2015.08.13 - D8, Trek Stok Kangri: Stok La Base - Rumbak Camp
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 4.48 mi
- Elevation gain
- 1,932 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 1,309 ft
- Max elevation
- 16,318 ft
- TrailRank
- 43
- Min elevation
- 14,307 ft
- Trail type
- One Way
- Time
- 5 hours 6 minutes
- Coordinates
- 1323
- Uploaded
- August 16, 2015
- Recorded
- August 2015
near Rumbak, Jammu and Kashmīr (India)
Viewed 779 times, downloaded 29 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
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Day 8/10 - August 13, 2015:
Stok The base (4,437 m) - Rumbak camp (4,355 m)
Duration: 5 hours
Highlight: Collado Stok La (4,972 m)
Distances and accumulated difference in altitude: 7 km, +590 m / -400 m
Full route: 2015.08.06-15 - Trek Stok Kangri, Ladakh (10 days)
Eighth day of the trek. We thought yesterday that the camp of Stok La Base was sufficiently fitted so that the sun would not reach it in the morning but at 6:15 p.m., good surprise: it begins to heat our tent. When arriving in the early afternoon, the horses had plenty of time to travel the mountain and feed themselves free, so the muleteer, before the night, went to pick them up. That way, it was not necessary this morning to go up the mountain up and down to get them together.
Today touches rise. With its 4,972 m of height, the hill of Stok makes it the border between the valleys of Stok and Rumbak. From the camp one ascends in four stages: three false hills, like three steps, respectively to 4,710 m, 4,720 m, and 4,910 meters of altitude. This morning, we will again touch the altitude of Matho La hill four days before, with its 4,959 meters. After a hearty breakfast of potatoes with cumin, cereals and crepes with jam, at 8: 05h the camp is dismantled and we said goodbye for a few hours of the cooks and muleteer who will start later, after loading the horses. We start the road already in strong rise. We are well acclimated and quickly, Chino Chano, we win in altitude. We spent a doksa in very good condition: that type of shelter acclimatized by the shepherds to watch over their flock in summer. This doksa is made up of several rather large stone rooms, some with their little window and seems to have been used recently.
We continue ascending when around 4,500 meters, we find on our way a large herd of mountain goats (wild cheep, in English). Forty-four individuals according to my account, divided into two groups of part and one of the path. We take out the cameras. The animals do not seem very scary and gradually we are getting closer, for our greater pleasure. Two males to the right play, or fight we would not know, raised on the back legs and hitting the horns. When they see us, they abandon their game while the rest of the goats, which until now had been lying down or eating peacefully begin to observe us with concern. We do not want to bother you but of course, the road to the hill passes right in the middle of the herd and despite much caution on our part suddenly, four goats on the left side jump out. With the speed of lightning, in an instant, they pass the stream and join a small group below to the right. One by one the operation is repeated until suddenly, at the shrill signal of a male, all are thrown behind their companions. What a show! And what luck too: these animals, scary as they usually are the chamois in Europe, do not usually let easily approach. During the summer season in Ladakh, the mountain goats go up to high heights to find their livelihood. They do not fear another predator that the leopard of the snows and the wolf, still present in these places, and the Man does not present a threat since he does not hunt them, the animal being protected.
Leaving behind these beautiful animals back to their pasture, we continue with the ascent of the pass. Step number 1, number 2, number 3, up to the hill of Stok The proper one. Up, as if to welcome us, dozens of Tibetan flags ripple in the wind. On the other side, far down in the valley: the town of Rumbak, a green spot in a brick-colored mineral ocean. We take a few minutes to rest and to have some food, enjoying this landscape. Then we have a long and steep descent in decomposing terrain to the Rumbak Base camp. For us, Rumbak already sounds like civilization. It will be the first town we cross, tomorrow, after 7 days on the mountain. Arrived at the camp, more or less an hour above the town, it is still early in the afternoon and we take the opportunity to walk, wash, and even sunbathe. Hooked to the surrounding mountains, the last glaciers: the place, next to the river, is charming ...
