Dzo Jongo- Who is this trek meant for?

Hidden like a mystery in plain view, Dzo Jongo is one magical peak. Starting from Leh, the trek takes you through the magnificent and arid Markha Valley. This marvelous peak has been overshadowed by its much popular neighbours, Kang Yatse I (6,400M) and Kang Yatse II (6,250M) for much too long. With the mystery of its existence, the story of the two summits and its magical terrain, Dzo Jongo has an intriguing personality of its own and deserves all the limelight it can get.

The stillness of the mountain along with its smooth, long-drawn icy slopes with sections of 80° ice walls make Dzo Jongo a mix of calming and challenging. While it's brutal at times with its tough gradients and chilly high-altitude winds, it's also breathtakingly beautiful.

What's fascinating about the West face of Dzo Jongo

(6260M) is that it's got easy bits of straight walking and it's got extremely scary sections with 80° ice walls. It's got trekking sections and it’s got sections where you need to know exactly how to use your tools. It's got sections where you'll feel like it's a cake walk and it's got sections that will make you cry. This magnificent peak can get you brimming with self-confidence and just when you thought you got this, it throws something at you which will fill you with self-doubt. It's an extremely confusing internal and external journey but it's worth every bit of the conundrum for its spectacular views and the amount of learning it offers.

Given the technical nature of its climb, its crevasse-ridden terrain and the altitude, this trek is for people with a fair bit of trekking experience in the Himalayas. This article discusses the difficulty level of Dzo Jongo (West) Peak, the gear and skills you require to make a successful ascent up its icy slopes and some of the challenges you are likely to encounter when you embark on this journey from where there is no looking back.

Difficulty Level of the Trek:

Dzo Jongo (West) Peak is a level 6 trek on the Bikat Rating Scale.

About the BRS: The Bikat Rating Scale rates the difficulty level of all treks and expeditions in our portfolio after taking into account their geographical and climatic conditions.

According to this scale, if you are a beginner who is unsure of your fitness level and don’t know what to expect on a trek, a trek rated one will be a good place to start.

If you liked your very first trekking experience and are looking to test your limits next, the treks rated 2 or 3 will do the job for you.

A beginner who is sure of their fitness level on the other hand is welcome to skip the first two levels and directly start with one of the treks rated 3.

From 4 onwards, the rules change a little. It is mandatory to have trekking experience of the previous level to participate in the next level.

The Trails of Dzo Jongo (West):

Dzo Jongo when climbed from its East face is a trekking peak but from its West face (which takes you to its ‘true’ summit), is a much more challenging endeavor. Given that it is a technical peak, Dzo Jongo (West) presents you with an assortment of terrain, gradient and environment which is easier to navigate if you have some of the basic technical skills required in the mountains. If your knowledge of mountaineering equipment and techniques needs brushing up, however, there is absolutely no need to worry! As a learning-based organization, we will be providing you with the equipment and training needed to use them during the initial days of the trek. Nonetheless, it helps to know the challenges you are likely to encounter if you decide to undertake this journey. Let us help acquaint you to some exciting difficulties which make the trek challenging as well as fun!

Challenge 1: Landscape of Ladakh

Dzo Jongo is in the heart of Ladakh and the landscape of Ladakh is not always your best friend. It is mostly inhospitable, and requires a lot of adapting to. Given that there is close to no vegetation in the entire region, the air here is extremely dry which can make your throat scratchy and your face burnt from the harsh sun from which there is no respite.

Challenge 2: Acclimatization

The trek starts from the high mountain city of Leh and takes you to the higher reaches of the Himalayas in a short period of 12 days. Since we are moving quickly from the dry, arid land of Markha Valley into the land of fifty shades of white, acclimatization is crucial to completion of the trek and a safe return.
The weather on the trail of Dzo Jongo Peak has a way of surprising us, too. With its sudden twists, we never know when we will be hit by our next snow storm, white-out or torrential rains - which makes the trek thrilling while also, adding to its level of difficulty. This constantly changing weather- sudden snow storms and whiteouts - make adapting to newer heights a tricky business. Watch out for any signs of depleting health and Altitude Mountain Sickness.

