Kuari pass in winter is worthwhile as a study of how weather impacts trekking trail. What is really a rather simple ascent (or decent) through pastures and forests at other times becomes a different beast in winter.
Information on this winter trail abounds online and in guidebooks. However, one point that isn’t so clear from available resources is that during winter the pass may sometimes remain unreachable. I joined this trek in the third week of January and we made it to a spot named Jhandidhar. It was a clear day with amazing visibility and the pass was tantalizingly close. However, our guide refused further foray due to 5’+ snow deposits at the upper part of the remaining trail. Our trek leader told that no trekker has made it to the pass in the preceding week. If anyone ventures there in winter please check the weather trend (snowfall data) and talk to people who have been there recently to figure out if the pass is reachable.
Overall Kuari pass is one of the easiest way to experience winter on a Himalayan trail. The sound of ice dropping from the leaves of the trees in the still forest is therapeutic for the urban ears. The peak views are sensational.
Details:
This trek is associated with Lord Curzon’s name. Though the Curzon trail is infact destined for Kuari pass please note that the route given below isn’t the Curzon trail. That trail starts from Ghat.
Time: Jan 2017
Base Location: Joshimath
Day 1: Joshimath to Chitrakantha (Gulling) via Tugasi. First 12 kms is on motor driven road. Trek starts from the trail head of Dhak village. Easy ascent.
Day 2: Tugasi to Tali top. Excursion to frozen Tali Lake. Mesmerizing views around sunset. Easy ascent.
Day 3: Tali Top to Kuari pass and back (planned). We went upto Jhandidhar and came back to Tali top. Ascent through snow. Gaiters were put to use. Mind blowing peak views from Jhandidhar.
Day 4: Tali top to Joshimath via Auli and Gurson Bugyal (planned). This was abandoned and we trekked back through Tugasi to Dhak and drove to Joshimath following the same route as the ascent.
I did the trek through an agency, namely, Trek the Himalayas, who provided very good facilities. On return I got acquainted with a local guide based in Joshimath who organizes this trek. A number of other groups I met on the trail had hired guides locally for the trek. This doesn’t seem to be a problem since Kuari pass is popular and quite easy.
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