Kashmir to Annapurna, Aug-Nov 2024

On 8 Nov 2024 Jeremy Bige (https://www.instagram.com/jerembige/), French Mountaineer, completed a 3 month 2300km long trans Himalayan journey with 122K meters elevation gain from Kashmir in India to Annapurna in Nepal. He covered 65 high passes in Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sudurpashschim, Karnali, Lumbini and Gandaki mapping several new hiking routes via Survey of India 1:50K topo maps and Nepalese 1:50K topo-maps (https://www.strava.com/athletes/12308105)

Kashmir-Ladakh-Himachal

Uttarakhand-Nepal

Introduction

Jeremy Bige French mountain guide and ski instructor plans to do a 3000km traverse from Srinagar in Kashmir to Annapurna in Nepal. In 2018 he crossed Nepal following the low GHT trail, in 2021 he walked 1500 km across the Balkans ranges and in 2022 I made a big traverse of 2000 km through Tadjikistan and Kirghizstan using the old soviet maps to find a high route between Karakol and Dushanbe. He made this documentary about it. Crossing Central Asia on foot – article here.

This year, I plan to come back in Himalayas to attempt a foot traverse between Srinagar and Annapurna region (maybe Katmandu depending on the progression). I would like to start around the 10th of august and finish around 15th November. I am really used to walk with a light backpack as I carried around 5 kg in Central Asia.

Overview

Part 1 – India

Section 1 – Kashmir

3 passes

Sind valley – Srinagar, Sura Pharao
Sanamus Pass
Mar Sar, Tar Sar
Lidder valley – Aru, Pahalgam, Batakut
Ditap Galu
Mariv Sudir / Warwan valley – Basminah
Shortcut: Kralsar pass, Ranmarg pass
Bhot Kol
Suru valley – Panikhar

Food supply: Sur pharao, Aru, Pahalgam, Batakut, Basminah.

Section 2 – Ladakh

11 passes

Suru Valley – Panikhar
Option 1: Sankoo – Bartoo
Lingber valley – Wakhla La or Lasar La
Option 2: road section Panikhar to Rangdum
Suru Valley – Rangdum
Kanji Nala – Pigdong La
Orna river valley – Dibling (remote)
Barnai La
Lingshed
Hanuma La, Parfi La
Zanskar river valley – Hanumil, Zangla

Food supply: Panikar, Sankoo, Lingshed, Hanumil, Zangla

Zanskar valley – Zangla
Niru Chu – Ningri La, Lar La, Gautang La
Shade (remote)
Option 1: Tsarap Chu valley – Nialo Konste La, Gotunte La, Satak (deserted)
Option 2: Phuktal Gompa, (road section), Tangze, Phirse La, Lingti Chu
Yunam valley – Sarchu

Food supply: Zangla, Sarchu

Yunam valley – Sarchu
Option 1: Charap Nala, Pangpo La (no longer used?), Tso Moriri
Option 2: (road) Pang, Thelakung La, Tarkang La, Karzok
Pare Chu – Parang La
Spiti valley – Kibber

Food supply: Sarchu, Pang, Karzok, Kibber

Section 3 – Himachal

4 passes

Spiti valley – Kibber
Option 1 – upper traverse: Tashigang, Langza, Komic, Pass, Demul, Dankhar
Option 2 – road section Kaza – Mane
Option 1 – Mane – Manirang (no longer used?) – Ropa
Option 2 – Pin river – Tilling – Larsa Way – Lippa
Option 3 – Pin river – Mud – Pin Bhaba – Kaphnu

Food supply: Kibber, Hikkim, Dankhar (probably not at Mane), Kaphnu, Spillow, Morang

Sutlej river valley
Additional – Thangi – Gharang Ghati
Baspa valley – Sangla
Option 1 – Lamkhaga / Borasu (permission, guide mandatory)
Option 2 – Rupin / Buran Ghati
Rupin valley – Jiskon
Tons valley – Netwar (UK forest checkpost

Food supply: Spillow, Murang, Sangla, Jiskon, Netwar

Section 4 – Uttarakhand

26 passes

Tons river valley – Netwar
Kedarkantha, ridgeline, Darsaun (remote), ridgeline
Yamuna valley – Rajgarhi, Hanuman Chatti
Darwa pass – Binsi gad – Dayara
Bhagirathi valley
Option 1 – Gangotri – Auden’s Col – Bhilangana valley – Mayali pass – Kedarnath
Option 2 – Malla – Kalaipir pass – Dharm Ganga – Pinswar – Gainwali – Muneri pass – Gangi – Kinkhola Khal – Sonprayag
Road section to Okimath – Chandrashilla

Food supply: Netwar, Rajgarhi, Gangotri, Malla, Pinsar, Gainwali, Gangi, Sonprayag