Pangarchulla Trek
A challenging summit climbs of Indian MT Everest!
Pic Credit: Luda
Among all the offerings that we have for your adventure appetite, one of the very few treks that qualify to be an all-rounder is the Pangarchulla Trek.
Within these entire ranges, there must be only very few trails that are subdued with the perfect amount of challenge that encourages the recently vacated and at the same time makes the veterans come back to experience the gradual transformation from green to snow-capped earth.
Pic Credit: Swati
What more is that not only does the trek get better experiential but the view changes like a collection of well-chosen wallpapers? From forests to sleet covered peaks, from standing on cliffs to grassy knolls, from rocky boulders to icy lakes, this trek covers everything.
The climb to the summit itself is immensely and profoundly amazing. You will be standing at a height of 15,009 ft above the sea level with a dilemma within you whether you want to continue the trek or just stand still and watch every detail of the gargantuan view in front of you filled with a deep valley towered by the snow-clad mountains of Garhwal Region.
With every climb and descend the view changes so drastically that it is nothing short of comparing to a plunge through nature’s portal.
Pic Credit: Luda
Some of the peaks to look out for during this hike are the Chaukhamba, Dronagiri, Ghora Parbat, Haathi Parbat and of course the Mt. Nanda Devi to name the prominent ones.
All this is credited to the fact that you would be passing through the Nanda Devi Sanctuary which is nothing but the front seat of the Himalayas in this region.
How difficult is the hike across Pangarchulla Trek during winter?
We describe the peak trek to Pangarchulla as a challenging one. Climbing to an altitude of more than 15,000 feet, heavy winds near the peak and terrain require at least one Moderate-Difficult high-altitude trek experience. During the 12 to 16 hour-long summit day, you must ascend and descend for more than 3,500 ft. Depending on the weather conditions, the trail crosses several ridges, snowfields and a steep rocky face near the summit which may or may not require a rope.
Having said that, we have included in the itinerary a day of acclimatization to help trekkers cope better with the drive to the summit. In brief, here you can take a peek at the trek itinerary.
By the end of the journey, you will realize that you get the best service at minimal Pangarchulla trek cost by the best trekking company of India – Discovery Hike.
Fitness Tips for the Mountains:
The Mountaineer Fitness Plan starts with training both the Mind & Body. It’s a physically grueling task to trek a mountain, but the mindset wins it all in the end and the body will come to the rescue. Persistence consists of 50% you Mind & 50% your Body.
We at Discovery Hike believe that with our Mantra of SSS, you get in the right shape of mind and body before you come to trek with us. Whether you are a beginner or a Pro. An adult or a teenager you follow this regiment for 30 days prior to your Trek, will provide you the desired results.
What is the SSS, you ask? It is:
Stamina
Strength
Stretch
Stamina – You will need to particularly enhance your current stamina to a fiercer one to undertake any Trek. You will need spare 30 – 45 Daily for this activity and increase it based on the Trek.
You will need to start with walking 4 km & more gradually. Effectively your goal will be to walk for 4+km a day.
Once you have successfully completed walking, turn this into running/jogging for the same distance. Effectively your goal will be to run 4+ km a day
Strength – Working on Stamina is just restricted to your running. Strength is working on various parts of your body to compliment your Stamina. Upper Back, Lower Back, Core, Legs, Arms & more.
Upper Body – You will need to do Push-ups after you have done with your running exercise. You will need to make it 5 – 10 push-ups a day. Repeat the same in sets of 3 daily. Effectively your goal will be to reach 15 – 30 push-ups daily.
Lower Back – Perform a Plank starting with 30 seconds a Day. Add 10 – 15 seconds more daily to improve the strength you add to you core. Effectively your goal will be to perform a Plank for 3 – 5 minutes.
Arms – You can do lights lifts in the Gym. If not the gym, you can use a heavy book or object & move it towards your shoulder without losing form & repeat the same for both arms for about 30 times in sets of 3. Effectively your goal will be to perform 100 lifts in each arm.
Legs – You will have to start with squats of 5 – 10 in sets of 3. Alternatively, you can also do Wall sits-up of 5 – 10 in sets of 3. Effectively your goal will be to perform 15 – 30 squats/sit-ups.
Core – You will need start with crunches of 5 – 10 in sets of 3 and keep adding more towards by the day. This will build not just the core but your Lower back & Stamina too. Effectively your goal will be to reach 30 – 50 squats in a day.
Stretch – Probably the most neglected but the most crucial part of the exercise Stretching. This will enable all your muscles to stay intact & be activated rather than cramping. It will improve your performance in all activities you undertake. decrease your risk of injuries, help in your joints movements & enable your muscles to work at their best.
