Kuari Pass Trek – When Life as I know it Changed

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Sigh! I breathed heavily once again and wiped the beads of sweat off my face. My backpack was getting heavier by the minute. Lack of preparation for high altitude was evident. Oblivious to all the noise around me, I was lost battling my own thoughts on how I ended up here in the first place.

Here I was at the base of Kuari Pass trail, backpacking my way to reach the Pangarchulla Peak.

It all started when I decided to go on my first Himalayan trek. Two months and a lot of researching later began the soul-searching journey from Bangalore – Delhi – Haridwar – Rishikesh – Auli – Kuari Pass – Pangarchulla Peak. 30 people from different parts of the country with different ethnicities and backgrounds gathered together to be part of the mystic Himalayas.

Read: Bungee Jumping in Rishikesh: 15 seconds of pure thrill

Kuari pass trek is an above moderate one when coupled with Pangarchulla peak. It offers breathtaking views of the highest peaks of the Garhwal region including Nanda Devi peak with the right amount of challenge for trekkers, making it a well-rounded trail. The vista changes from green to snowy pristine white during Spring offering a treat to the eyes.

During winters, the Pangarchulla peak hike is on the technical side(with gears and harnesses) and is on the intermediate side. This trek was special to me since it involved a lot of firsts – first Himalayan trek, first time camping, first time experiencing and trekking on snow.

Fun Facts about Kuari Pass Trek

Also called Lord Curzon Trail.

Location Garhwal Himalayas, Uttarkhand

Maximum Altitude  Pangarchulla Peak summit(4700 m) , Kuari Pass(3650m)

Auli

The journey from Haridwar to Auli was a long 12-hour drive. The treacherous drive owed to steep and winding roads; often had board signs indicating landslide zones. However, most parts of the drive were along the Ganga & Alaknanda rivers. Enroute we crossed the holy towns of Devprayag & Rudraprayag. One thing was certain – I never got bored of the views. Once I reached Auli, I was even more elated. Surrounded by the mighty Himalayan range, Auli is a quaint little town, an upcoming skiing destination. Difficult roads indeed lead to beautiful destinations. The starting point of the trek was just a 20-minute drive from here.

Read: Detailed Guide on an Exciting Skiing Experience in Auli 

Kuari Pass Trek

Kuari pass trek supposedly was a shepherd’s trail before. Even now, you will see a lot of sheep grazing along the trail in the spring season.

Enroute to Kuari Pass and Pangarchulla peak, each step was a delight.

The pristine blue sky seemed fictitious after being used to the gloomy city skies. And the surrounding snow-capped mountains seemed so majestic and alluring with its tales and enigmas locked within its magnificent stature. And the sky full of scintillating stars forging a magical setup.

The bustling of the trees and the chirping of birds all around felt like a lullaby in the arms of nature. A gentle stream of freezing water splashed against my face gave a refreshing feeling.

In the mountains, it is really living in the moment.

You don’t know what treasures and surprises the mountains are going to unfold or what whims of nature you are going to be a part of.  All you have to do is take one step at a time and keep moving forward.

I got soaked up in the tranquillity of my surroundings. It’s inevitable to forget all the mess and madness going on in the outside world and you just live one moment at a time. The Himalayas is a whole different world in itself. You realize that you could get used to this simple living. There is a certain charm in the wilderness which makes you beg for more.

Wilderness is definitely not a luxury but a necessity of human spirit.

One of our trekking guides was a retired army man – also a mountaineer and a skier, who walked with more ease than all of us combined. Furthermore, he has represented India on a global level in skiing competitions. Before the advent of harnesses and skiing equipment – learning skiing was tough, he said. He talked about avalanche training courses, rescue missions, and trekking expeditions. A life full of adventure!

The other guide was giving us valuable advice on the shifting nature of weather in the mountains. He witnessed rain, snow and sunny weather – all on the same day while he was trekking at Har Ki Dun, he said. “Pahadon ki mausam Bombay ki fashion ki tarah badal ti rehti hai”, he kept reiterating in Hindi (Weather in the mountains changes like Bombay’s fashion).

Pangarchulla Peak

The Kuari Pass trek was fairly easy but it was about to get challenging because of the snow trail on the way to Pangarchulla peak. Equipped with gaiters and walking sticks, we charged ahead. The guides were making way for us with zig-zag trails all throughout the ascents. The intensity of the heat was very high due to light reflecting on the snow. Dehydrated, we filled our bottles with ice which was readily available and drank out of the melted water.

Owing to strong winds and melting snow, it was time to head back, just off the peak by 200 meters. The bitter disappointment of not climbing to the top of the peak was soon diminished by the thrilling experience of sliding down the snow. It was more than a fast getaway, it was sensational. After close to 12 hours of demanding trek, we reached the camp.

I ended up with a burnt face, chapped lips, severe cold resulting in running nose and of course exhaustion which was definitely a small price to pay for the incredible experience. And I knew right then that I’ll always come back to the mountains.

Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. ~ David McCullough Jr

An incident on Kuari Pass trek

On a side note, be cautious while trekking and put safety first. Listen to your guides. They have a lot of experience in the mountains and know what’s best for you. It’s better not to venture out on your own or just group of friends on Himalayan treks. Always travel with a guide or a local.

I vividly remember this incident while sliding down the snow. It was a hot day and with the sun over our heads leading to the melting of snow, it was definitely tough to walk around and I slipped and fell several times. On top of that, my weak legs weren’t helping either.

I had no other option but to slide down and it was so much fun that I had no problem with it. However owing to a steep slope in the area, I was going faster than I expected and I wasn’t able to control myself. With all the fuss going on, I ended up turning towards the mountain. I tried to remember seeing the guides down there. So, I thought of enjoying the moment and let the guides take care of blocking the slide while I headed down.

Little did I know that just a few meters from the guides, there were piles of rocks that would have crashed my bones into pieces. And, the guides really stopped the fall but not before I had a head-on collision with a guy sliding down the slope. It resulted in severe pain in the neck and I couldn’t turn around without hurting myself for a while after this incident.

Thankfully, I didn’t have internal injuries and got away easily. It was the guides who saved my life that day and these kinds of incidents are not uncommon in the mountains. Anything can happen over there and you need to be prepared for it.

Additional Read: Packing list for a Himalayan hike.

Information  about Kuari Pass trek     

	Closest Airport:  Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun. Nearest Railway Station – Rishikesh Railway Station. Information on how to reach Auli can be found here.
	There are accommodations in and around Auli for different budget types. Recommended by The Roving Heart Cliff Top Club Auli, The sleeping beauty, Himalayan Abode Homestay, Himalayan Ecolodges.
	Booked through GIO Adventures. Total Duration: 6 days. 4 days of trekking and 2 days of traveling between Haridwar and Auli. Around 15k INR from Haridwar to Haridwar. Includes everything from transportation, stay at Auli, food, and tents.
	Best time to visit is between March and June & September to December (Winter trek)