. Approaching this expedition is not for the faint of hearts as a minimum experience of high altitude is required or one has to be qualified in Basic Mountaineering as some technical skills are required to negotiate the route to the summit.

Itinerary

Expand All
Detail Itinerary of Black Peak Expedition

Day 1: Dehradun to Sankri
We will meet in Dehradun at 7 am sharp to depart for Sankri which is the base village for this expedition. We will halt in between for breakfast at Kempty falls near Mussoorie and then follow the course of the Yamuna river. We will stop again at Purola for lunch, make sure to call your friends and family as this is the last point from where you will receive cellular network. We will be stopped at the entry of Govind Pashu Vihar National Park to check all the permits which are required to enter. Please keep a photocopy of your Photo ID. When you approach Sankri you will be greeted by Swargarohini at a distance on a clear day. Check into a hotel or homestay where you will be briefed about the expedition by your leader. Sankri is the last location where you can do any last minute purchases if you have missed out on something.

Day 2: Sankri to Seema via Taluka
The expedition will officially start from this day onwards. After having breakfast we will board our vehicle which will take us along the scenic route and drop us to Taluka, from where our journey is going to begin by foot. The route today is full of uphill and downhill climbs taking us along the Supin river. As we move down from Taluka we immediately reach the banks of Supin river and start following the trail along with it. After trekking for nearly 2 hours we will start our steep uphill climb through the dense coniferous forests laden with pine and rhododendron trees. As we approach the village of Gangadh we will start to encounter hydraulic mills which are locally called as Garadh. From here we will move even further and reach the Seema where we will see a forest guest house. The altitude gain is not that much but the total distance covered is approximately 12 kms and it takes around 6 to 7 hours to complete the trek depending upon your speed.

Day 3: Seema to Ruinsara Lake
Our journey to conquer the summit of Mt. Kalanag continues and today we will be moving towards the mystical spine lake of Ruinsara. After some warm up in the morning we will have our breakfast and get ready to depart for our next campsite. The trail is similar to that of yesterday for the most part of the journey with both uphill and downhill climbs. Mid way of the trek we will even get a glimpse of the great Mt. Kalanag from afar which rejuvenates our energy and encourages us to keep moving forward. We will pass through beautiful landscapes laden with different colors. The last bit of our trail for today takes us through Silver Birch forests or locally known as
Bhoj Patri. The bark of this tree has a huge historical significance as all hindu scriptures were once written on the bark of this tree. If you wish to take home a souvenir which holds so much value then you can strip a few parchments from this tree. As we reach Ruinsara Lake campsite we are surrounded by snow-clad mountains all around and the view is simply majestic.

Day 4: Ruinsara Lake to Kyarkoti Base Camp
Our upward climb begins with crossing vast open grasslands surrounded with snow-clad peaks and the valley illuminated by the sun. We will walk along this gradual slope through this wide empty grassland and reach a steep section on the mountain. From here we will have to carefully traverse along goat trails. We need to be extra cautious when we cross this section as any kind of carelessness can lead to injury. After getting down from the goat trail we will reach the rocky landscapes. Here onwards we will encounter no trees so we can clearly say that we have crossed the tree line and entered into higher altitudes. The route from here is not well marked and we will have to attentively look for good routes to cross this section as there are multiple small streams along the way. Now, the snow clad mountains are even closer and we can easily see the massive glaciers frozen on them. We will reach Kyarkoti and set up our campsite near the water source. From here you can clearly see Mt. Kalanag right in front of our eyes and bask in the glory of the peak.

Day 5: Rest and Training at Kyarkoti Base Camp
We utilize this to rest our bodies from the trekking that we have already done and make our bodies go through a proper acclimatization process. After breakfast all the equipment will be laid out in front of the whole team for briefing and class about equipment and techniques which we will be using to climb. After the theory class we will move on to the practical practice of ascending and descending on snow and ice, how to wear your snow boots, crampons and gaiters and most importantly roping up and anchoring. After our training session we will have lunch and after which we will divide the equipment amongst each other for load ferry the next day.