Shoulder stretches
Wrist stretches
Hamstring stretches
Calf stretches
Mental Health – The other 50% of your Training comes from Mental Wellness. This will surely help you when you are faced against the harness of nature to give you the strength required to overcome obstacles of any kind. The best mind that can achieve this is a calm mind. We recommend that you partake in Yoga for some Mental Rest & Relaxation.
Take slow, deep breaths. Or try other breathing exercises for relaxation
Soak in a warm bath
Listen to soothing music
Practice mindful meditation
Sleep early and Rise Early
I hope the above suggestions proved to be useless. These are merely guidelines to be in the right shape of Mental & Physical state. If you are already following a regiment that is suitable to your body, we suggest that you continue. This is for Beginners and Start-up kit for those who are about to undertake the Trek with us.
BMI CUTOFF
BMI for different trek grade conditions is different. If anyone above the cutoff will be considered as overweight and not be allowed to trek with us.
BMI cut off for high altitude trek
| 1. | BMI For easy trek | Not above 29 |
| 2. | BMI for moderate trek | Not above 28 |
| 3. | BMI for difficult trek | Not above 27 |
BP CUT OFF
BP cut off is different for different altitudes. If BP is above our cutoff the trekker needs to Decent down as soon as possible to the core base. Higher reading is dangerous.
BP cut off for high altitude trek
| 1. | Systolic reading | Not more than 160 |
| 2. | Diastolic reading | Not more than 100 |
We shall see you soon
– Discovery Hike Team
Hiking Shoes
Type: Depending on Terrain & the difficulty of the Trek, you will to choose the right kind of Grip & Sole for the Shoe. We recommend that you check for water-resistance & a deep yet flexible sole for the all factors that you will face
Importance: Your legs need to be well taken care of by the shoes over the course of the Trek. Different Terrains pose different threats & the right kind of shoe will make all the difference in the world.
Backpack
Type: This purely depends on the kind of Trek you are undertaking
- Short Treks (1 – 3 Days) – 15litres to 20litres
- Long Treks (3 – 10 Days) – 40litres to 60litres
Importance: Your Backpack is as important as your Shoe. Your entire journey will be with the Backpack full of your belongings and all the essentials you need. We recommend that you test the back and choose according to the Trek, your height & comfort it provides.
Daypack
Type: This is 10litres – 15litres Daypack Backpack you need to have with you for the Summit.
Importance: Your Daypack will be for those Summit days and shorter days when you just need your essentials with you.
Clothing
Padded Jacket – You will need 1 pair of the Jacket for Summer & Winter. Ensure that the jacket is wind-resistant & capable of keeping your warm up to -10 degrees
Fleece Jacket – You will need 2 pairs of the Fleece Jacket. Make sure it’s Cotton or contains more Cotton.
Thermals – You will only require 1 pair of this in the Winter, Summer is optional. It should also be made primarily of Cotton. This will keep your warm during the nights when the temperature usually tends to drop.
Trek Pants – Exclusively meant for Trekking, you will need minimum 2 pairs of Trekking Pants with you always. Ensure it is made of Cotton & provides you maximum comfort to you and is durable.
Collared T-shirts – Carrying 2 – 3 pairs are normally recommended. The collar will help keeping the neck from being too exposed to the Sun and being Sun-burnt.
Sun Caps – At high Altitudes, the Sun might be harsh and direct exposure of your head to the sun is not something we would recommend. Carry Sun Caps in case these situations arise to keep your head cool.
Woolen Caps – The nights get very cold in the Mountains and you must protect your ears and head from the cold winds. Woolen caps are essentials during the nights to keep your ears and head warm.
Water-proof Gloves – You will need water-proof gloves as you move towards colder and wet parts of the Trek. Keep your hands clean & warm without getting them wet and most importantly to give you the grip and firmness you need.
Trek Accessories
- Trekking Pole: The Trekking/Hiking Pole saves you almost 60% of your energy when you are climbing a steep slope during high altitude conditions. We make it mandate to carry a Trekking Pole with you for our Treks.
- Head-lamp or Torch: A Head-Lamp is something we make mandate too for our Treks. Carrying this will help you see better in dark places. In case, you are unable to procure a Head-lamp then we suggest carrying a Torch.
Daily essentials
Toiletries: We recommend that you carry all your Toiletries essentials and all other cosmetic & personal requirements by yourself to avoid borrowing. (Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Lip-balm, Moisturizer, Face-wash, Other creams & essentials, Toilet roll, Sanitary Pads, etc.)
Bottles & Boxes: We recommend that you carry all your own Water Bottle, we suggest two 1litres bottles that you will need. And also, your own Boxes to eat the food we provide for both convenience and hygienic purposes.
