Region: Lahoul Valley
Total Duration: 23 Nights / 24 Days (Ex Delhi)
Style of Trip: Climbing
Grade: Challenging
Maximum Altitude: 6443 m./ 21130 ft.
Best Season: June to September
Accommodation: Hotel/Guesthouse; Organized Campsite
Food: On trek– All meals included
Menthosa is a 21,130 ft. Peak located in deep Mayar valley of Lahoul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh district. Menthosa is a one of the difficult peak to climb,due to its remote location. So, one should be well experienced and have completed varied expeditions. Climbing of this peak is recommended only to professional climbers. The route to the peak demands great endurance and skills to conquer. The climb is a mixture of deep valleys, gorges alongside the Mayar river, mountain, rains, rocks, cliffs, ice fields and walls.
The climb has extreme routes where rock falls and avalanches are often encountered. At the higher altitudes the mountains react at their own, so the conditions are unpredictable. The route is challenging that consists of tricky snow traverse & steep slopes, huge plateau, deep drops on the both sides of route at some places. Mount Menthosa is a perfect peak to climb, to experience, to explore and face the extreme challenges,which is way beyond some ones imagination.Great endurance is required for this climb.
Firstly, one has to reach Manali and then by bus or taxi reach Udaipur. Udaipur would be our base camp.From Udaipur we have to follow Mayar Nallah till the end of road.The ascend will go through narrow gorge, overhung rock face tracks causing high packs to get caught and climber to lose his balance. After hours of trek ABC Menthosa is established at the height of 14,200ft. From the camp a fabulous view of the mountains, heavily caked with the fresh snow can be seen. Next morning the pack will head to Camp 1, which is situated at the height of 16,500 ft. covered deep in the snow.
Following day team experts will reach the Camp II, to find out further conditions. After reaching, safe approach will be made with the provision of fix ropes to Camp II. At Camp II weather is unpredictable at the height of 18,350 ft and the temperature will drop to -26C. The route to Camp III is completed in adverse weather conditions. The route lay along the crest of right hand skyline ridge overlooking the ABC glacier. The route provides spectacular views and dangerous drops about 5000 ft. on the one side and 2000 ft. on the other side. After great efforts, the Camp III is completed here by the climbers. At 20,300 ft. Camp III is just some hundred meters below from the summit. The attempts to the summit totally depends on the weather, if weather stays stable the attempts can be made and elevation of 21,140 ft. is measured by the brave climbers.
Finally peak Menthosa is a great peak to climb, it offers interesting mountaineering experience at every stage. At last withdrew off the mountain in a good order and retrace our steps back to the Mayar Nallah to advance base camp and so on till the roadhead. All the participants are dropped at Udaipur from where they can leave to their desired destinations.
.