Day 6: Kyarkoti Base Camp to Advance Base Camp
We will pack all the equipment allotted to us the previous day along with our personal luggage that might be required ahead. Wear your helmets from the starting itself as we will cross river beds, landslide areas and rockfall areas. The initial climb is gradual after which we will get down to the mountain streams. Make sure you start as early as possible so that the streams are dry enough to cross over because as the day progresses the water level will start to rise due to the melting snow. With the view of Mt. Kalanag and Bandarpoonch clearly in front of us and we continue with our climb towards ABC taking rest stops in between to conserve energy. We will have to cross a landslide area so be very careful of falling rocks and debris while making this crossing. The last bit of the climb to the ABC is steep so we will zig zag this terrain and reach our destination for the day. From here onwards we will have to do our own cooking and take turns to do all basic chores like washing dishes and going to fill water from the
source for the whole team.

Day 7: Load Ferry from ABC to Camp 1 and back to ABC
We will make our own breakfast in the morning and then get ready to depart for Camp 1. We will divide our ration so that we only take what is necessary to reduce our load ahead. The Route is not that long today but we will gain altitude and camp right beside the glacier. We will climb and traverse along the side of the mountain navigating through steep and rocky terrain. The climb gets even trickier when we reach near the glacial and have to walk over moraine and scree very carefully, making sure we do not end up twisting our ankles. After reaching Camp 1, we will set up our tents and start keeping all the load that we carried till that point. We will come back the same route with empty rucksacks and camp at ABC for the night.

Day 8: ABC to Camp 1
We will use the same route that we used to reach Camp 1. We will carry the rest of the things needed ahead and reach Camp 1. From Camp 1 the route till the summit is visible. Spend the night in Camp 1.

Day 9: Camp 1 to Summit Camp
The day gets tougher as we gage for a route to reach the Summit camp. The first challenge for today is crossing a vast glacial field full of crevasses. We will rope for the first time today to ensure maximum safety while crossing the glacial field. We will use the textbook technique of having a strong guide man and end-man and having the other participants of the expedition in the middle. We will only place our foot on the places the guide has already used as it is an indication that the route used is safe and there is no danger of any hidden crevasse that we can fall into. After crossing the glacial field we will need to make a steep climb to the summit camp. Set up camp as early as possible to rest our bodies for the summit attempt post mid night. Sort out the equipment that you will need for the summit attempt before taking your rest.

Day 10: Summit Attempt then back to Summit Camp
The day that we had all been preparing for has finally arrived. We will be making our attempt to summit Mt. Black Peak (Kalanag). After taking a brief but much needed rest stop at the summit camp, the team needs to start getting ready at 11 pm to start their summit attempt at 1 am. We get into our harnesses and snow boots and then come for our pre summit meal to give us energy. The Expedition Leader will deliver his last words of motivation for the team and we will begin our journey towards the summit of the mountain. All roped up and anchored to the ropes the sherpas fixed the previous day we will begin our climb on gentle slopes to what is instored for us ahead. We will reach a point from where the slopes are at 70 degree angle and will require proper technique and strength to make the climb. Climbing during the night can get very cold so getting into a rhythm of breathing to climb and keep yourself warm. When we reach the shoulder of the mountain, the sun will slowly start creeping up and give us light and energy and break the cold of the night. As we make it to the top of the summit we will see the Swargarohini Massif right in front of us, Gangotri and Harshil region on one side and Bandarpooch massif and Nepal border on the other. Take pictures of the great success that you have just accomplished and to take back proof. We will not spend much time on the summit because of the altitude and strong winds. We will descend back down to the summit camp.

Day 11: Buffer Day
We keep this day as reserved for delay due to weather changes or any other unforeseen event.

Day 12: Summit Camp to Base Camp
After our summit attempt we will wind up our campsite and start making our climb down to the base camp using the same route we have taken earlier. Make sure to collect everything including all garbage as nothing will degrade in these conditions. Reaching Kyarkoti will feel very relaxing and fulfilling after the summit and coming back to lower altitude.

