Bryan Crosby Dot Ca » stok kangri

Stok Kangri IV

Bryan — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:22:38 +0000

Morning on the final day.

Heading back down with the help of gravity.

Looking back.

Back to Stok.

6121m – a new altitude record for me.

Technorati Tags: ladakh, leh, mountaineering, photography, photos, stok kangri, tired, travel, trekking

Stok Kangri III

Bryan — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:03:27 +0000

Obvioulsy, no photos exist of the first 5 or six hours of the climb, but this one was taken at around 6:30am. Base Camp is behind the low cloud formation in the center of the photo. Our route took us over the glacier in the bottom of the photo and straight up a bowl on to a very rocky and steep ridge from which this photo was taken. I’ve climbed at strange hours before (Mt. Fuji) but this one was a particularly odd feeling because unlike Fuji, I didn’t have a clear image of the approach prior to sunrise. When the sun came out…whoa…I actually climbed up that?

Nearing the summit and looking back along the ridge.

Ladakh Valley below. The weather wasn’t perfect, but the clouds and mist provided an eerie atmosphere. While I wouldn’t get to see K2, I was lucky to have summited given that every group the previous day had been turned back by high winds.

From the summit. K2 would be in the background on a clear day.

Made the summit at around 7:30am

It is a 90 degree drop down about 1500m just over that edge…

Heading back down.

Glacier crossing.

About 11am looking back toward the cloud encrusted summit.

Base camp in the morning.

Too tired to stand.

A quick lunch and then a long sleep.

Technorati Tags: himalayas, india, kashmir, ladakh, leh, mountaineering, photography, photos, stok kangri, travel, traveling

Stok Kangri II

Bryan — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:52:42 +0000

Breakfast on day two.

Looking south toward Stok Kangri (top right) from camp one. Base camp is actually to the left of the ridge in the centre of the photos. The approach was somewhat different than I initially expected.

Camp one – looking north toward Stok Village.

Marmot boxing on the way to base camp.

About 4800m. The approach toward base camp is actually steeper than it appears in the photo. I acclimatize quite well, but I begin to feel the effects when I push 4000m. I’m not tired, but I slow down, begin to lose appetite and get crazy dreams.

Our Nepali guide chatting with the donkey wrangler.

Base camp at 5100m. We arrived at around 3pm and had dinner a few hours later, followed by a quick nap given that we would be up at 1am.

Technorati Tags: himalayans, india, kashmir, ladakh, leh, mountaineering, photography, photos, stok kangri, travel, traveling

Stok Kangri I – August 2009

Bryan — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:19:04 +0000

6121m above and behind the picturesque village of Stok is Stok Kangri and the main reason I ventured into this part of the world. I like culture, but I prefer views. On a good day the summit offers vies of Mt. Kailash in the TAR and K2 in Pakistan.

Initially, I was going to attempt this solo (and in retrospect, I am completely confident that I would have had no problem) but given the lack of information regarding the ascent and uncertainties regarding routes/food I opted to go with a 4-day supported expedition through one of the agencies. I like carrying my stuff myself, but given the height of this bad boy, I felt that having donkeys pack the stuff wouldn’t be that bad of an idea…real expeditions never carry their own stuff anyways :-p

For about $225 myself and a British fellow received two guides, donkeys, food and cooking services for 4 days. I received a discount given I had my own equipment.

Two days to base camp, followed by an epic 10 hour summit attempt beginning at 1am, and then one day down to Stok. The following photos are from the first day.

Stok Village and the Indus Valley can be seen in the extreme distance.

Another group returning to Stok. Could be either from Stok Kangri or one of several other treks that conclude in at Stok.

Some kind of shelter.

The Stok Kangri approach is extremely dry and rocky with little vegetation.

First camp at about 4200m asl.

Technorati Tags: climbing, india, kashmir, ladakh, mountaineering, photography, stok kangri, trekking