Ladakh | Shang Sumdo to Rumbak Trek

The Stok Kangri range from the Leh flight - our trek travelled along these mountains from east to west

Shang Sumdo to Rumbak September 2nd to 6th 2019

In July-August 2019 we did a shorter route from Shang Sumdo to Stok village crossing two passes. This time we completed the third and more difficult pass Stok La and ended our trek in Rumbak. To compare the two seasons end July-August is warmer, has more flowers, is more green with more of clouds and some rain. The rivers are also higher at this time and there are many more river crossings throughout the trek. In September we were down to only two or three crossings - most of the rivers had receded and we could cross on the rocks. The September weather was also spectacular - clear, blue skies, white mountains all day and warm sunny days. 

For our earlier route and description do visit 
http://sujoyrdas.blogspot.com/2019/08/ladakh-shang-sumdo-to-stok-across-shang.html

September 2^nd 2019 Leh to Shang Sumdo

We left Leh at around 9.20 am and headed for the monastery of Hemis. We reached Hemis around 10-45 am - the monastery was not very busy and the light was excellent. After spending a couple of hours at the monastery including the very impressive museum, we headed to Shang Sumdo - the drive to Shang Sumdo took around 45 minutes  from Hemis and we reached in time for lunch.  The campsite was next to the road in a grassy clearing. After lunch we decided to go for an acclimatization walk along the trail from Shang Sumdo to Chogdo  - the end of the Markha valley. We walked along the road for about 20 minutes and then crossed the river on a small wooden bridge and headed across to a cluster of houses with some chortens in the middle. Fields of barley were being harvested and most of the villagers were working in the fields. After chatting with a husband and wife couple who were working in their fields we returned back to our campsite by following an alternative trail on the other side of the river. It was a very pleasant walk with yellow flowers in bloom all along the hillside. 

Leh 3450 metres Shang Sumdo 3700 metres 33 51 18 N 77 42 23 

September 3^rd 2019  Shang Sumdo to Shang Phu to camp below Shang La

We left Shang Sumdo at around 8-30 am by our vehicle as we wanted to gain some time and not walk on the motorable road. In 15 minutes we had covered the distance which had taken us two hours by walking on our last trek. We started out at around 8-45 am past the houses of Shang village and within 15 minutes crossed a wooden bridge across the river. In another 30 minutes we came to the river across stones and boulders and made two back to back river crossings - the water levels had reduced it was about calf deep now. The trail then continued across the boulders and we crossed the river again - we did not have to wade into the water.  Finally we crossed the river again for the fourth time and then climbed up to a small shrine with prayer flags. This was about two hours from the start of our walk.  From here the trail continued to climb gently meandering around the valley until we could see ahead the single tea house of Shang Phu. We reached Shang Phu by 11-45 am in three hours which was only due to the fact we have shaved off two hours by  not walking on the motorable road. As we had the whole afternoon free we took a decision to walk up another 75 minutes or so to a high camp below the Shang la and camp on a yak pasture. This would reduce the climb the next morning and make the very long day to Gangpoche doable by early evening. We left Shang Phu after lunch around 1-15 pm and the trail started to climb out of the valley. Within a few minutes we crossed  a small stream using the rocks and then started climbing steadily following the river upstream.  In about an hour we reached a clearing which was actually a yak pasture with thick luxuriant grass and decided to camp here. We could see the pass ahead of us.

Shang Sumdo 3700 metres Shang Phu 4350 metres 33 52 51 N 77 36 38E Yak pasture camp 4624 metres 33 53 44 N 777 36 13 E

Shang Sumdo to End of motorable road by vehicle 20 min End of motorable road to Shang Phu 3 hours Shang Phu to Yak pasture camp 1 hr 15 min

September 4  2019 Yak pasture camp to Shang la to Gangpoche 

It was a very clear morning and we left by 7.30 am for the pass. The trail continued to climb steadily for about an hour until it reached the final steep section at the bottom of the pass. The last push took around 30 to 45 minutes - the prayer flags of the pass are not visible till almost at the top.  Due to the good weather there was an excellent view of Matho Kangri peak dominating the valley. We left the pass around 9-30 am and started the steep downhill route . In about 75 minutes which reached a stream which we were able to walk across the boulders - 4485 metres . A little ahead there was another stream,  we could walk across this as well as the water levels had receded substantially since end July.  The trail then traversed the hillside for another 45 minutes before coming down to the third stream which we also walked across. We then climbed up 10 minutes to a grazing station - we had seen the sheep and goats from this station heading up to the high mountain pastures to graze. This took us around two hours 15 min from the pass. The trail now climbed gently for about 30 minutes and reached the fourth stream crossing - we jumped across the rocks and started a steep climb which eased up in 15 minutes  and followed a trail skirting and traversing the hillside. This continued for about an hour until two reached a small pass with cairns- from here we could look down on Gangpoche and we could see our tents pitched neatly in a green grazing meadow. From this point the trail traversed once again the hillside to the west before descending to a stream crossing. It then climbed up to a small meadow, descended again to another  stream and made the final 10 minute climb to the meadows of Gangpoche.  