Day 13: Base Camp to Ruinsara Lake
We will use the same rocky mountainous trails to reach back to Ruinsara. The altitude get more comfortable now as we keep losing altitude and our bodies start recovering from the Herculean effort that we have made so far. Rest and overnight stay at Ruinsara campsite.

Day 14: Ruinsara Lake to Seema
Coming back to Seema will be very interesting as we will get to see the interesting landscapes we had crossed while going. We will say goodbye to huge grasslands and enter into the silver birch forest and criss-cross along the river. Seema awaits our arrival where we will stay overnight.

Day 15: Seema to Sankri via Taluka
After having breakfast, trek back to Taluka using the same route you took at the beginning of the expedition. Our feet will move quicker as we reach towards the end of the expedition after completing our goal. At Taluka, we will find our vehicles ready to take us back to Sankri where we will finally enjoy the joys of sleeping on a bed. Have a hearty celebration as we will depart for Dehradun the next day.

Day 16: Sankri to Dehradun
We will say goodbye to the mountains and make our way back to civilization. We will start from Sankri early in the morning at 7 am so that we can reach Dehradun by 3 pm. So plan your accommodation or transport accordingly.

How To Reach For Black Peak Expedition

Distance by road:-

By road, Dehradun is well connected with major destinations of the country. NH72 connects Dehradun to Nahan (95 km) to the north-west, and thereon to Panchkula, Chandigarh and Shimla. NH 72 terminates at Haridwar, which is at 54km from Dehradun. Dehradun is located at a distance of 235 km from Delhi. NH72A links Dehra Dun to NH58 at Roorkee (67 km) and thereon south to Meerut (170 km) and Delhi (235 km). There is regular bus service from Delhi for Dehradun from Delhi ISBT Kashmere Gate.

Nearest Railway Station:-

An excellent rail network connects Dehradun to other important cities like Delhi, Mussoorie, Mumbai, Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kolkata. From Delhi- DDN NZM AC EXPRESS (2205)

Nearest Airport:-

Jolly Grant Airport is the airport serving Dehradun, located about 25 km from the city. There is a daily flight from Delhi to Dehradun

Things To Pack

T-shirts
Trekking Pants, Thick warm Lowers
Windproof jacket, Downfeather Jacket preferably with a hood
Warm and thick Fleece.
Full-sleeve Woollen sweater
Thermal inner wear (upper & lower).
Woollen cap, Woollen Gloves, Woollen socks & regular socks (3-4 pairs).
Scarf/Muffler (optional), Balaclava or a woolen cap.
Comfortable Trekking/Hiking shoes (shoes with a thick sole are recommended).
Lightweight Towel(1 unit).
Toilet Paper (plenty).
Wet-Tissue Papers(plenty).
Lightweight floaters/sandals/slippersRaincoat / Poncho, Small light weight Towel.
Water bottle.
Sunscreen Lotion.
Cap to keep the intense sun away from your face, Sunglasses.
Walking stick / Trekking Pole,Head Torch / Flashlight (with extra batteries).
Medicines (if requiring any particular medication).
Personal toiletries.
Day pack/small bag which you will Carry on your back every day and keep your essentials in it.
Camera with charged batteries.

Preparation

Preparation for the Climb

As you know every mountainous excursion demands a precise planning, a planning with adequate pliability of observing and tackling situations, held all as by overcoming mind body and soul throughout the incredible Himalayan journey. Expeditions are tricky sometimes way far from coinciding, so it is necessary that only people with prior trekking experiences above 4500mtrs completed for 4-5 times or should have done Basic Mountaineering course are invited to join in the incredible mountainous tour.

So here are some aspects regarding Expedition preparation:

Physically – An Expedition demands a lot of physical endurance, to prepare for each Expedition you should work out a month before joining a program. Build up the adequate strength in your legs by running and exercising every day to boost up your endurance. Stop smoking and boost your lungs doing breathing exercises at routine basis two times a day, which will help acclimatize the conditions while being resilient on the trek. Take active part in outdoor games, Yoga and any other cardiac exercises. There are times when you have to climb even for 20hrs in single attempt, that’s how you should be prepared pushing yourself beyond limits and it only can be achieved by defined training before and enroute.