Pangarchulla Trek
A challenging summit climbs of Indian MT Everest!
Pic Credit: Luda
Among all the offerings that we have for your adventure appetite, one of the very few treks that qualify to be an all-rounder is the Pangarchulla Trek.
Within these entire ranges, there must be only very few trails that are subdued with the perfect amount of challenge that encourages the recently vacated and at the same time makes the veterans come back to experience the gradual transformation from green to snow-capped earth.
Pic Credit: Swati
What more is that not only does the trek get better experiential but the view changes like a collection of well-chosen wallpapers? From forests to sleet covered peaks, from standing on cliffs to grassy knolls, from rocky boulders to icy lakes, this trek covers everything.
The climb to the summit itself is immensely and profoundly amazing. You will be standing at a height of 15,009 ft above the sea level with a dilemma within you whether you want to continue the trek or just stand still and watch every detail of the gargantuan view in front of you filled with a deep valley towered by the snow-clad mountains of Garhwal Region.
With every climb and descend the view changes so drastically that it is nothing short of comparing to a plunge through nature’s portal.
Pic Credit: Luda
Some of the peaks to look out for during this hike are the Chaukhamba, Dronagiri, Ghora Parbat, Haathi Parbat and of course the Mt. Nanda Devi to name the prominent ones.
All this is credited to the fact that you would be passing through the Nanda Devi Sanctuary which is nothing but the front seat of the Himalayas in this region.
How difficult is the hike across Pangarchulla Trek during winter?
We describe the peak trek to Pangarchulla as a challenging one. Climbing to an altitude of more than 15,000 feet, heavy winds near the peak and terrain require at least one Moderate-Difficult high-altitude trek experience. During the 12 to 16 hour-long summit day, you must ascend and descend for more than 3,500 ft. Depending on the weather conditions, the trail crosses several ridges, snowfields and a steep rocky face near the summit which may or may not require a rope.
Having said that, we have included in the itinerary a day of acclimatization to help trekkers cope better with the drive to the summit. In brief, here you can take a peek at the trek itinerary.
By the end of the journey, you will realize that you get the best service at minimal Pangarchulla trek cost by the best trekking company of India – Discovery Hike.
Fitness Tips for the Mountains:
The Mountaineer Fitness Plan starts with training both the Mind & Body. It’s a physically grueling task to trek a mountain, but the mindset wins it all in the end and the body will come to the rescue. Persistence consists of 50% you Mind & 50% your Body.
We at Discovery Hike believe that with our Mantra of SSS, you get in the right shape of mind and body before you come to trek with us. Whether you are a beginner or a Pro. An adult or a teenager you follow this regiment for 30 days prior to your Trek, will provide you the desired results.
What is the SSS, you ask? It is:
Stamina
Strength
Stretch
Stamina – You will need to particularly enhance your current stamina to a fiercer one to undertake any Trek. You will need spare 30 – 45 Daily for this activity and increase it based on the Trek.
You will need to start with walking 4 km & more gradually. Effectively your goal will be to walk for 4+km a day.
Once you have successfully completed walking, turn this into running/jogging for the same distance. Effectively your goal will be to run 4+ km a day
Strength – Working on Stamina is just restricted to your running. Strength is working on various parts of your body to compliment your Stamina. Upper Back, Lower Back, Core, Legs, Arms & more.
Upper Body – You will need to do Push-ups after you have done with your running exercise. You will need to make it 5 – 10 push-ups a day. Repeat the same in sets of 3 daily. Effectively your goal will be to reach 15 – 30 push-ups daily.
Lower Back – Perform a Plank starting with 30 seconds a Day. Add 10 – 15 seconds more daily to improve the strength you add to you core. Effectively your goal will be to perform a Plank for 3 – 5 minutes.
Arms – You can do lights lifts in the Gym. If not the gym, you can use a heavy book or object & move it towards your shoulder without losing form & repeat the same for both arms for about 30 times in sets of 3. Effectively your goal will be to perform 100 lifts in each arm.
Legs – You will have to start with squats of 5 – 10 in sets of 3. Alternatively, you can also do Wall sits-up of 5 – 10 in sets of 3. Effectively your goal will be to perform 15 – 30 squats/sit-ups.
Core – You will need start with crunches of 5 – 10 in sets of 3 and keep adding more towards by the day. This will build not just the core but your Lower back & Stamina too. Effectively your goal will be to reach 30 – 50 squats in a day.
Stretch – Probably the most neglected but the most crucial part of the exercise Stretching. This will enable all your muscles to stay intact & be activated rather than cramping. It will improve your performance in all activities you undertake. decrease your risk of injuries, help in your joints movements & enable your muscles to work at their best.
