Tenzing Norgay: Tiger of the Snows

On Sunday 15th March 2015 at 7 pm, I will be presenting a slide show on the life and times of Tenzing Norgay at India Habitat Centre, Gul Mohar Hall, New Delhi. All are welcome for this show. The invitation and other details are below.

The Green Lakes Trek in the Zemu Valley, North Sikkim

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-/

Around Manaslu with South Col May 9th to 24th 2015

The circuit of  Manaslu, the eighth highest peak in the world, is what the Annapurna circuit was thirty years ago! Few trekkers, traditional villages, outstanding views, mountain culture, a high pass to cross and a final finish along the old Annapurna circuit approach! Do the trek now before it becomes too crowded and commercialized. Please email sujoyrdas@gmail.com for a full pdf and cost details. Trekkers need to reach Kathmandu on May 7th as May 8th is needed to process the Manaslu permit with original passport and visa. The trek starts on May 9th as per schedule below.

  

Mustang & Lo Manthang Trek with South Col

April 16th to May 1st 2015

This trek covers one of the last Shangri-la’s in the Himalaya. A lost kingdom bordering Tibet which has a regulated entry of not more than three thousand visitors per year with magnificent monasteries, frescoes, palaces and a way of life which would soon vanish forever.Sculpted canyons and fantastic rock formations, medieval villages, ruined fortresses, royal palaces, unexplored Neolithic cave complexes, Tibetan Buddhist gompas and snow-peaks characterize this spectacular region, a thumb sticking up into the Tibetan plateau.Upper Mustang and its walled capital, Lo Manthang, is a remote and starkly beautiful region, home to Buddhism as well as the remnants of the older, mystical Bon religion   For  more details  and cost please email sujoyrdas@gmail.com. 

Peakfinder Earth App

Very often on our treks we stand at the top of a ridge or a view point wanting to know the names of the peaks.
We know the names of the "big ones" and for the others we ask our fellow trekkers, guides etc. who may or may not know the answer.

But in this world of technology and automation there is an answer!

The Peakfinder app for smart phones and tablets both for Apple and Android.

The App has details of more than 2,50,000 mountain peaks and can give you a reading of the peaks once it's knows the location or co-ordinates.

Here is the App at work on Poon Hill looking towards Dhaulagiri in thr Nepal Himalayas:

The details of the app can be found on the web site www.peakfinder.org.

From the web site I reproduce the details below:

The mountains are calling! Explore more mountains than any mountaineer! PeakFinder Earth makes it possible... and shows the names of all mountains and peaks with a 360° panorama display.
This functions completely offline – and worldwide!

PeakFinder knows more than 250’000 peaks - from Mount Everest to the little hill around the corner.

Features

• Works offline and worldwide
• Includes more than 250'000 peak names
• Fast rendering of the surrounding landscapes in a range of 300km/200mil
• Digital binoculars to select less prominent peaks
• 'Show me'-function for visible peaks
• Uses GPS to get your current location
• Maps (online) for viewpoint selection
• Dialog for entering coordinates manually
• Uses compass and accelerometer sensors
• Weekly updates of the peak directory
• Supports iOS devices (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad), Android devices (HTC, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, ...) and Nokia devices (Symbian^3)

So the next time you go on a hike or a trek don't forget to load up the app on your smartphone! It can prove to be mighty helpful!

New Nikkor 300mm f/4E PF ED VR

One of the most exciting releases from Nikon in the new year is the 300 F4 PF ED VR lens. The earlier 300 F4 AFS lens was a favourite with many wildlife photographers paired with the TC 1.4 converter. The new lens offers a lot more!

On the left is the new lens and on the right is the old lens!

At around 755 grams it is a really lightweight lens and around half the weight of its predecessor! It is about the same size as the Nikon 700-300 VR zoom! That itself is a path breaking achievement!


To quote Nikon below:

Introducing a thrilling new 300mm f/4 prime lens capable of changing the way pro and serious enthusiasts shoot. At just 147.5mm long and 755g—over 30% shorter and 1.5lbs lighter than its predecessor—the AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR is the world's lightest 300mm full-frame AF lens. (As of January 5, 2015. Statement based on Nikon research.) The secret to its remarkable size? 
A Nikon-designed Phase Fresnel (PF) lens element, a first for the NIKKOR DSLR lens lineup. But handling isn't the only advantage; the PF element also performs brilliantly—achieve new levels of sharpness and clarity with virtually no chromatic aberration or ghosting. Whether you shoot fashion, portraits, nature, wildlife, sports, action or today's big stories, the AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR will help you capture stunning views of the decisive moment.

The list price of this lens is $1999/-

For more information on this new lens do visit
https://photographylife.com/nikon-300mm-f4e-pf-ed-vr-announcement

When Does Trekking becomes Mountaineering

Mark Horrell, climber, writer and photographer has written an excellent post on his blog about trekking and mountaineering and the fine line between the two. Do visit Mark's blog for more articles and photos on the mountains.
http://www.markhorrell.com/blog/2011/when-does-trekking-become-mountaineering/ 

The trail between Dingboche and Dugla in the Everest region

Happy New Year 2015

Wishing all my friends, family, fellow trekkers, fellow bloggers and photographers a very Happy New Year 2015! 

And here is the exciting schedule of treks for the New Year!

Mustang & Lo Manthang April 16th to May 1st 2015

This trek covers one of the last Shangri-la’s in the Himalaya. A lost kingdom bordering Tibet which has a regulated entry of not more than three thousand visitors per year with magnificent monasteries, frescoes, palaces and a way of life which would soon vanish forever.Sculpted canyons and fantastic rock formations, medieval villages, ruined fortresses, royal palaces, unexplored Neolithic cave complexes, Tibetan Buddhist gompas and snow-peaks characterize this spectacular region, a thumb sticking up into the Tibetan plateau. Upper Mustang and its walled capital, Lo Manthang, is a remote and starkly beautiful region, home to Buddhism as well as the remnants of the older, mystical Bon religion

http://www.southcol.com/Treks-Nepal/the-mustang-trek

Around Manaslu May 9th to 24th 2015

The circuit of  Manaslu, the eighth highest peak in the world, is what the Annapurna circuit was thirty years ago! Few trekkers, traditional villages, outstanding views, mountain culture, a high pass to cross and a final finish along the old Annapurna circuit approach! Do the trek now before it becomes too crowded and commercialized.

http://www.southcol.com/Treks-Nepal/around-manaslu-may-2015-1

The Indus to the Nubra Valley in Ladakh September 1st to September 10th 2015 Delhi to Delhi

This trek crosses the Lasirmo La pass from Phyang to Hundar in one of the most unspoilt regions of Ladakh . For more details, route and cost do e-mail me.

Everest, Gokyo, the Cho La and Rhenjo Pass November 8th to 24th November 2015

This iconic trek covers both the Khumbu valley of Everest including Kala Pattar, the Everest Base camp across the Cho la to the emerald lakes of Gokyo. Then across the scenic Rhenjo La and down to Namche via Thami - a perfect circuit of the Everest region.

http://www.southcol.com/Treks-Nepal/the-everest-trek-to-kala-pattar 

The Annapurna Foothills December 26th 2015 to Jan 3 2016 (on request)

Hope to see some of you on these routes in 2015!

Cheers

Sujoy