Mentally – Mental preparation is key, equally as important as physical training requisite for an Expedition. Before joining any Expedition get pleasure from your daily routines, exercise, eat well, take rest properly and relax. Do not stress your mind by unnecessary predictions preplanned strategies about the Expedition. Be with your best friends to get motivated and relax your mind. Because pre expedition assumptions are not worth to worry, once you join the March and meet with rest of the pack will bring encouragement and excitement. The mental preparedness will build through the entire trip conditions and the physical drawbacks will affect the mind somehow. So pay close attention to various parts of the body and consciously let them loosen up as you climb each campsite. When you climb try to relax your body focus on the training you have done and focus on the trail or some precipitous route to negotiate carefully. Experiment with different ways of walking as a way of finding enjoyment beyond the goal of reaching a destination. The main key to stay mentally fit is to enjoy the route and not to pressurize the mind.

Technically- Gear up yourself with perfect size trekking/climbing shoes and walk with it. Use 60ltr. Backpack in a daily routine with as much weight as you can put inside it, so you will become used to carrying loads for long distances. Buy a Trekking Pole, Water Bottle, Warm socks, Thermals, Fleece, Feather Jackets, Cap, Trousers, Poncho, Flip Flops, electronics such as power bank, camera (DSLR or digital camera) along with you. Get a sling to practice the major knots used later on the climb.

Climbing a peak is always as staggering as its sheer challenges, opting combination of accurate preparedness will fruit you with glorifying summit attain. So prepare yourselves honestly and join in the Himalayan Adventure Trips Expedition to Mighty Black Peak (Kalanaag).

Included/Excluded

  • Highly advanced, Professional & certified mountaineering (Instructor/guide) from Himalayan Adventure Trips.
  • Skilled local Guide who has ample knowledge of the route.
  • Vegetarian meals on the Climbing. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
  • Cooks/Helper and other requisite staff.
  • HAF/LAF/Porters/mules for carrying common equipment's (like rations/tents/utensils/and Central climbing Equipment)
  • Equipment's – Tents on sharing basis / Sleeping bags / Sleeping Mattress/ Sleeping bag Inner
  • During Trek & Expedition we will provide you Dome/Alpine/High Altitude tents on twin sharing basis. Camping mattresses, kitchen tent, dining tent, camping stool etc. would be provided.
  • High Altitude Porters to ferry loads, set up high camps, fix ropes etc.
  • Climbing Guide’s support up to Summit
  • Butane gas bottle for high altitude cooking
  • Meals: In Hotel only breakfast will served. While on trek all meals will be provided. Meals will be freshly prepared and will be a mix of Indian, Chinese & Continental.
  • High Altitude meal: We will use tin packed food in high altitude.
  • Basic First aid Kit with portal oxygen.
  • Forest Permits, wild life fee and camping charges.
  • State Government Fees.
  • Personal Porters for carrying Climber’s backpacks
  • Any kind of Air fare.
  • Any charges for carrying still/video cameras etc.
  • Personal expenses like tips, telephone calls, laundry, etc.
  • Group Gears for climbing e.g. rope, pitons, snow bars, crabs etc
  • Individual Climbing Gears and clothing; special individual mountain diet if any
  • Inner Line Permit.
  • Personal insurance or cost of emergency evacuation
  • Purchases of personal natures (like Alcohol, Soft drink, mineral water bottles/bottled or canned beverages/chocolates/dry fruits etc)
  • Food to/from the trailhead.
  • Any costs arising out of unforeseen circumstances like landslides, road blocks, bad weather, etc.
  • Travel insurance.
  • IMF Permissions, Royalty and Registration.
  • Liaison Officer Cost (included for foreign expedition only)
  • GST of 5%.

Durations

16 Nights / 17 Days

Tour's Location

Sankari, Uttrakhand

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