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Kuari Pass: Who is This Trek Meant For

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Kuari Pass: Who is This Trek Meant For

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Rishabh Tiwari

28 Jul 2023

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If you want to witness all the major peaks of the Garhwal Range of the Himalayas from a comfortable altitude, Kuari Pass is for you! The pass which takes you to a maximum altitude of 3,876M is surrounded on all sides by giants such as Nanda Devi (7,816M), Hathi Ghoda Parbat (6,727M), Chaukhamba (7,138M), Neelkanth (6,500M), and Dunagiri (7,066M) amongst many others. The mere sight of these massive mountains is enough to leave you inspired. Besides the impressive show of the entire range of Garhwal Himalayas, the mixed terrain of dense oak woods, snow fields, and rolling meadows that the trek takes you on, make it a complete package. The trail of the trek with its varied features is all you need to slow time down.

Even though it is a beginner-friendly trek, it comes with its own set of challenges. The altitude, along with the nature of the terrain poses certain difficulties which make the trail even more fun. Knowing about them can make them easier to tackle.

This article discusses the difficulty level of the Kuari Pass trek, some challenges you may face, and the gear and skills you require to navigate the beautiful terrain.

Difficulty Level of the Trek

Kuari Pass is a level 3 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 doesn’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 at the previous level to participate in the next level.

The Trails of Kuari Pass

Kuari Pass is known for its dramatic changes in terrain on each day of the trek. The first day takes you through woods thick with oak trees which occasionally open to wide clearings carpeted with lush green grass and an assortment of wildflowers. Since the trail alternates between steep slopes and flat terrain, these sections are easy to navigate. To witness the golden-brown shades of the oak trees silhouetted against the glittering white peaks of the Garhwal mountains is a spellbinding experience. The trail, however, gets progressively steeper on the following days with the last stretch between Tali Lake and Auli being the most strenuous to cross. The trail can get especially challenging in winter as ice and snow make the narrow paths extremely slippery

Challenge 1: Acclimatization

The Kuari Pass trail has comfortable gradients but the altitude gain on certain days is quite significant. On the first day itself, when we trek up from Dhak village (2,090M) to Tali Forest campsite (3,362M), the gain in elevation is close to 1,300M. This can be a bit much for the first day, especially for people coming from the plains. The one-night halt at Joshimath which is at an altitude of 1,890M is helpful in the process of acclimatization, but the trek up to Tali campsite may present you with some altitude-related symptoms like difficulty in breathing or a mild headache. These symptoms can keep getting worse as you gain height further and hence acclimatization is extremely important. It can be a tricky affair but some key things to remember to help your body adapt to the gain in altitude are to stay well-hydrated, never skip meals and walk at your own pace. Remember to inform your trek leaders if you feel any discomfort on the trek.

Challenge 2: Long Distances

Each day on the trail of Kauri Pass is filled with mesmerizing beauty, but that does not take away from the fact that each day on this trek is extremely long. The overall distance of the trail is divided into 8km, 12km, and 10km across three days. To cover these massive distances on a hilly terrain in continuously thinning air can prove to be very physically demanding.

It is best to adopt a workout regime a month before coming on this trek. A disciplined exercise routine will help build your stamina and endurance. An appropriate level of fitness will give you a chance to enjoy the oak woods, panoramic views of the mountains, and lush meadows without worrying about exhaustion or muscle pain.

Challenge 3: Snow and Ice Patches

Winter further adds to the difficulty of the trail by introducing patches of snow and ice on its narrow paths. The already slippery terrain of the forests can get even more precarious with the introduction of winter elements.

The trail calls for exercising more caution and learning how to adapt to the winter terrain. While the right kind of shoes (and other gear) go a long way in helping you through these parts, make sure you listen to the tips and tricks given by your trek leaders to help you ascend and descend on the snowy trails better.

Challenge 4: Sub-Zero Temperatures

While in the summer months, the temperature on the trail is in the vicinity of 3-24 degrees Celsius, winters on this trail can get unbearably cold. In the months of December and January, temperatures can drop to -15 degrees - the bone-chilling winds further adding to the cold. It is extremely important to layer up appropriately because the high-altitude winds can bring your health down very quickly. Acclimatization becomes harder with the steep dip in temperatures as well. Remember to carry enough layers of warm clothing and don’t hesitate to use them on the trail. It is easy to forget to keep hydrated in the cold but it is essential that you remember to drink lots of water even if you are not thirsty.

Challenge 5: Narrow Trails

The stretch between Tali Lake and Gorson Bugyal on the 4th day of the trek can be challenging. It passes through a very narrow path with the upward face of the mountain on one side, and a steep drop on the other. In winter it gets trickier to trek through this stretch as layers of snow or ice accumulate in parts of the path making it harder to get a firm hold on the ground. Remember to follow the instructions of your trek leader and use their footsteps to mark out your steps on the trail.

Gear Required for Kuari Pass

While we will be providing most of the technical equipment needed for the trek (tents, sleeping bags, snow boots, crampons/ microspikes), 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 that 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 waterproof trekking shoes with sturdy soles for the Kuari Pass trek. 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 lightweight. It should also be such that it is easily packaged. On high-altitude treks like Kuari Pass, 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:

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

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

4) Right Sunglasses: Although the Kuari Pass trail is shaded by heavy oak forests initially on the trail, you soon trek through open meadows and snowfields where sunglasses are essential for the bright sunlight. 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 Kuari Pass

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 in 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 Kuari Pass.

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

Although the Kuari Pass trail has a mixed terrain of steep and flat land, navigating steep snow or ice slopes can be tricky. A set of simple techniques can help you navigate ice and snow landscapes with considerable ease while also reducing the 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

2) Packing Your Rucksack

Although the weather is not very dynamic on the Kuari Pass trail, it is still important to change your layering, especially due to the vast difference in day temperature and that at night. So 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 yourself 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

The Kuari Pass trek has an easy gradient, but it is still challenging to navigate ice slopes. This, along with heavy snowfall in winter require you to use some basic mountaineering equipment. The articles below will acquaint you with a few of these and help you understand how to use them as well as how they can facilitate your climb.

a. How to use a trekking pole?

b. How to use gaiters?

c. How to use Microspikes?

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

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