In the high snows … mountaineering opportunities in the Himalayas excite even professionals.
Mere words cannot convey the awesome majesty of the Himalayas. Their splendor sweeps over the north and north eastern part of the subcontinent, and as the highest, newest mountain range on the earth, scaling a Himalayan peak is the dream of many mountaineer the world over.
Kashmir`s mountain ranges are both Alpine and Himalyan and can be grouped into four distinct regions : Kashmir, Kishtwar, Zanskar and Ladakh.
The most well known peaks are Kolahoi (5,425 m) known as the Matterhorn of Kashmir ; Harmukh (5,148 m) whose north face resembles Eiger ; Tattakuti (4,742 m) ; Sunset (4,745 m) the highest peak in the Pir Panjal range, and numerous small peaks in Sonamarg and Pahalgam. One can climb these peaks quickly, making Alpine style ascents.
Kishtwar represents small Himalayan peaks of great technical difficulty involving week long trekking to the base camps. The popular peaks in this region are Sickle Moon (6,575 m) ; Eiger (6,001 m); Brammah –1 (6,416 m) ; Brammah`s wife (5,297 m) ; Crooked Finger (5,630 m) ; Flat Top (6,100 m) ; Cathedral (5,370 m) ; Barnaj-1 (6,100 m) ; Barnaj-2 (6,290 m) ; Arjuna (6,200 m) ; Agyasol (6,200 m) and Shivling (6,000 m).
The Zankar Range encompasses the famous peaks of Nun-Kun. This group of mountain has been explored since 1898 by Bruce, Sillem, the Bullock Workmans, Piacenzq, Harrison and Waller. Kun (7,077 m) was first climbed by Th Italian climber Piacenze in 1913 and Nun (7,135 m) by the Swiss climber, late Madame Claude Kogan, in 1953. This is the only climbing group accessible by a day's trekking from the road head. One can reach the base camp of Nun in two days from the airport in Srinagar.
The Ladakh range comprises the peals if Stok area – Stok Kangri 6,135 m, Parcha Kangri 6,065 m, Gulap Kangri 5,900 m ; and some peals of Nimaling area such as the famous Kang Yissav-6,400 m.
The climbing period extends from mid May till mid October. The monsoons do not affect the Ladakh peaks and the main climbing season is July/August when most of the Himalayas remains closed