Shoulder stretches
Wrist stretches
Hamstring stretches
Calf stretches
Mental Health – The other 50% of your Training comes from Mental Wellness. This will surely help you when you are faced against the harness of nature to give you the strength required to overcome obstacles of any kind. The best mind that can achieve this is a calm mind. We recommend that you partake in Yoga for some Mental Rest & Relaxation.
Take slow, deep breaths. Or try other breathing exercises for relaxation
Soak in a warm bath
Listen to soothing music
Practice mindful meditation
Sleep early and Rise Early
I hope the above suggestions proved to be useless. These are merely guidelines to be in the right shape of Mental & Physical state. If you are already following a regiment that is suitable to your body, we suggest that you continue. This is for Beginners and Start-up kit for those who are about to undertake the Trek with us.
BMI CUTOFF
BMI for different trek grade conditions is different. If anyone above the cutoff will be considered as overweight and not be allowed to trek with us.
BMI cut off for high altitude trek
| 1. | BMI For easy trek | Not above 29 |
| 2. | BMI for moderate trek | Not above 28 |
| 3. | BMI for difficult trek | Not above 27 |
BP CUT OFF
BP cut off is different for different altitudes. If BP is above our cutoff the trekker needs to Decent down as soon as possible to the core base. Higher reading is dangerous.
BP cut off for high altitude trek
| 1. | Systolic reading | Not more than 160 |
| 2. | Diastolic reading | Not more than 100 |
We shall see you soon
– Discovery Hike Team
Hiking Shoes
Type: Depending on Terrain & the difficulty of the Trek, you will to choose the right kind of Grip & Sole for the Shoe. We recommend that you check for water-resistance & a deep yet flexible sole for the all factors that you will face
Importance: Your legs need to be well taken care of by the shoes over the course of the Trek. Different Terrains pose different threats & the right kind of shoe will make all the difference in the world.
Backpack
Type: This purely depends on the kind of Trek you are undertaking
- Short Treks (1 – 3 Days) – 15litres to 20litres
- Long Treks (3 – 10 Days) – 40litres to 60litres
Importance: Your Backpack is as important as your Shoe. Your entire journey will be with the Backpack full of your belongings and all the essentials you need. We recommend that you test the back and choose according to the Trek, your height & comfort it provides.
Daypack
Type: This is 10litres – 15litres Daypack Backpack you need to have with you for the Summit.
Importance: Your Daypack will be for those Summit days and shorter days when you just need your essentials with you.
Clothing
Padded Jacket – You will need 1 pair of the Jacket for Summer & Winter. Ensure that the jacket is wind-resistant & capable of keeping your warm up to -10 degrees
Fleece Jacket – You will need 2 pairs of the Fleece Jacket. Make sure it’s Cotton or contains more Cotton.
Thermals – You will only require 1 pair of this in the Winter, Summer is optional. It should also be made primarily of Cotton. This will keep your warm during the nights when the temperature usually tends to drop.
Trek Pants – Exclusively meant for Trekking, you will need minimum 2 pairs of Trekking Pants with you always. Ensure it is made of Cotton & provides you maximum comfort to you and is durable.
Collared T-shirts – Carrying 2 – 3 pairs are normally recommended. The collar will help keeping the neck from being too exposed to the Sun and being Sun-burnt.
Sun Caps – At high Altitudes, the Sun might be harsh and direct exposure of your head to the sun is not something we would recommend. Carry Sun Caps in case these situations arise to keep your head cool.
Woolen Caps – The nights get very cold in the Mountains and you must protect your ears and head from the cold winds. Woolen caps are essentials during the nights to keep your ears and head warm.
Water-proof Gloves – You will need water-proof gloves as you move towards colder and wet parts of the Trek. Keep your hands clean & warm without getting them wet and most importantly to give you the grip and firmness you need.
Trek Accessories
- Trekking Pole: The Trekking/Hiking Pole saves you almost 60% of your energy when you are climbing a steep slope during high altitude conditions. We make it mandate to carry a Trekking Pole with you for our Treks.
- Head-lamp or Torch: A Head-Lamp is something we make mandate too for our Treks. Carrying this will help you see better in dark places. In case, you are unable to procure a Head-lamp then we suggest carrying a Torch.
Daily essentials
Toiletries: We recommend that you carry all your Toiletries essentials and all other cosmetic & personal requirements by yourself to avoid borrowing. (Toothpaste, Toothbrush, Lip-balm, Moisturizer, Face-wash, Other creams & essentials, Toilet roll, Sanitary Pads, etc.)
Bottles & Boxes: We recommend that you carry all your own Water Bottle, we suggest two 1litres bottles that you will need. And also, your own Boxes to eat the food we provide for both convenience and hygienic purposes.