Stok The base (4,437 m) - Rumbak camp (4,355 m)
Duration: 5 hours
Highlight: Collado Stok La (4,972 m)
Distances and accumulated difference in altitude: 7 km, +590 m / -400 m
Full route: 2015.08.06-15 - Trek Stok Kangri, Ladakh (10 days)
Eighth day of the trek. We thought yesterday that the camp of Stok La Base was sufficiently fitted so that the sun would not reach it in the morning but at 6:15 p.m., good surprise: it begins to heat our tent. When arriving in the early afternoon, the horses had plenty of time to travel the mountain and feed themselves free, so the muleteer, before the night, went to pick them up. That way, it was not necessary this morning to go up the mountain up and down to get them together.
Today touches rise. With its 4,972 m of height, the hill of Stok makes it the border between the valleys of Stok and Rumbak. From the camp one ascends in four stages: three false hills, like three steps, respectively to 4,710 m, 4,720 m, and 4,910 meters of altitude. This morning, we will again touch the altitude of Matho La hill four days before, with its 4,959 meters. After a hearty breakfast of potatoes with cumin, cereals and crepes with jam, at 8: 05h the camp is dismantled and we said goodbye for a few hours of the cooks and muleteer who will start later, after loading the horses. We start the road already in strong rise. We are well acclimated and quickly, Chino Chano, we win in altitude. We spent a doksa in very good condition: that type of shelter acclimatized by the shepherds to watch over their flock in summer. This doksa is made up of several rather large stone rooms, some with their little window and seems to have been used recently.
We continue ascending when around 4,500 meters, we find on our way a large herd of mountain goats (wild cheep, in English). Forty-four individuals according to my account, divided into two groups of part and one of the path. We take out the cameras. The animals do not seem very scary and gradually we are getting closer, for our greater pleasure. Two males to the right play, or fight we would not know, raised on the back legs and hitting the horns. When they see us, they abandon their game while the rest of the goats, which until now had been lying down or eating peacefully begin to observe us with concern. We do not want to bother you but of course, the road to the hill passes right in the middle of the herd and despite much caution on our part suddenly, four goats on the left side jump out. With the speed of lightning, in an instant, they pass the stream and join a small group below to the right. One by one the operation is repeated until suddenly, at the shrill signal of a male, all are thrown behind their companions. What a show! And what luck too: these animals, scary as they usually are the chamois in Europe, do not usually let easily approach. During the summer season in Ladakh, the mountain goats go up to high heights to find their livelihood. They do not fear another predator that the leopard of the snows and the wolf, still present in these places, and the Man does not present a threat since he does not hunt them, the animal being protected.
Leaving behind these beautiful animals back to their pasture, we continue with the ascent of the pass. Step number 1, number 2, number 3, up to the hill of Stok The proper one. Up, as if to welcome us, dozens of Tibetan flags ripple in the wind. On the other side, far down in the valley: the town of Rumbak, a green spot in a brick-colored mineral ocean. We take a few minutes to rest and to have some food, enjoying this landscape. Then we have a long and steep descent in decomposing terrain to the Rumbak Base camp. For us, Rumbak already sounds like civilization. It will be the first town we cross, tomorrow, after 7 days on the mountain. Arrived at the camp, more or less an hour above the town, it is still early in the afternoon and we take the opportunity to walk, wash, and even sunbathe. Hooked to the surrounding mountains, the last glaciers: the place, next to the river, is charming ...
Waypoints
Intersection
14,673 ft
Desvío a Rumbak camp (4.473 m)
Campsite
14,285 ft
Rumbak camp (4.355 m)
Mountain pass
16,311 ft
Stok La (4.972 m)
Campsite
14,556 ft
Stok La base (4.437 m)
Waypoint
14,911 ft
Stok doksa (4.545 m)
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