A team from South Col Expeditions, trekked to the north east base camp of Kanchenjunga in the Zemu Valley in October-November 2014. Here is the day wise description of the route and the trek schedule:
THE
ROUTE
Day 1: Gangtok to Lachen by road
The drive from
Gangtok to Lachen takes around six hours with a lunch stop at Mangan or Rang
Rang Bridge.
Day 2: Lachen (2700 m) to Zema by road and
then trek to Tallem (3250 m) (5–6 hours)
The road continues
along the North Sikkim Highway to Zema for half an hour. From Zema, take the
trail west along the right bank of the Zemu Chu through landslide debris and
boulders which can be quite difficult. After around three hours of walking, the
boulders end and there is a clearing which serves as a lunch stop near the
river. The trail then leaves the valley and climbs steeply through the forest to
reach Tallem in about an hour.
Day 3: Tallem to Jakthang (3430 m) (3 to 4 hours)
This is a short
day and Jakthang is reached by lunchtime. Soon after leaving Tallem, cross the Lhonak
Chu on a temporary log bridge and then follow the path along the river for an
hour. The path then climbs through the forest for an hour until a saddle is
reached from where the trail drops for about half an hour and crosses two small
streams. It then levels off and enters the clearing of Jakthang with a ruined
hut which can be used for cooking and shelter.
Day 4: Jakthang (3430 m) to Yabuk (4040 m) (41/2
to -51/2 hours)
Follow the trail out of Jakthang along the
river for about twenty minutes. The path then climbs to a small saddle where
there is an indistinct trail going to the right to Muguthang. Do not take this
right fork but instead go left and down
to a stone bridge over the river which is visible from the top. From the bridge follow the well
defined trail through rhododendron forests climbing gently for about two hours
with the Zemu Chu on your left. The path then leaves the river and makes a
sharp ascent for about an hour and reaches a broad meadow at the edge of the
tree line with a ruined double storied hut which is Yabuk.
Day 5:
Acclimatization day at Yabuk (4040m)
You can spend the rest
day walking up the valley, bird watching or just lazing at camp.
Day 6: Yabuk (4040 m) to Rest Camp (4500 m)
(4-5 hours)
From Yabuk walk
across the meadow and then start climbing to a small pass at the head of the
valley which should take about seventy five minutes. From the pass the first
view of the Zemu peaks are visible. Fifteen minutes later you reach a broad
meadow which is Sona Camp. The trail then climbs for an hour and reaches a
broad river bed covered with white stones. From here a climb across scrub and
dwarf rhododendron forest for another hour reaches a clearing with some ruined stone
shelters which is the Rest Camp across the valley from Siniolchu.
Day 7: Rest Camp (4500 m) to Green Lakes (5050
m) (4 to 5 hours)
The trail to Green
Lakes is often indistinct and a guide who has trekked this route before is
essential. Leave the Rest Camp walking through
scrub and moss with your feet often sinking into the brush. In 30 minutes you
will reach a river bed with some streams flowing across. Cross the river bed
and reach a grassy meadow in about ninety minutes. The path then climbs gently
before reaching another river bed which you should follow for around 30
minutes. Another level meadow is reached and at the end of the meadow is the
Zemu glacier just below, a fascinating
view point. Swing sharp right at this point and again navigate through brush/grass/scree
on a faint trail for an hour walking to the end of the valley which is the
Green Lakes camp.
Day 8: Rest Day at
Green Lakes
Spend the day
lazing in the sunshine and watching the peaks. The more intrepid can climb the
hill behind the camp for about an hour or so to come to a high point with
magnificent views both towards Kangchenjunga as well as down the valley. The
Zemu Gap that links the Zemu valley to the Talung valley is clearly seen from
this high point.
Day 9: Green Lakes (5050 m) to Yabuk (4040 m)
(5-6 hours)
It is possible to
make the march from Green Lakes to Yabuk in one day, as the trail is mostly
downhill. More intrepid trekkers and porters could try to reach Jakthang on the
same day.
Day 10: Yabuk (4040 m) – Tallem
The march down to
Tallem would take about five hours and drop in altitude is welcome.
Day 11: Tallem to
– Lachen (2700 m) (3 hours) trek and then to Gangtok by road
From Tallem
retrace your steps to Zema, which is the road head. Have an early lunch in Lachen and then drive
back to Gangtok the same day and reach in time for dinner.It is possible to do the trek in 10 days Gangtok to Gangtok if you skip the rest day at Green Lakes.
For more photographs of the Green Lakes trek do visit http://www.sujoydas.com/Sikkim-Himalaya/The-Green-Lakes-Trek-in-North-/
