Dear Friends, we had an achievement to publish here under the banner of "Bhramanti.com" that we had successfully completed High altitude trekking expedition from Gangotri to Badrinath. Also a feather in our cap is, we climbed a Kalindi peak above 20200 ft first time. We were initially three member team later it became two. Leader Rajan Rikame (Myself), Equipment Incharge Milind Gyani & Food Incharge Sanjay Desai. Final two were myself & Milind who completed the expedition & a peak. We had taken help from local (Uttarkashi) agency especially for inner line permission, guide/porters/cook & equipment. Geographical map of the trek route is linked here. 

We crossed Gangotri Glacier, Chaturangi Glacier, Sundar Glacier, Suryalaya Glacier, Seta Glacier, Kalindi Glacier (Total 6 Glaciers). All our camps were base of some or other peaks like Shivling(Tapovan), Bhagirathi(Nandanban), Vasuki(Vasuki Tal), Satopanth, Chandra Parbat(Seta Glacier), Kalindi(Kalindi base), Arwa spire(Arwa Tal) etc. The total distance covered was 100 kms. by actual trek between Gangotri to Badrinath via Kalindi Khal which is at height 5947 mts i.e. 19800 ft. Total 11 days required to complete this trek & summit with 9 camping sites & one day rest at Nandanban. 

Our thrilling & enjoyable experience.

After Bhojwasa to Nadanban the next day we took rest due to acclimatization purpose. So on the evening one of the expedition team to Satopanth from Pune lead by Mr. Rajesh Patade(1998 Evererst expedition) came to our tent to find me. One of his member out of 3 had some problem, Mr. Rajesh wanted him to carried down. He requested us to help him by providing 3 porters so that the same day night these porter will carry him down. After studying the situation I agreed to send our 3 porters. They left at 6:00pm & we were expecting them to return back by 10:30pm. We suggested 42yr's old Mr. Rajesh to stay with us since his body language showed that he was too tired. He agreed & we had great time chatting with him since he was bundle of mountain experience. One of our porter returned back and confirmed the well being of the same member and also told us that next he will be moved to lower camp. In case of emergency the two porters who stayed back with that member can carry him down. After hearing the message Mr. Rajesh was feeling quite relaxed. He was so happy that he had tears in his eyes since he was under a great tension about the well being of the member as he was a newly married guy and had come down for an expedition. 

While moving from Kharapatthar to Seta Glacier on the way we found a huge lake. As per our guide it was a newly born lake , since last year it was non existent. On the banks of this lake their were vertical cerac's coming out from the ground of around 5 ft highand they were rock solid. Our guide & HAP(High altitude porter) tried to make a way out of it by cutting it which was taking some time to clear and at the same time rock fall was happening frequently from the top of this bank wall. In the process we had our lunch which we had packed and taken along with us. I realised that it was not a safe & secure way to cross along with the bank. I suggested to fixed a rope from one of the nearest point & rappel down along with our extra luggage. Immediately we fixed the rope & followed the same. Almost 60 ft we rappelled down within the cerac's with lesser time than the previous route. 

On 29th May we pitched our summit camp at Kalindi Khal (19800ft) by digging 3 ft of snow. It was a windy weather the whole night. We thought that if the same situation continued next day then we should be traveling down to Arwa Tal since we had a time limitation. Due to the windy situation I asked our guide to stay in our tent so that because of light weight it shouldn't fly away due to the heavy wind blowing at the night. We were all waiting eagerly for the wind to calm down and atlast we were lucky that finally at 4:00am next morning it was totally calm. We roped up & started our summit journey by 5:15am. We summated 20200 ft loosely rock peak Kalindi. The higher side was too risky to climb so we backed out almost 50 ft below the main peak. We took some photographs with our banner & surround peaks from top. We had spend almost 15 min. & returned back to Summit camp. While returning at one place where their was a gradient of 75 degree, I tumbled down by 5 ft due to the rope entanglement in the rock which made me unbalanced & slip down. While tumbling down I was not at all frightened as I was confident that my fall would get arrested, it was possible as all 4 of us were roped up & due to our experience in such situations. While falling shouted loudly and within no time Milind & our guide anchored themselves by lying down with ICE AXE as well I took control later by anchoring my ICE Axe in the snow . I really enjoyed my fall as it was a kind of experience in its own & gave thanks to NIM where we were all trained for our mountaineering skills. It was really cool. 

