15
Jun
Trekking at an altitude of 16,100 ft. is not an easy task; it will take time to get yourself prepared for the high altitude trek. The Pin Bhaba Pass Trek will be the geographical shape shifter. It seems almost unbelievable: going from being in an incredibly dense, wet, neon green fairy tale into a quiet, colorful, multi-hued volcanic desert. Being one who absolutely loves the enchantment that comes along with the mountains during the months of July and August, let us take a seat and discuss, point-by-point, why the monsoon journey through Pin Bhaba is simply unbeatable.
Total Distance: 50 Km approx.
Duration: 6 Days
Highest Altitude: 16,100 ft.
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Best Time: Mid July to September
Landscape: Emerald forest to alpine meadows to volcanic desert
The headline for this trek, undoubtedly, is its location. Most monsoon treks will take you into a single, consistent mood from beginning to end. During the first three days of trekking, you trek in the Bhaba Valley of Kinnaur. Being directly exposed to the rain-bearing monsoons of the Himalayas, it is drenched in the rich, deep, thick cloud cover. The effect is a landscape saturated to the point where your eyes hurt trying to see all the colors. You are trekking in dense misty forests of pine and silver birches, crossing through moss covered fallen trees, and finding yourself suddenly in open alpine meadows that sparkle in the sun with thousands of tiny wildflowers.
Then you get the Pass Day.
Green? Gone. The world seems as though it has been sliced in half with a blade. You are now gazing down upon the desert valley of Pin Valley, Spiti—an area where the monsoon winds cannot make their way through. The air becomes crisp, and the mist clears, leaving behind the harsh landscape of brown, purple, and ocher mountains before your eyes. A true taste of ecological shock trekking down the path can leave an impression for life.
It can be daunting indeed trying to trek in July and August. Nobody wishes to spend five days in wet weather conditions with their footwear drenched for days, making all the equipment a soggy mess, confined to a tent due to continuous rains. The Pin Bhaba route comes to your rescue once again:
You Leave the Rains Behind: While the low foothills of Himachal Pradesh face the wrath of the monsoon, Pin Bhaba trail will make sure that you leave the rains behind in just two days. Within 48 hours of starting on this trek route, you are up above the monsoons and experiencing nothing but light swirling rains and atmospheric drizzles, rather than incessant downpour. This makes you feel snug and cozy instead of miserable.
Safe Zone for Trekking: As soon as you cross the pass around Day 5, you enter Spiti Valley. Being an arid region at high altitude, monsoon winds fail to reach here. Thus, you will have sunny skies throughout your trekking days and drive out via Mudh and Kaza.
I have camped in many valleys, but the campsites in the Kinnaur side of this trail in the monsoons are simply magical.
At Kara Campsite: You pitch your tent on a perfect level patch of lush green grass. And then the Bhaba river splits itself up into a large, glittering delta formed by a dozen crystal-clear, icy-cold glacial tributaries flowing along the valley bed. The distant ridges come alive as the local Gaddi herders migrate from place to place with their flock and the fresh smell of damp earth and wild thyme invades your senses.
At Mulling Campsite: This campsite is on the very edge of the forest, under towering granite cliffs that come to life with a few waterfalls created by the monsoon rains.
It can be said with certainty that there is a certain moment during this trek that epitomizes its spirit and charm. This would be the Phutsang camp, which precedes the actual passage. The chill will be biting your nose while the beautiful green valley that you've been trekking for so many days lies below you, buried under the ever-moving sea of white clouds. Above you lie the harsh silhouettes of the pass itself against the approaching dusk sky. You won't be surrounded by hordes of trekkers; all around you will be only you, your breathing, and the awe-inspiring mountains. And that makes all the sweat and effort absolutely worthwhile.
For anyone who wants to experience a monsoon trek like no other, from challenging the leg muscles to witnessing some of the most spectacular geographical sights on earth, the only thing left to say is—take out your poncho and start trekking towards Pin Bhaba.
Trekking in the Himalayas during July and August calls for some specific packing techniques. A normal backpack is not enough if you want to survive the humid, misty atmosphere of the Bhaba Valley and extremely cold air at 16,100 feet elevation. If you want your clothes to stay dry, your feet to remain blister-free, and your camera protected from rain, then the following packing guide will help.
Though an expensive waterproof jacket would provide a good shield against wind, in case of prolonged monsoon spells as it allows water droplets to penetrate through your neck and soak your backpack straps.
Solution: Get yourself a high-quality poncho for rain. A poncho ensures a watertight cover over your body and your backpack that may be of 50-60L capacity.
Internal Waterproofing: Place your clothing in a huge (at least 50 liter), tough plastic bag. In case of heavy gusts of wind, a raincover can get easily blown away, but no water droplets would be able to get into your backpack.
The Pin Bhaba Trail presents two very distinct surfaces underfoot. The terrain in Kinnaur requires traction when dealing with wet grass and slippery log crossings. On the other hand, the terrain in Spiti needs stability through loose rocks and sharp, volcanic rocks.
The Best Boots: You will need mid or high-cut trekking boots that have deep lugs made from Vibram or rubber. Make sure the boots are sprayed with DWR spray before leaving for the trek.
The Socks: Bring along four pairs of either synthetic or merino wool socks. Never wear cotton because it retains moisture and makes your feet susceptible to friction blisters.
Bonus Tip: Bring a light pair of sandals or floater shoes in advance for campsite use only to give your boots some air at night.
Since you will move from a humid and rainy climate to a freezing and windy mountainous area, your clothes need to be adaptable.
Base Layer: Wear either polyester or merino wool (sweat-wicking material)
Insulating Layer: Have fleece jacket or down feathers (captures body warmth)
Outer Layer: Carry either waterproof poncho or windcheater (protects from rainfall or winds)
Avoid wearing jeans and heavy cotton; rather carry lightweight and fast-drying trekking pants that can easily dry within an hour while trekking. Bring along another set of thermal wear inside a zip-lock bag at the bottom of your pack. These clothes are for sleeping and are not supposed to be exposed to rain.
The fog of the Bhaba Valley could enter through the camera lens and charger port while Spiti’s dry dust can damage screens.
A Word from Ziploc Bags: Protect your phone, power banks, camera batteries, and permits in a double-layered Ziploc bag to keep them safe from dust and moisture.
Silica Gel Packets: Put a few silica gel packets inside your electronics pouch. These packets suck out all the moisture collected during the night.
Golden Rules of Rainy Season Trekking: Prepare for the worst, be sure everything gets wet, and ensure protection of your sleeping equipment because a good sleep at night determines your morale for the coming day’s trek.
1. What is the start point and the end point for the trek?
It is a point-to-point crossover trek which starts from Kafnu village in Kinnaur region and ends at Mudh village in Spiti Valley and would require separate road travel for entering and exiting.
2. Can a beginner do this trek?
No, it is a moderately difficult high-altitude trek 16,100 feet tall, which needs a lot of physical stamina, and therefore better done by people who have trekked multiple days earlier.
3. Why is it considered as the best monsoon trek?
As the name suggests, the path takes you through a geographic rain-shadow zone where you can have a green and misty meadow journey, and then you go on to the completely rainless high desert in Spiti valley.
4. What kind of temperatures are experienced on the trail?
While low camps maintain their temperatures between 5°C and 10°C, temperatures during high camps and the pass drop way below freezing point 0°C to -5°C.
5. Will there be any mobile network connectivity?
No, there will be absolutely no mobile connectivity on the entire trek until the last camp of Mudh Village.
