Leh - The Journey Begins...

[YAJ]

Day 5 | June 17 | Chang La – Last mile


Here, we again met the bikers whom we met between Nakee La and Lachung La. They had hired Innova to visit Pangong. This was an hour stop.







Meanwhile BRO truck came with workers to rescue. They started clearing the road. Vehicles with chain started moving ahead.







However, again stuck few meters ahead at one more steep gradient.


We saw one Safari and one Innova skidding back. Miracle saved the bang. And Safari was with snow chains. Both were taxis. There was one red Volvo SUV, even that was not able to move ahead.








We reached at the turn and decided to wait for some more time and let few more vehicles pass. Must have stopped there for 20 minutes.




After 4-5 more vehicles, we started. It was very difficult. Snow was very hard and gradient was steep almost till Chang La.






We surged ahead in mostly in 2nd gear and finally reached Chang La at 12.30 PM.




Our plan for Marsimek La was toasted away with the brutal forces of nature. Even, it was not sure, if we will be able to make it to Pangong or not. We saw many cars turning back. Next day, we had to start our back journey via Tsomoriri.

[Vikas the shokeen biker]

Though causing delay but these must have been the moments of huge excitement. I encounter a similar situation while going from Kufri to Chail when there was so heavy fog that we can't even see 5-8mts ahead. Making the life difficult was the almst ineffective headlight of my RX and the curvy narrow road without the shoulder protection.

[YAJ]

Originally Posted by Vikas the shokeen biker

Though causing delay but these must have been the moments of huge excitement. I encounter a similar situation while going from Kufri to Chail when there was so heavy fog that we can't even see 5-8mts ahead. Making the life difficult was the almst ineffective headlight of my RX and the curvy narrow road without the shoulder protection.

Yes, Vikas this delayed journey with extreme natural blessings was an amazing experience. Though all our plans were shattered into pieces, however, what we experienced was an wonderful experience in itself.

I can relate to your experience very well. Kufri - Chail route as it is small and curvey, low visibility must have added additional charm.

[suman]

Spine-tingling adventure, great narration & awesome pics Yaj!!

BTW, you had to submit a permit copy at Karu as well - in our case, Zingral was the first point.

[YAJ]

Originally Posted by suman

Spine-tingling adventure, great narration & awesome pics Yaj!!

Thanks, Suman..

Originally Posted by suman

BTW, you had to submit a permit copy at Karu as well - in our case, Zingral was the first point.

First point to submit the permit is Karu, which is J&K Police post. Next is Zingral, which is army TCP. Third post is at Tangste, which is again J&K police post.

This post is few meters after you take Pangong diversion at Karu. There is small speed breaker and a wall on your left with a passage. Person sits in camp inside. Unless you are driving slow and looking for this post, you will ignore it.

[YAJ]

Day 5| June 17 | Chang La Top

Finally, we reached mighty Chang La top. Well, it definitely turned out mighty for us. It was all white completely covered in snow.







All vehicle were lined up Chang La top. None went ahead beyond Chang La.



It was still snowing. Snow at top recorded was more than 10 inch.




None of vehicle came from Pangong so far in the day. As told to us, gradient from Pangong side to Chang La is very steep at three turns and also, road condition is very bad.




People were debating, what to do. We were also in same situation. We went Army incharge and asked them their opinion. They said that they haven’t seen so much snow happening in June and that too during mid day. They also asked us to wait.


Visibility was reduced to next to nill. People were clicking pictures and most of them were now caged in their vehicles. Some of the people were affected by AMS and snow. Medical help was being given and supervised by army people.

It was close to 1 hour for us also at Chang La top. Status was same. Our plan to conquer M La went for a toss. It was 1.45 PM, I looked at my brother and turned the vehicle. Turning the vehicle at snow in limited space was a little adventure in itself. With almost 10 local taxi drivers giving their advice, however, unique advice by each one.




We came back to Chang La board. Decided to take cup of black tea and click a photograph next to the board, before starting for Leh from there.




Well, as we were moving towards army canteen, we saw what we didn’t expect at all especially during such a situation. Soon all people gathered there and we also joined the crowd leaving the tea plan.

[YAJ]

Originally Posted by YAJ

Well, as we were moving towards army canteen, we saw what we didn’t expect at all especially during such a situation. Soon all people gathered there and we also joined the crowd leaving the tea plan.

Well, since no-one asked what we saw I can skip this...

however, let me take a step back and think, people want to know what we saw, however, couldn't find time to post...

that definitely feels better..

[YAJ]

Day 5 | June 17 | Chang La Top & Back to Leh

There were Madhvan, Kareena, Saif, Sharvan Joshi, Amir Khan and other unit members. Well they just stopped for a while to relax there. Tea, snacks and oxygen masks came for all of them immediately, however, nothing was touched except oxygen mask.


















All of them went to their respective vehicles (petrol Innova with snow chains) and then confined themselves in their vehicles. Vehicles were guarded by unit’s security staff and piloted & followed by army vehicles. They were there for shooting of ‘Three Idiots’ at Pangong lake.

Return Journey | Chang La – Leh


We started at 2.10 PM from Chang La top.













We barely started from Chang La, another thing, we least expected in this situation and at this place. Yes, you guessed right, a flat tyre.





Where, it was difficult walk few steps, we mount the jack and replace the tyre. Few local taxi drivers did offer to help saying that it will be much easier for them to do this task. However, we were on our own.


We met people from black Scorpio, whom we met in Rohtang and Koksar. One of person was sick and wanted to go back, Rest of them wanted to move ahead to Pangong. To cut the story short, this person joined us till Leh and black Scorpio went ahead to Chang La. Road was still in the same condition for some distance, however, much better, once we moved around 5 kms from Chang La.


It didn’t take us much time to reach Zingral post. Met TCP and updated him about the condition at Chang La. Now, we had one more task to take care of, puncture repair. I had one spare tyre, so we were looking for shop with pneumatic tyre mount machine to replace the damaged tyre with spare tyre and we were good to go.

A monastery near Shakti Village






We returned Leh quickly after changing the punctured tyre. Snow was melted off from the road. Stretch, which took us hours in the morning just took minutes, while coming back.

Once, we reached Leh, we were looking for shop to replace the punctured tyre on alloy. Found the shop with pneumatic tyre replace machine opposite civil hospital. Person was quick. He didn’t have strip to repair the tubeless puncture though. However, as our spare wheel was ready, we were not worried about punctured tyre.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by YAJ

Well, as we were moving towards army canteen, we saw what we didn’t expect at all especially during such a situation. Soon all people gathered there and we also joined the crowd leaving the tea plan.

Originally Posted by YAJ

Well, since no-one asked what we saw I can skip this...

however, let me take a step back and think, people want to know what we saw, however, couldn't find time to post...

that definitely feels better..

LOL, after you deliberately ended the post on a note of suspense, why would anyone ASK? We were simply waiting for it to be told in due course!!

Good that your conscience did not permit you to skip this unexpected detail!

I'm kinda glad the Slime in my Scorpio tyres paid off during our visit!

[YAJ]

Originally Posted by anupmathur

I'm kinda glad the Slime in my Scorpio tyres paid off during our visit!

For an experiennce like us, it has definitely.