Region: Garhwal Himalaya
Total Duration – 26 Nights / 27 Days
Style Of Trip – Climbing
Maximum Altitude – 6940m/ 22770ft.
Grade – Difficult
Best Season – Mid May to October
Accommodation – Hotel/Guesthouse; Organized Campsite
Food – On trek – All meals included
Kedarnath ( Kedarnath Main) and Kedarnath Dome (Kedar Dome) are two mountains in Gangotri Group of peaks in western Garhwal Himalaya in Uttarakhand state, India. Kedarnath peak lies on the main ridge that lies south of the Gangotri Glacier. Kedarnath is highest peak on the south side of Gangotri Glacier, and Kedarnath Dome is the third highest. Both peaks have relatively easy routes on their northwest sides, but the east face of Kedarnath Dome is a large, very difficult rock. South face of Kedarnath peak gives a different kind of climbing experience. Kedarnath peak is moderate to difficult to challenging peak. During the climb expeditionars have to go through rock, ice walls, crevasses and other extreme conditions. Panoramic views and scenic beauty of Himalaya is seen enroute.Kedarnath and Kedarnath Dome were first climbed together, in 1947, by a Swiss team led by André Roch.
Travel to reach Haridwar than Rishikesh by bus or a cab. Rishikesh is on the border line between mountain line of the Himalaya and the plains. The route for Kedarnath peak starts from Kedarnath. The altitude of Kedarnath peak is 6940m.The distance between Gauri kund and Kedarnath is around 14 km. As we ascend one can find a narrow path on the slop of a mountain. The altitude of Kedarnath is 3581mts. It is a temple town, there are shops lodgings around the temple. One can see sadhus living in the outskirts. After leaving Kedarnath we climb towards base camp on moraines and head on the snow to camp on the snowfield, after having passed the Chorabari Bamak. The altitude of base camp is about 4000m. From the base camp we see on the right side the ridge line of about 6000m. continuing from Kedarnath peak to Bharat Kuntha. On the left side a series of mountains of the height of 5000m. and on the right side a rock ridge rose up to Bharat Kuntha. Within an hour from base camp, we get to abc the base of hanging glacier and starting point of the south face. From advance base camp we hold on to the centre of hanging glacier, and go up right and climb the contact line of 5041m peak. There are numerous falling stones, avalanches and crevasses in the centre of hanging glacier, it’s a dangerous route in afternoons. Above the hanging glacier we set up the CampI (4900m.) on the borderline between the plateau and hanging glacier. The conditions at the camp I is always unpredictable, so climbers have to wait until the weather turns favorable. In front of the camp I is the plateau which needs an hour to traverse. On the plateau we could see the summit ridge line of Kedarnath peak, upper snowfield, middle rock wall, snow ridge and the triangular rock wall. We will climb the triangular rock wall for 200m. than traverse on snow up to snow ridge. After climbing the rock wall will head on for 600m. and reach the Campsite II. Camp II is a snow ridge. Weather is unstable, so pack has to wait for days to approach summit. The route to summit is difficult, long and challenging. First we have to go round to right side of the middle rock wall and climb the snow wall to upper snow field and traverse it to the left and climb left side of top rock wall and reach the ridge line and thus approach to summit from left. The peak is at 6940m., at this height one can have spectacular views of the other huge mountain ranges and peaks. Once summited descend back to camp II and so on to further camps.
Kedarnath peak is a big challenge for climbing lovers. A person has to be prepared physically and mentally for this challenging peak.