We have seen quite a few fit trekkers experience extreme fatigue, head ache, and nausea on this trail. So, the battle against altitude is not one you would want to take lightly on the Dzo Jongo Peak trek.

Do remember to drink lots of water, layer up as instructed by the leader and take the climb at your own pace. These simple but effective strategies can help keep all altitude related discomforts at bay.

Challenge 3: Nature of the climb

Known as a technical climb, Dzo Jongo is a good place to start if you want to up your trekking game and enter the world of hardcore mountaineering. The peak serves as a practice ground for a mildly technical and extremely steep climb. It offers up features of an expedition - from carrying your own load to a need for technical knowledge.

On the trek, you will be introduced to mountaineering equipment and new technical skills like using the ice-axe, pitching a tent in snow, roping up, using an ascender to climb steep ice walls, rappelling down, to name a few. The mountain also hand-delivers a lesson in the importance of softer skills like working together as a team. Even seemingly simple tasks like walking will get reassessed when you put on your shin-high, very heavy snow boots for the first time.

The high-gradient ice wall of 80 degrees close to the summit and yet another section which is an hour long climb up a 65 degree slope are especially challenging and need skills suited to the nature of the climb the mountain demands.

That said, if you are someone who is new to expedition style trekking and technical climbing, do not let these challenges deter you. We will be providing you with the training needed to handle both, the equipment and terrain, during the initial days of the trek. Getting used to the equipment takes time but by the summit day, they will feel like second skin.

Challenge 4: Peculiar Terrain:

Dzo Jongo, which goes through Markha Valley is kind enough to introduce you to all the traits of a mountain- like dry expanses of land, scree, moraine, boulders, crevasses, steep gradients and much more- in the span of 12 days! A trek up the peak is an on-field lesson in the variety of high-altitude features. Walking through glacial moraines, navigating the massive rocks, braving the unpredictable weather in snow and walking brutal slopes on the trail keep the journey exhilarating throughout.

Challenge 5: Climbing Down

We tend to focus so much on the ascent and getting to the top that we forget that these are the very steep slopes which we also have to descend at some point. Drained energy and the general nature of descend being a little more precarious than ascends tend to make these bits a bit trickier. No biggie though, the awareness of it and conserving enough energy to get down would make a universe of a difference in keeping you safe.

Challenge 6: Extremely Long Distances

From the dust storms of Markha Valley to the tent-flapping winds of its basecamp at 5500M to the snow storms during summit push, Dzo Jongo West is the perfect recipe for adventure. It's the right amount of challenging and technical, the right mix of extreme temperatures, and requires the right combination of skill and endurance for it to make it to the top of your 'must-have' experiences.

The distances to be covered on each day, however, are massive. We walk 12-15 kms on an average, on each day of this trek. Given that we walk through the very hot and very dry Markha Valley to enter straight into the icy temperature of the upper reaches of the mountain, it becomes that much harder for the body to adapt to this ever changing environmental conditions.

The summit push, especially, is extremely long, too. Although manageable, go with the knowledge that it will be a long night with patches of tough gradients. This might require long hours of mental preparation but we can assure you that once you are back down, the memory of the climb is sure to keep your brain firing for weeks to come.

Our route to reach back to Leh takes us through Kongmaru La Pass which is a high-mountain pass at an altitude of 5,326M. With its patches of steep ascent, deep gorges, overflowing water crossings and a steep descent down an arid valley, our trek back to Leh is an 8-10 hour long day, too.

GEAR REQUIRED FOR DZO JONGO (WEST)

While we will be providing most of the technical equipment needed for the trek (tents, sleeping bags, crampons, snow boots, ice axe), there is some basic gear you will need from your end to get through your hike comfortably.

Some of the things you will need are:

1) A sturdy, lightweight backpack: A good backpack which sits comfortably on your back without putting too much pressure on it can be the deciding factor between making it to the summit or not. Good, however, is not a synonym for expensive.

One of our founders, Pankaj, purchased a non-branded pack for INR 1100 in 2010 and the pack continues to work just fine for him even today. In the article linked below, he shares some helpful tips on what to look for when choosing a trekking backpack.

