Trek to Hampta Pass, Himachal Pradesh Aug 2017 (YHAI)

I left my heart in the mountains in Aug 2016, when I embarked on my first big trek into the Valley of Flowers, Hemkund Sahib and Badrinath. I never got over the feeling of being in the midst of Nature and her raw beauty. 

Last year, my friend from Bombay whom I had befriended in the previous trek and I decided to do the Hampta Pass trek, Himachal Pradesh in Aug. She is yet another mountain lover I connected with and a solo traveler.  

I had never been to Himachal Pradesh, and the trek was the perfect opportunity to explore the terrain. The trekking landscape itself was different from the VoF trek, which had a well laid path leading into the valley or Hemkund Sahib. The Hampta Pass trek required well acquainted guides to take the group over the mountain trails. The terrain was comparatively tougher and not recommended for beginners, who have had not had a taste of the mountains. You need to keep moving at a consistent pace with your group since the weather in the mountains can change dramatically, without warning. Landslides are common. 

Invest time to strengthen your fitness levels. I highly recommend it. You need the physical strength and mental resilience to make it through the long day. 

Unlike the earlier trek where there are helpers who can carry your backpacks for a fee, at

Hampta, you are absolutely on your own. In the mountains, 1 kg can weigh like a 10 kg pack. We checked into Youth Hostel at Manali, and joined an earlier group which was leaving for the trek. We quickly washed up and joined the group on its acclimatization walk in the nearby area for about 6 kms. 


We were also given an orientation by our knowledgeable guide Tenzing on the do's and don'ts during the trek. We repacked our bags with 4 kgs of clothing and retired early. Next day, we were given a send-off in a style typical of the YHAI group in Manali. The actual trek to the pass and back is about 6 days, and add the time to check-in and check out, round it off to 9-10 days, incase you want to explore the rest of the places. 

The altitude increases slowly, with each day of the trek. We filled our bottles with fresh mountain water and had hot chai and maggi noodles at the resting points. It is impossible to eat the lunch you pack from your camp, simply because the weather turns your food chewy and tough to eat. So carry enough 10s and 20s to pay for your food and drink. 

The 6th day was the toughest when you reach the pass. We trekked the first half of the morning to reach the Pass and then trekking down hill to Siagouru was very tough. Your toes will probably be killing by the time you reach the camp.

We reached the tent in the evening and just knocked out flat. The weather was also very windy and cold, so we were all huddled together. We left early morning for Chattru and rested for the rest of the day. 



After much debate with the group, we took a tough bus ride to Chandertal Lake, which in its stillness, looked mindblowing! It is yet another long walk to the lake and back, but it is well worth it. Then on, we were headed to our basecamp, when the whole chaos with the Dera chief started throwing our return plans haywire, but that's a story for another day.


The call of the mountains is hard to ignore. You just keep going back for more and more.