offering weather updates, snowpack info, backcountry beta, gear hacks, community stories —an essential resource for anyone planning a trip to the Indian Himalayas
Overall Theme by Zeeshan Mushtaq (dec) The western Himalayas have experienced a late start to the season, with limited early snowfall. Almost a one month later than Europe cycle as seen in the French alps However, a surprise storm at the end of December has brought much-needed snow, setting the stage for this season's base snow cover. What’s Happened Since October? October: One of the driest Octobers in history for the western Himalaya November: Sporadic snowfall up to 5000 meters, with most snow disappearing quickly: Solar aspects: Nearly all snow melted. North-facing aspects: 1-3 cm persisted in cold, sheltered zones. December (early to mid): Late November: Precipitation higher in certain areas: Sonamarg and Gurez: Accumulations up to 1 foot in high elevations. Pahalgam by Zeeshan Mushtaq ( early mid dec) Upper Kullu Valley, Gon...
Storm Overview: A Mixed Bag The storm that arrived on January 4th and 5th carried a lot of promise on paper. A week before it hit, forecasts showed it could be a big one—potentially delivering a meter of snow. IMD meteograms looked strong, and the GFS ensemble models gave us hope. There was excitement in the air... People were keen to move up the mountains. Travel arrangements and logistics were being worked out. What actually happened? Not so much. In most regions, it was lackluster, leaving us with a patchy story of snow distribution and very different impacts depending on where you were. Region-wise Breakdown 1. Kashmir (Gulmarg and Surroundings) Snowfall and Skiing Conditions: Above Dhaba Ridge, Gulmarg By Burhan Gulmarg saw around 30-35 cm of accumulation, with wind effects creating some variability in areas especially in the alpine. Skiing wise the snow on the face value was fantastic. The cold temperatures meant the snow on the top layer was dry and light -- even down to treelin...
In India, access to specialized ski waxing tools and materials is extremely limited. However, with a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, you can still wax your skis effectively. Here’s a step-by-step guide tailored to the Indian 1. Finding Wax Use any glide wax you can find. This could be a brand like Swix or even unbranded wax. If ski wax is unavailable, a simple candle works surprisingly well as a substitute. 2. Heating Device Forget specialized ski irons—most of us don’t have access to them. Use any small portable iron that is wide enough to cover the base of your ski. Temperature tip: Heat the iron just enough to melt the wax. A simple test: touch the wax to the iron; it should melt but not smoke or burn. Anything hotter is unnecessary. 3. Applying the Wax Melt the wax or candle by touching it to the iron, letting it drip evenly across your ski base. Aim for drops every few inches along the base to ensure even coverage. 4. Spreading the Wax Use the iron to spread the wax, much l...
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