How to choose your backpack

2) Comfortable trekking shoes: Happy feet equal a happy trek. Conventional sports shoes don’t suit trekking trails. We recommend wearing high ankle shoes with sturdy soles. These not only provide better support but also reduce the possibility of injuries while hiking. In case, you need help with a list of deciding factors that make for good trekking shoes, please refer to the article below.

How to choose a good pair of hiking shoes

3) Right Clothing: Any high-altitude trek requires specific kinds of clothing. It should be warm but light weight. It should also be such that it is easily packaged. On high-altitude treks like Dzo Jongo, we usually employ the layering method where you put on multiple layers of clothing instead of one very heavy, thick jacket. This is for two reasons:

a) The weather in Himalayan regions is unpredictable and changes very quickly. Layering gives you the freedom to adapt to that accordingly where you are not left feeling too hot or too cold.

b) These are easy to carry and are packing-friendly.

4) Right Sunglasses: When you know you are going to be in and around snow or in any high-altitude location where the sun is harsh, you might want to carry a good pair of sunglasses. A lack of these could prove to be fatal. The article below can help you pick out just the right pair.

How to pick high-altitude UV protection glasses?

SKILLS REQUIRED FOR DZO JONGO PEAK

Bikat Adventures is primarily an adventure learning organization. This means our key objective is not just to help trekkers complete their treks but also to ensure they pick up some valuable lessons and skills in trekking along the way.

To achieve this, we have created learning modules and paired them to different levels on the Bikat Rating Scale.

These modules are taught real-time on the trails by our trek leaders.

The following are some skills that are likely to come in handy on a trek like Dzo Jongo (West) Peak.

While you will have all the assistance you need on the trek from our capable trek leaders and guides, we suggest browsing through the articles below to get an idea of what is involved.

1) Ascending Descending on Trails

Dzo Jongo Peak is full of steep ascents and equally steep descents. While ascending and descending on a rocky terrain is difficult, achieving this on icy slopes is trickier. A set of simple techniques can help you navigate rocky as well as icy landscapes with considerable ease while also reducing chances of injuries and stress to specific body parts. The guide linked below shares some useful tips on how to ascend and descend on trails.

Ascending and Descending on Trails

Here is an additional article for some more in-depth information specific to an icy terrain.

Ice-craft Basics: Glacier Travel

2) Packing Your Rucksack

Given how unpredictable the weather gets on Dzo Jongo, you are likely to keep changing your layering frequently along the way. Also, due to the vast difference in day temperature and that at night, you most probably will spend a lot of time packing and re-packing your sack.

Accessing your stuff can get a bit messy and confusing during this process.

A sack packed right can facilitate your trekking while incorrect packing can make even an easy trail seem difficult. Worry not, we are here to help. The article linked below shares some useful guidelines you can follow to pack efficiently.

How to pack your rucksack

3) How to Pitch a Tent

Our trek leaders will be guiding you on how to pitch a tent during the trek. Nevertheless, we are linking the article below for anyone who might be interested in reading about it.

How to pitch a tent

4) Layering Basics

Layering appropriately to protect you from the cold is essential. The article linked below will give you a fair idea of the winter layers you will need and guide you on how to layer up at campsites and while hiking.

Hiking attire and layering

5) Understanding Equipment

Like we said before, Dzo Jongo is rife with sharp ascents and equally sharp descents in an assortment of landscapes. This, along with its peculiar terrain and environment require you to use some mountaineering equipment. The articles below will acquaint you to a few of these and help you understand how to use them as well as how they can facilitate your climb.

- How to use a trekking pole?

- How to use gaiters?

- How to use Microspikes?

6) Waste Management

When on any trek, it is each person’s responsibility to know the requirements of the area, some campsite basics and how to manage our own selves as well as the environment around us. While our trek leaders will keep you abreast about the basic dos and don’ts, do read the article below to brush up on some basic principles before the trek.

Waste Management and Leave No Trace Principles

We hope this article answers all the questions you may have about Dzo Jongo (West). In case you need further assistance/information with something, please feel free to reach out to us. We are only a phone call away.