Two Moderate Grade Treks To Do In Uttarakhand, This Winter Season -Kuari Pass Trek And Pangarchulla Trek

 Given the excellently rich geographic diversity in Uttarakhand, there are innumerable treks cradled by the state. Many of these treks dive into realy remote and unexplored nooks of the state and allow you to experience nature like never before. Two amazing, moderate grade trekking expeditions in Uttarakhand that prove to be nothing less than a roller coaster ride are the Kuari Pass Trek and the Pangarchulla Trek nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand.

KUARI PASS TREK -

The Kuari Pass is a highly engrossing trek that was first found by Lord Curzon, a really-really long time ago. It is a remarkable trek that also serves as an ideal ice-breaker for amateurs as well as trekking enthusiasts. With spellbinding, panoramic views of the Garhwal Himalayas, it remains one of the most admired and sought after treks of Uttarakhand, of all time. The trek spans over 33 km, and is completed in six days with the highest altitude being 12,763 ft. Besides the spine-chilling gallery of majestic mighty mountains from the Kuari Top, several river crossings en route, distinguish the Kuari Pass Trek from the others.

Mentioned below are three of my favourite aspects of the Kuari Pass Trek -

1) The exciting walk through the ancient and remote Garhwal villages -
 With its starting point in Dhak Village, on the Kuari Pass Trek, you will find yourself sneaking in and out of several Garhwali villages that lie en route to the Kuari Pass. As you traverse these villages to reach the other end, you get to witness the ancient cultures and practices of Uttarakhand. The experience of walking past these villages, interacting with the locals while admiring and relishing the exquisite wilderness of the region is soul-filling and beyond explanation. It is truly enlightening and exceptionally enriching.

2) The enlivening trek over the undulating, heavenly Himalayan alpine meadows -
 The Gorson Bugyal is a sprawling, lush green meadow that is explored on the sixth day of the Kuari Pass Trek. As you begin to trek from the Tali Forest camp to Joshimath, you are introduced to the Gorson Bugyal en route. Soon after you walk past the last tree line of the Tali Forest, the rising and dipping folds of the Gorson Bugyal become apparent. The beauty of walking over undulating alpine Himalayan meadows is best experienced in winters. The entire landscape is smothered with thick carpets of fresh, powdery snow and the sight appears so heavenly as if almost utopian.

3) The eagle’s eye view of the Greater Himalayas from the Kuari Top -

On the fourth day of the Kuari Pass Trek, as you begin to trek from the Tali Forest camp, towards the Kuari Pass, the views before you tend to get more and more gripping, with each foot put forward. After the adventurous climb, as you reach the Kuari Pass, the landscape unfolds into a museum of robust and mighty mountain peaks. You get a 360 degree view of Mt. Trishul, Mt Chaukhamba, Mt. Nanda Devi, Mt Hathi Ghoda Parwat, Mt. Mukut Parwat, Mt. Dronagiri, Mana, Changbang, and the robust Mt. Nanda Ghunti, and the fierce Mt. Neelkanth towering high before you.

PANGARCHULLA TREK -

The Pangarchulla Trek nicely overlaps the Kuari Pass circuit and has the same initial stops in its itineraries as the Kuari Pass Trek. However, it allows you to take an additional step and leap deeper into the Garhwal Himalayas. This addition climb to the Pangarchulla Peak summit, advances the game of trekking and upscales it slightly to the moderate-difficult grade category, while the Kuari Pass remains in the easy-moderate grade category. The Pangarchulla trek covers a distance of approximately 44km in 7 days with the highest altitude on the trek being 15,010 ft, at the Pangarchulla summit.

Mentioned below are four of my favorite aspects of the Pangarchulla Trek -

1) The Grand gallery of Garhwal Himalayas from the Kuari Pass — 
 As you rest your foot on the Kuari Pass perched at 12,763 ft, you will be blown away by the fascinating mountainscape before you. The sight will have snow-capped, robust mountains such as Mt. Trishul, Mt Chaukhamba, Mt. Nanda Devi, Mt Hathi Ghoda Parwat, Mt. Mukut Parwat, Mt. Dronagiri, Mana, Changbang, Mt. Nanda Ghunti, and the fierce Mt. Neelkanth enegantly resting in the forefront. The grand beauty of this view is best understood through first hand experience, words can never do justice to the mind-blowing charmer of the real picture in front. It is so vehemently beautiful that you will find yourself gasping at the grandeur for quite a while.

2) The ridge climb for the summit attempt -

On the fifth day of the Pangarchulla Peak Trek, you will head out to attempt the summit. The arduous climb from Trek Camp1 to Pangarchulla Peak Summit via the Khullara top is one of the most action-packed, thrilling and daunting aspects of the Pangarchulla

Most part of this climb is a strenuous walk over an extremely steep ridge. As daunting as it will appear, equally adventurous will it feel to cover the distance and reach the summit. With adrenaline rushes, goose-bumps and a rigorously panting heart, this ridge climb for the summit attempt remains highly stirring and engrossing.

3) The heavenly and cinematic 360 degree views of the Greater Himalayas from the Pangarchulla Peak summit -

After you take care of the taxing and effort-demanding aspects of the Pangarchulla trek and finally reach the summit, at 15,010 ft, you feel on top of the world with a spectrum of emotions going haywire inside you. The views in the forefront fuel the adrenaline rushes and leave you with a sense of accomplishment. Robust mountains such as the Nanda Devi, Dronagiri, Mana Mandir, Kamet, Hathi Parbat, Chaukhamba, Ghori Parbat etc surround you and appear as if just a touch away. The view is so heavenly and cinematic that it will almost immediately make you weak in the knees- absolutely nothing will matter in that moment except your bravery and accomplishment.