S O S ... Clean Ladakh mountains
In India, the summits above 6000 meters are paying peaks. The Indian Mountaineering Foundation, IMF, is a National organism in charge to look about the mountains, and to collect taxes from the mountaineers.
The IMF representant for Ladakh is Sonam Wangyal, Everest Hero, because he was the youngest climber to summit Mt Everest in 1965. Nowadays he is a senior member of IMF, still active, and in love with mountains which are Godesses.
It seems to me that some young Ladakhi wolfs are looking to replace him, despite they do not have his mountain experience.
I did 3 expeditions at Stok Kangri. Since a year the base camp, as well as the lower camps are more and more dirty, with many tins, plastic bottles sold by the locals to the trekkers, beer and liquor bottles of the locals, and a lot of dirty things.
This dirtiness folllows the recent increase of Indian climbers, who are nor as ecofriends as the foreign climbers. IMF has recently decided to charge them with fees in order to keep the mountains clean.
In 2007, the locals from Stok village requested to IMF to clean the camps fom Stok village to base camp. Their fees increased from 20.000 Rs to 120.000 Rs in 2011, but the camps have not been properly cleaned, although the private canteens hold by local people have already been closed at the beginning of October 2011.
Phandey Tsokspa, the president of Stok wants more money from IMF. If they do not get higher fees, some locals are menacing to block the acces of Stok Kangri. This is illegal.
I am suggesting to the foreign trekkers, to clean the camps by themselves, and then to bring back the rubbish to Leh.
Photos taken in October 2011 by Eric Lon: Flickr: set Stok Kangri
For more details, contact: ericlon@hotmail.fr
Be yogi pionners in Ladakh:
1: Join the highest Himalayan yoga class:
5000 meters, Stok Kangri Base Camp.
2: Ascend 6153 meters with a guide
3: Ski on the rocks if you are a fit skier...
The option 15 days is highly recommended
if you come from sea level to Lakakh...
Click on the question to get the answer
Trek without smoking
This « yoga trek » is tailor made for the non smokers, but it is also a great opportunity for the smokers who want to stop smoking by practicing yoga. Feel free to contact Eric Lon as soon as possible during winter .
The "Photo Gallery" of Eric Lon helps to choose a yogatrek
The set Stok Kangri displays specific photos
The new photos of Stok Kangri taken by Eric Lon in October 2012
will be posted step by step on Flickr from November 2012.
Why to scale Stok Kangri with a physio?
No need to be an experienced climber to scale the Stok Kangri 6153 meters. It is a trekking peak over 6000 meters summitted by hundred of trekkers, each summer. This is not a difficult ascent on a technical mountain point of view, but it is a high trek which requires a good adaptation to the altitude.
Many trekking agencies at Leh organize this trip, but only Eric Lon proposes to add yoga to make this ascent easier and safer, especially if you are over 50 years old.
We are proposing a unique yoga preparation to get used to the height. It is based on a daily practice of Himalayan yoga in order to get more energy and a better breathing in altitude. You will also learn daily to do self foot massage.
The highest yoga camp in India will be organized at 5000 meters: Stok Kangri base camp to get a better acclimatation for scaling 3 trekking peaks.
Before to scale the highest trekking peak, 6153 meters, we organize a technical guided preparation on snow with crampons and ice axes, around 5600 meters. We are reaching this spot by car: this is a great opportunity to get used to the height.
Skiing on the rocks is possible at Golep Kangri and at another peak where the stones are small. It is the same itinerary for skiing and for trekking. Eric Lon is skiing on the rocks for 30 years. Rock skiing is an option which is not compulsory.
Trip facts about 15 days yoga trekking around Stok kangri
Grade: easy to reach base camp, but with a final high trek to scale: 6153 meters
Visit of Buddhist monasteries around Leh.
Daily yoga and foot massage classes by Eric Lon.
Rock skiing is possible on two peaks around Stok Kangri.
Almost any fit and experienced trekker can scale Stok kangri
with yoga facilities and one Ladakhi trekking guide.
Dates: In August 2012 we are proposing a yogatrek for all age trekkers,
and in September 2012 a yogatrek tailor made for the trekkers from 50 years old to...