On 31st May we traveled down from Arwa Tal camp to Ghatsoli where the ITBP check post existed. While leaving our cook was able to manage and prepare breakfast somehow due to problem in our stove. We were supposed to do formalities like inner line permission clearance from ITBP. As soon we reach Ghastoli our cook & helper started repair work of the stove but it was unsuccessful. I suggested that we'll request ITBP people to come out of this crisis since we didn't have our packed lunch or anything on the way. We went to ITBP Post across the river. I thought initially taht due to the hype made by all people it will be very tough to handle these ITBP personnels. To my surprise a person from PWD Mr. Negi welcomed us with great enthu since we were the first party of 2001 crossing this route. He served us hot Tea. Then he called the post commander and introduced us to him . And to our another surprise they welcomed us quite differently. They called us in their fiber hut which was too warm with the bukhari. They registered our names & checked the permission documents. When Informed them that we had a food problem, the commander Mr. Yadav busted with eager saying "why didn't you inform at the beginning". So he ordered some Tea & snacks for us. We spend some time since we did not require to pitch tents as ITBP offered us to stay at their place. We had good dinner after so many days with ITBP. Next day morning after breakfast Mr. Yadav & his other colleagues did see off to us. We were to happy with the situation. This is how Indians are, we were too proud of all these people who take care our borders & ultimatley India. I love my India. 

Peaks around this area:

Shivling,
Shivling (6,543m). Shivling is a two summit mountain which rises not far from the snout of the Gangotri Glacier [the largest glacier in the Himalaya]. It belongs to one of the most beautiful peaks in all Garhwal. Due to its unusual shape [which earned it its nickname 'Indian Matterhorn'] and easy access, Shivling is very popular among climbers. About ten routes have been put up on both of its summits, in spite of the fact that there are still unclimbed peaks not far away. [Regarding its name, connotations of Lord Shiva and the mountain's fallic shape are sometimes mentioned.]

Kedardome,
Sumeru Parbat (6331m, left) and Kedar Dome (6831m, right) from the North West.The utstanding and high summit of Kedarnath (6940m) looks from the side of the Kirti Glacier like a big white mountain. In the East a razor-sharp, semi-rocky and semi-corniced ridge joins the main peak of 
Kedarnath with its subsidiary feature Kedar Dome. ... Kedar Dome has the gentle North West flank that provides perhaps the easiest and most frequented climb in the Gangotri area. 

Bhagirathi,
Bhagirathi II, III, and I (left to right, 6512m, 6454m, 6856m), from the West 
The highest peak of the Bhagirathi Group forms a complex and topographically complicated massif. Bhagirathi Parbat has three major peaks. It stands at and dominates the end of the valley leading up to Gaumukh which is the end of the Gangotri Glacier and the source of the river Ganga. The upper part of the river Ganga is also called Bhagirathi, and both the mountain and the river are named after King Bhagirath. This King is said to have forced the Goddess Ganga to descend from the heavens in the form of a raging torrent in response to Bhagirath's 'intense and determined austerities'. 

Sumeru
Meru-North (6,450m) The Meru Massif rises above the upper parts of the Bhrigupanth, Meru, and Kirti valleys. From the East, Meru looks like a long jagged ridge falling down with 800-1200 m high, vertical slab walls. The ridge contains a number of peaks, the most eminent of them being: Meru North (6450m) and Meru South (6660m). Apart from these, Meru West (6361m) lies on the ridge that connects Bhrigupanth and Meru North.

Places can be explored at Badrinath :

Gangotri Temple: One of the holy place out of 4 Dham's
Gaumukh : From Where River Ganga Starts
Tapovan: Base of Shivling
Gangotri Glacier: One of the biggest glacier of Garwal (54 kms)

Vasuki: Vasuki Tal
Suryalaya bamak a story behind

Places can be explored at Badrinath :

The Vyas Gufa near Mana village, is a rock-cave where Ved Vyas is believed to have composed the Mahabharat and the pauranic commentaries.

Bhimpul On the other side of Mana village, is a massive rock forming a natural bridge, that lies over the roaring Saraswati River. It presents a spectacular view of water thundering down through the narrow passage under the rock and is believed to have been placed there by Bhim, the second eldest among the five Pandava brothers.

Vasundhara, as the name suggests, is a magnificent waterfall with a height of 122 m. This place is 5 km from Badrinath out of which 2 km is motorable upto Mana, the last Indian village on the border.

Photo Galary:
Four Places , At New Delhi Station, Bhojwasa, Nandanban, Way to Vasuki Tal
Shivling, Kedardome, Bhagirathi, Gangotri Glacier, Sumeru
For slide as well video show contact us.