Thalle La Trek

After much umming and erring we finally decided to attempt the trek over Thalle La. We had 6 porters including Ali the lead porter and expert guide of the area and Faqir Mohammed our cook.

Celebrations at the summit

The 1st day we walked for about 6 hrs through a couple of steep narrow sections that Maggi struggled with and Ali had to carry her over. Camping wasn't too bad with nice meals.

In the morning the weather was not good, cloudy and a little rain, but we walked 2 hrs before the porters suggested camping again. A bit of confusion but I think they were concerned about the path being too wet and not being able to cook their chapatis further up where there was no firewood. By now we were in shepherd territory and we were invited to have lassi and cheese in their flyblown huts, politely declined. It was pointed out that one of the handsomer shepherds fancied Maggi!! We camped amongst herds of cows and yaks.

Jerry stuck in snow!

4 hours walk the next day up the valley until we hit a snowstorm just short of the final pass. We thought we might have to turn back but it cleared and we camped high up just before the snow. It was freezing cold and we wore all our clothes in our sleeping bag to keep warm. That afternoon we also met3 Czech guys who had crossed from the other direction, thus beating us to the accolade of 1st to cross this year.

We were however the 1st to cross from the Shigar side (and Maggi the 1st woman). We awoke to good but freezing weather at dawn and struggled up the steep slope, venturing onto the snow following the porters footsteps. Occasionally we would fall into our waists but the snow was quite hard so we eventually reached the top looking down both sides. Much celebration and photos!.

Looking up to Thalle La pass

Thinking we only had a few hours easy walk downhill to the jeep track to take us to a hot shower, we set off in good spirits, but there was much more snow than we expected and it turned out to be another 6 hours of walking. The valley scenery was more beautiful on this side. After 12 hours of walking the porters suggested we camp as we weren't going to get a jeep that night due to a road blockage. A jeep duly arrived the next morning taking us down tired and dirty.

The trek was harder than we had expected but we were proud to complete it and walking across virgin snow is an experience we will never forget.

With porters in mess tent