Ladakh’s Chadar trek halted as ice melts

Ladakh’s well-known Chadar trek, a uncommon journey sport involving a 15-day trek to cowl 105 km largely over the frozen Zanskar river, has been halted as a result of enhance in daytime temperature, and after a number of trekkers flagged the difficulty of gushing waters.

“Due to the improvement in weather conditions, which resulted in melting of ice in the Zanskar river and keeping in view the feedback from the police and wildlife officials, the Chadar trek shall remain suspended from February 7 for this season,” Additional Deputy Commissioner-Leh, Sonam Chosjor, instructed The Puucho over the cellphone.

He stated the trek historically led to February “to avoid any risk to the lives of trekkers”.

The transfer has resulted in cancellation of bookings of trekkers from throughout the nation. “We had to cancel bookings from central and southern parts of the country due to the move,” Thinlay Dorjee, tour operator with the Active Adventure firm, stated.

The first batch of Chadar trekkers have been allowed on January 3 this 12 months. “There is no doubt that an overcast sky and increase in temperature results in flowing water in the Zanskar river. However, it freezes again as temperature keeps shifting till the last week of February. The early closure has impacted locals associated with the business and had already done bookings,” Mr. Dorjee stated.

“It is very arduous. A trekker has to walk 10 km to 15 km every day, mostly on icy surfaces,” he added.

Several vacationers have lately flagged the incidence of gushing waters whereas trekking the frozen river.

Around 41 trekkers have been stranded in January 2020 after water flowed over ice on the Zanskar river in Leh, however trekking resumed after two days of suspension.

To run the trek, the best temperature is between minus 15 diploma Celsius to minus 20 levels C throughout the daytime, and minus 25 levels Celsius to minus 35 diploma C throughout the evening.