August is the peak of season
September is more quiet
Price all included for 15 days trek with yoga around Stok Kangri,
including the scaling permit, per person:
4 to 5 pax: 1350 Euro
6 to 8 pax: 1250 Euro
9 pax or more: 1050 Euro
Outline itinerary
Day 1:
Arrival at Leh: 3500 meters. Our team welcomes you at the airport. Transfer to Shanti guest house.
Get relaxed and have a small hike on a hill to Shanti stupa with a panoramic view of Leh.
First Himalayan yoga session to have a better breathing, and foot massage teaching by Eric Lon, professional masseur.
Day 2 to day 4 : Easy visit of different Buddhist monasteries around Leh with easy half day hikes to get used to the height, and to walk on different terrains. Yoga and foot massage during the treks. Accomodation at Shanti guest house.
Day 5 : Drive to Khardung La, 5600 meters, the highest motorable pass, 40 km above Leh, and have a technical snow lesson at a north face glacier. This is a test to know how you feel at this height.
Drive down on the other side of the mountain to Nubra valley and sleep well around 3100 meters. Yoga and foot massage to get a faster acclimatization.
Day 6:
Sight seeing with visit of the monasteries and the sand dunes at NUBRA valley. If you are used to practice cross country ski on the snow, you can bring your old skis to enjoy dune skiing and yoga plus massage on the sand dunes.
Day 7:
Drive back to the same high pass, Khardung La, 5600 meters to have a second technical lesson on the snow. Enjoy feeling better and more confident in altitude with yoga breathing.
Day 8 : Resting day with yoga and foot massage, and with sight seeing around Leh.
Day 9: Start of the trek from Stok village to intermediate camp around 4000 meters.
You will only carry your small bag. Your luggage and all camping facilities will be carried by horses or mules. Easy trek along a river. Camping with yoga and foot massage.
Day 10: Trekking further and higher. Camping to Stok Kangri base camp: 5000 meters with yoga and foot massage to have a better acclimatization.
Day 11: Trekking to Golep Kangri: 6000 meters, a beautiful mountain, easy to scale. You can ski down on the rocks if you are a fit skier.
Day 12: Trekking to the "horse saddle": 5800 meters. This nice crest is facing Stok Kangri. You can ski on small rocks to reach a glacier, and the trail to base camp.
Day 13: Ascent of Stok Kangri with a Ladakhi guide, and trek back to the base camp to relax with yoga and foot massage. It is a long day trek.
Day 14: Easy trek back to Stok village, visit of the Kings Palace, Museum and monastery before to drive to Leh, at Shanti guest house.
Day 15: Departure from Leh, or you can ask us for a day rest with shopping, or to join more treks... Shanti Tours and Travels will organize in advance your travel back to Home.
Options: we can adapt this trek to your wishes and capacities,
but you must be fit and experienced to scale Stok Kangri.
Photos gallery of Eric Lon: www.flickr.com, set "Stok Kangri".
Travel with a certified French physiotherapist and yoga therapy expert
to get daily yoga classes adapted for trekking.
Contact: ericlon@hotmail.fr
When Eric Lon is trekking far from the Internet facilities, he cannot reply immediatly to your questions. Please, be patient. This quality is useful for trekking in the Himalayas. Yoga helps to become patient.
Contact also: info@shantitours.com
Do not be confusing Shanti Tours based at Leh Ladakh with another Shanti agency based at Delhi. Shanti Tours is a Ladakhi agency located at Shanti guest house, at the foot of Shanti Stupa.
It has been created ten years ago. It is a Ladakahi family enterprise which proposes fooding and accomodation in addition of all trekking facilities with an experienced local staff. It is a nice place to rest and to enjoy yoga in a Buddhist peaceful environment.
Shanti Tours and Travels can also book your flight tickets.
Travel with a French certified physiotherapist, yoga therapy expert
Visualize 6000 photos of Eric Lon: www.flickr.com
Have a safe journey: bon voyage
Eric Lon is part of Facebook, French pages, during the week end
and Shanti Tours is also on Facebook: contact them in English.
New in Ladakh
Scale Matho Kangri: 7 days
If you have already scaled Stok Kangri, you can climb near by Matho Kangri.
Please, have a look to the program of treks around Leh.
Matho is a beautiful glacier looking like the "Dome de neige des Ecrins",
around 6000 meters of height, in a very quiet valley used by the sheeps and yaks
sheperds, without many tourists as at Stok Kangri.
The photos taken in October 2011 by Eric Lon are going to be posted on Flickr