For a place like Spiti, where people have been worshiping nature, adventure activities like skiing and rock climbing are considered quite foolish. There are only few in Spiti, who are involved in adventure sport and exploring the depths of this remote land. Though skiing is becoming popular among the youth here, but rock climbing doesn’t interest many and extreme sports like ice climbing the frozen waterfalls is something unheard of.
In the middle of February, I was surprised to see Bharat Bhushan, my mountaineer friend at the doorsteps of my home in Kaza. Bharat was among the first person who introduced me to rock climbing few years back. He is now an instructor at NOLS. He couldn’t reach me as we had no power for the past few weeks. He was accompanied by his friends from Geck & Co Adventures, Prerna Dangi and Karn Kowshik. They wanted to climb the frozen waterfall that I posed on Instagram and explore some more waterfalls in the area.
So, now I became a guide and took them to the waterfall me and my doctor friends of Kaza were exploring a month back.
There are many frozen waterfalls in Spiti, but reaching them is another adventure in itself. First you have to reach Kaza in winters, that itself becomes one of the most memorable trips of your life. If you are traveling like a local, you’ll be in a non-4WD Sumo, driving on snow without any snow tyres or even snow chains. After you reach Kaza, you’ll have to walk through powder snow and camp in -30˚C. The remoteness of the region and lack of a skilled rescue team makes it really dangerous and hence very expensive.
For ice climbing enthusiasts, these links will help you.
- Sakya Abode can take care of the logistics and stay in Spiti during the winters. Inform them in advance.
- Bharat Bhushan can take care of the extreme sports in winters.
rishu07@gmail.com | www.climberbharat.com
- Karn Kowshik
www.geck-co.com
- Prerna Dangi
www.instagram.com/thepahadigirl/
Hi
I am a regular traveller on motor bike to kardungla,double decker-chirapunjee,tawang,Gurudongmar,spiti valley turu batal & koksar and whole of JK.
For the first time I am visiting Spiti valley in winter by bus. Coming to Simla on 30.12.15 morning and proceeding to Kaza.
Heard that till 31.12.15 no snowfall expected in the valley. Hence reaching kaza by shared cab/Bus on 30.12.15 is possible ,I think. From 01.01.16 to 04.01.16 snowfall prediction in spiti valley is given by Accuweather.
Hope to enjoy maximum snow in spiti this time.
Can you guide me for a stay in sakya home stay and some winter sports around Kaza during that time.
Since 06.01.16 and 07.01.16 are expected to be sunny days, hope to travel back to simla on 05.01.16.
Thanks in advance
T Singaram
Hi. Himanshu. I m regular follower of LifeInSpiti. Can u please tell me who can arrange for Parang la trek?
There is a not so little tunnel being built through the Rohtang Pass to enable an almost perfect displacement into Spiti Valley esp Kaza from Manali.The old road through the top of the pass is however not being closed down and that takes down two ranges in a single stroke.The Border Roads Organisation is an agency which is too innocent and it is wrong to usurp certain roles for the interests of corporations.This may not prove to be so but as witnessed elsewhere through the entire himalayas where roads are not built for communities or villagers but for hydro corps so they can ferry their vehicles to snatch that last drop of water, the times are to firm up our beliefs and occupy the Himalayas indeed.