 Yak pasture camp 4624 metres 33 53 44 N 777 36 13 E Shang La pass 4940 metres  33 54 18 N 77 35 21 E Gangpoche 4434 m 33 57 6 N 77 32 50 E

Yak pasture camp to Shang La 1 hr 30 to 1 hr 45 min Shang La to shepherds camp 2 hr to 2 hr 15 min Shepherds camp to Gangpoche 2 hrs 45 min to 3 hr 30 min

September 5 2019  Gangpoche to Chorten Chen via Matho La

We left Gangpoche around 7.45 am on another brilliant autumn day - the rains seemed to have faded away and there was a sharp crisp nip in the air. In 10 minutes we crossed a stream which we could jump across and in another 50 minutes came to another stream which we also managed to cross without entering the water. The trail then started to climb from here and reached the top of the pass in around 2 hrs to 2 hrs 15 min. We had an excellent view of Matho Golep and the Pyramid on our climb up to the pass and finally from the pass Stok Kangri came into view the highest peak of the group. We started down at around 11 30am   and stopped for a leisurely lunch on the way. In about 90 minutes (excluding lunch) we saw the campsite of Mankarmo below us. It was 30 minutes away and we had to cross by wading through the fast flowing stream in our sandals - the more intrepid amongst us managed to jump across. From Mankarmo we carried on 20 minutes down to Chorten Chen which was our campsite for the night. It was a beautiful evening and far above us on the craggy rocks we saw a herd of Bharal  about 10-12 animals grazing peacefully in the evening sunshine. 

Gangpoche to Matho La  4957 metres  33 59 0 N  77 31 40 E 3 hrs to 3.5 hours  Matho La to Mankarmo  4336 metres  34 0 8 N 77 29 59 E - 2.5 to 3 hours  Mankarmo to Chorten Chen 4294 metres 34 0 37 N 77 29 56E 20 min

September 6 2019  Chorten Chen to Rumbak via Stok La 

We decided to start out at 6 am because it was a long day across the pass and two false passes before the main pass. The trail started out by following the main trail to Stok but within 10 minutes swung left and climbed very gently for about 40 minutes to the foot of a steep climb to the first pass. There is a full airtel signal on top of this pass. The trail to the second pass is clearly visible. From here a 1 hr 15 min push including a steep 30 minutes zig zag climb brings you to the top of the second pass. Then another 25 minute climb finally reaches the top of Stok La. Rumbak is visible far below in the valley around 1000 metres below. The sheer steep drop to Rumbak loses around 400 metres in 30 minutes before the trail eases out in a wide valley and loses altitude more gently - it takes around 2 hr or so to reach Rumbak. From Rumbak another 45 minute downhill walk comes to a bridge above the river where the cars can pick up the Trekkers. The road to Rumbak will in all likelihood be finished within the next year.  

Chorten Chen to bottom of 1st pass 50 min Bottom of first pass to top of 1st pass 40 min 4584 metres  34 1 22 N 77 29 11 E First Pass to 2nd pass 1 hr 20 min 4820 metres 34 1 56 N 77 28 39 E 2nd pass to Stok La 25 min 4875 metres34 2 5 N 77 28 27 E  Stok La to bottom of pass 40 min  4580 metres Bottom of pass to Rumbak 3860 metres  1 hr 30 min Rumbak to bridge for car pick up 45 min 3712 metres 

For more information on our treks and photoworkshops do visit www.southcol.com

Travel and Leisure India | Interview Sujoy Das September 2019 Issue

The link to the interview is here https://travelandleisureindia.in/photographer-sujoy-das/

1. Tell us about your association with Mountain Echoes?

I was invited by Mountain Echoes to speak at the 10th edition of their festival in Bhutan that took place between August 22-25, 2019.  Our new book co-authored with Lisa Choegyal was showcased at the festival.

2. How important do you think platforms like these are for today’s youth?

I think they are very important as they give an opportunity to the youth to interact with different personalities from different professions from all over the world.

3. Photography has taken you around the world. What is your favourite place to shoot?

It would be in the mountains of Nepal, Himalaya. I have spent around two decades shooting in Nepal and the opportunities it has offered me have been incredible. I have done three books on Nepal.

4. Do you remember the first photograph you took? Where was it?

It was on a trek to Sandakphu near Darjeeling, I think in 1976 when I had just finished school from the bungalow of Tonglu looking at the Kanchenjunga range floating above the clouds. This, in fact, fired my interest in photography.

5. Tell us one crazy experience you have had while shooting.

I was trying to reach the Sikkim-Tibet border in North Sikkim at an altitude of 5,000 metres riding a yak; unfortunately, the yak had other ideas and as I was about to shoot some photos it started racing up the valley and threw me off! Luckily, the camera did not suffer any lasting damage!

6. In today’s digital age, everybody owns a high-quality camera. How does one stand out?

You are right. All cameras can take great photos, but it’s the eye behind the lens that’s important; you need to see things in a different way, in a different light, at different times of the day, and to create something different from the run-of-the-mill photo.

7. What kind of traveller are you?

I like to travel light, usually carrying my own backpack.

8. Do you prefer solo or group travel?

I usually travel in small groups, maybe with a few like-minded photographers.

9. What are the three things you must have while travelling?

Well, since most of my work is in the mountains, I would never leave home without a sleeping bag and a warm jacket —  both are essential for survival.

10. What is your most favourite destination in India?

It would be Sikkim, a state where I have spent many months photographing, especially the unspoilt Zemu Valley of North Sikkim in the shadow of Mount Kangchenjunga.

11. What does it take to be a successful travel photographer?

You must be prepared to spend time in the field often in very difficult and arduous conditions. You must also focus on weaving a story around your photos, just isolated images are not good enough and they won’t find a market; most editors will reject them.

During all my time spent in the Himalayas, it’s always been a search for the right light, the right time of the day, the right perspective and the right second, which transforms an ordinary or mundane view. In many of my photographs, there is a story waiting to be told. I hope I have been able to tell it well.