Pangarchulla peak is located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. With and elevation of 15,000 ft above mean sea level, Pangarchulla peak is not an easy feat as it demands physical and mental; endurance. It is a beautiful trek that gives you breath taking views of some major Himalayan peaks like Kamet, parts of Nanda Devi, Neelkanth, Nilgiri, Chaukhamba, Barmal, Hathi Ghori to name a few. View of Dronagiri accompanies you almost the entire stretch of the trek. You'll witness some of the densest oak forest on your way. Himalayan Maple and Birch (aka Bhoj patra) is also a common sight. It's an moderate grade trek and requires you to walk long distances on vast boulder field and hard snow before you make an attempt to an enduring climb to the top of the peak.
About the Trek
We will meet up early in the morning in Dehradun at a predetermined location and continue on our journey. We will pass by four of Uttarakhand's five prayags during the journey. Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, and Nandaprayag. We will also pass through Joshimath, a military cantonment region that is strategically significant and is home to numerous army formations. Narsingh temple located here serves as Shri Badrinath's winter residence. As we drive further on Tapovan road you get a glimpse of Nanda Devi from Hanuman Sheela, a rock formation that resembles a monkey's face, to your right. Hanuman Ji is said to have taken a rest there while taking Sanjeevani. We will reach our destination at around evening. Once we allot you rooms in the guest house, you can relax with a cup of tea and some munchies. Dinner will be served in the guesthouse and we retire for the night. The next morning, we will depart for the woods after spending the night in Tugasi.
DAY 1 DEHRADUN TO TUGASI (302 KM DRIVE)
DAY 2: TUGASI TO GULLING TOP (5 KM TREK)
wake up to the magnificent sunrise over the Dunagiri mountain, which is a spectacular sight. Today we start after an early breakfast. After leaving Lower Tugasi village, we will ascend to the left of the hydro flour mill. after traversing a few farms and a little stream, a steep climb will lead us to upper Tugasi region . Our day's campground is just a few kilometers ahead on a sizable grassland section as we begin to gradually approach woodland. Horse chestnut and walnut trees are in abundance just near to our campsite. the top of Nanda Devi is slightly visible from this campsite. when you face to the valley side, you can see the mighty Dronagiri standing tall to your 2 o' clock. The setting sun gives both the peaks a beautiful hue of tangerine and pink which is a sight to behold.
DAY 3: GULLING TOP TO KHULLARA (5 KM TREK)
Today, we set off for the base camp of the Kuari Pass Trek. The trail consists of 5 km of dense silver fir, rhododendron, and oak forests. Sight of Himalayan Maple and Birch trees is quite often. We may fill our water bottles with the many streams along the route. There is a ridge walk and steep ascents before reaching the leveled grounds of Khullara. The Khullara campground is a large grassy area with a panoramic view of the peaks of Neelkanth, Kamet, Garud, Trishuli, Hathi Ghori, and Barmal. One creek cuts the entire area in two. In the evenings, you are free to explore the campsite and perhaps do stargazing outside your tent. We then call it a day and rest up for the trek the following day.
DAY 4: KHULLARA TO KUARI PASS AND BACK TO KHULLARA (8 KM TREK)
We go out from the campsite and ascend a hill to the top of Khullara, where we can see a bifurcation. The steep trail eventually goes to Pangarchulla peak, while the flatter trail on our right leads to Kuari pass. We will arrive at the site of an old bridge after 1.5 kilometres; however, we must exercise caution when crossing because there is a patch of frozen water here that makes the trail slippery. We will reach the final steep ascent to our summit point after another kilometre of level hiking. well soak in the breathtaking views that the vast stretch of peaks offer us. we will take some reast and take a group photo before making a descent all the way till our campsite.
DAY 5: KHULLARA TO PANGARCHULLA PEAK AND BACK (18 KM TREK)
We will start at around 3 a.m. under the moonlight after an early breakfast. You'll need a lot of hydration and energy today, so carry at least 2 L of water with you and the packed lunch and munchies that'll be provided by our kitchen team. You may also carry your personal snacks. The catch is that we must reach the summit no later than 9 a.m. in order to cross the icy patch before the afternoon sun. This day's sunrise is a magnificent event because you can see the mighty Chaukhamba and Neelkanth beautifully illuminated by the early Sun. We will arrive at flat terrain after several kilometres of ridge walking. Before the base, from where we take a summit push, we need to negotiate a sizable boulderfield. Be vigilant and follow your trek leader's instructions, as one is more susceptible to losing track in this area. This climb will put your stamina and willpower to the test as we start on the ridge. To our right, the dead drop to the base of the valley is visible. The feeling of reaching the summit is surreal. All the peaks that you had been able to see from your prior camping sites are now visible at once. get some rest and have some photos taken before bidding adieu to the summit at 15000 ft.We must be just as cautious when descending as when ascending, especially on the downhill path that leads us to the summit. You can eat lunch after descending to the peak's base, then continue to Khullara, where hot tea and food are waiting for you.
DAY 6: KHULLARA TO TUGASI (5 KM TREK)
Today we will descend all the way from Khullara to our base village, Tugasi. Our days of trekking will come to an end on this day as we arrive there about lunchtime. You are free to enjoy the comforts of civilization, explore the village, and learn about the locals' customs. If you reach early enough, you can also book a shared cab to Tapovan Hot springs and be back to the guesthouse by evening.
DAY 6: TUGASI TO DEHRADUN (302 KM DRIVE)
Early morning we'll drive back to Dehradun, where it all began. Depending on the time we start and the amount of time we have in our hand, we might get to see one of the Prayags from the road itself. We will have our Breakfast and lunch on the way. We will reach Dehradun in the evening time. From here on we can proceed to our respective destinations. It is advised to book your further journey at least after 7 pm if you're opting for an overnight journey, to avoid any delays due to traffic.
INCLUSIONS
1. All meals Ex Tugasi ( Gerenal nutritious meal )
Both during Homestays and Camp stays
2. Accommodation
Stay in Homestay on first and last day
Camp stays
3. Forest fees
Per person Per day Forest fee
Tents fee
4. Alpine 4 men tents (Triple sharing), good quality sleeping bags and mattresses, toilet tents, utensils.
5. Team leader, chef and support staff. Porters and mules to carry common luggage.
7. Transport from Dehradun to Tugasi and vice versa.
EXCLUSIONS
1. Meals during road transit i.e. meals during travel between Dehradun and Tugasi and vice versa.
2.Any kind of medical Insurance.
3.Any personal expenses like extra food, gears etc.
4. Any expense not specified in the inclusion list.
5. Carriage of personal luggage during the trek.
TREK USP
