Ladakh Winter 2014/15

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Ladakh Winter 2014/15

a winter expedition through the Himalaya

Two keen expedition cyclists, adventurer and friends, Christian Dittmann and Andreas Simon, decided to do the first attempt for a winter cycle tour in Ladakh/ India. A journey by bicycle and foot through the Himalaya into some of the most remote places on earth.

The expedition starts in Srinagar, Kashmir and heads east through the Himalaya towards Leh the capital of Ladakh shortly before winter will set in.

Surrounded by 7000m high mountain ranges and its valleys with average elevation of 3500m Ladakh is one of the most remote areas in the world, totaly cut off from the outside world during the winter half year, only attainable by plane. The team wants to take advantage out of the dry climate to explore some high valleys such as the Nubra Valley, which is only accessible over the Khardung La, one of the highest mountain passes in the world. In addition the expedition wants to visit and cross the frozen high altitude lake Pangong Tso, additional, if conditons will allow, Andreas and Christian also want to visit the Rupshu Valley as well which is part of the Chang Tang, the vast highland of the Tibetan plateau.

An exceptional remote valley is the Zanskar Valley accessible only by the frozen Zanskar river during the harsh winter, the so called ´Chadar Trek´. The expedition wants to reach Zanskar via the frozen by bicycle and hopes to get an audience with the king of Zanskar. Maybe the team is lucky enough to get a sight of a snow leopard in the wild.

The main means of transport are by bicycle and by foot and transportation by fair means is a state of mind during this undertake.

Especially a winter trip to Ladakh offers plenty of attractions as well as serious risks. Ladakh changes its character totally during the winter half year, the colours of the lush valleys become desert like, the average temperatures will drop far below 0°C and the vivacity of summer switches into hibernation. Sublime scenery and the extreme cold down to -30°C in combination with the deoxygenated enviroment requires a careful preparation and is a big challenge for man and material.

The intend will be done in expedition style with the aim to grow up experiences in cold climate for other projects.

Concerning about winter bike travel this attempt will be trailblazing in Ladakh.

objectives

• explore Ladakh and its valleys by bicycle and/ or foot in winter, probably be the first who explore Ladakh by bicycle during winter (you are invited to prove us wrong)

• winter crossing of some of the highest mountain passes in the world by bicycle
• Chadar Trek, over the frozen Zanskar river into the Zanskar Valley

• extend experiences with winter travel

• document the trip on video, audio and photo
• visit and feature projects of NGO nilam e.V.
• audience with the king of Zanskar
• sight of a snow leopard in the wild

Although good preparations the expedition has to deal with various difficulties:

• high altitude, a good acclimatization is essential

• harsh climate, minimum temperatures below -30°C , wind and snow

• documentation of this trip in raw environment

-for more information please follow the links below

route

team