Logistics:
Cycle : MTB Cannondale Trail 6 , 12KG
Clothes:
- 2 Down feather jackets ( but used one at a time, it was enough)
- 1 Warm flees Jacket
- 1 Sweater wool (thin)
- 3 Thick Cotton full sleeves T-shirts
- 3 Standard Running T-Shirts (Decathlon)
- 4 Warm Pair of Socks (Decathlon)
- 1 Leg warmer (Decathlon)
- 1 Jeans
- Neck Warmer (Decathlon)
- 2 High-Quality warm Caps
- 2 Balaclava ( but not used)
- 2 Basic woolen Gloves
- 1 pair of Warm Gloves (rated -20C and worn along with basic gloves for layering)
- 1 pair of Trekking shoes (rated - 20C, Decathlon – 4 Star warmth)
1 DSLR Camera
Medical Kit
Weight of Items mentioned above: 5-6 KG
Tent: Weight 1.2KG ( Backup, not used)
Water Bottles:
- 2 kg Insulated water Bottle (with 1-liter water)
- 1 kg plastic water bottle (with 1-liter water)
1.2 kg Sleeping Bag - Down feather (-20C)
Home-Made Energy Food: Mix of Carb+protein+butteroil +nuts +fats, aka Mithai. 100g=600-700 cal , Total 2KG
Carrying weight 12-13KG.
Trip Statistic:
- Route: Leh - Sakti - ChangLa - Durbuk - Pangong Lake - Phobrang -Shyok - Khalsar - Diskit - Khardung La - Leh
- Total Distance covered: 457 km
- Total Ascent: 8100 mt
- Total Descent: 8100mt
- Highest elevation: 5400 mt (KhardungLa is debatable 5680 mt)
- No. Of days: 8 (21 - 26th Dec cycling, 20-27th Total Duration)
- Temperature Experienced: Day -3°C to -22°C (Cycling), Night -10°C to -21°C(sleeping at warm place @ 10C)
Mobile Connectivity :
- Airtel 4G at Leh, Karu, Sakti
- BSNL at Durbuk, Tangtse, Khalsar
Luckily no problem with cycle during this trip.
What is different in Winters:
Landscape :
- All landscape is either brown or white, not a blade of green grass.
- If there is water, it is frozen like a rock.
- If you are flying from Delhi, you feel and see freshness from AQI of 350 at Delhi to 0 at Leh.
Leh and around:
- Life looks normal at Leh and around but very few tourists and locals.
- 90% of shops/hotels are closed compared to July-August
- Food options are very limited, but you relish almost everything if you do what I did every day
Accommodation:
- You need to make sure that you book your stay (guest house) and talk to the person for facilities.
- Very basic facilities are available, except for one or two expensive hotels.
- Going beyond Leh, make sure that you have confirmed your stay, nearly all guesthouses and hotels are closed.
Taxi: Available
Challenges compared to Summer cycling
- The body need to overwork to maintain body temperature in addition to peddling
- Very cold air to breathe which is very painful (may lead to frostbites). Covering the face reduces airflow which in turn reduces oxygen volume, which is already at 70%-50%.
- Inhaling cold air makes your inner body cold. The body needs extra effort to maintain body temp.
- Risk of frostbites at hand and foot when there is no sun, at passes, or downhill with the windchill factor.
- -Roads are icy near passes, which are sometimes impossible to cycle or walk, need crampons.
- In case of emergency, help may be delayed due to less/no traffic during winters.
- Days are very short max. 9-10 hr daylight, compared to 14hr in summer. You will have to plan your stay very carefully and delays can be very very risky.
What you Get
- Different and beautiful Landscape.
- If you love solitude, it is a lot there, hardly any tourists and very few locals.
- No traffic on roads, you can be on your own whole day
- Lots of Adrenaline
- Know locals better and wonderful experience to know them better to learn a lot about there simplicity, kind, helpful and loving nature.
