A quick guide to the Pin Parbat Trek
A trek takes one from the Parbati valley in Kullu to the Pin valley in Spiti across the 5319-meter Pin Parbat pass, from the lush temperate forests of the former to the barren, cold desert landscapes of latter. One must be extremely fit and really well prepared for this trek as there’s absolutely no habitation along its entire length. Trek commences from Gwacha, a small hamlet high in the Parvati valley, past Manikaran. From there the route follows the Parbati river upstream for 3 days with night halts at Khir Ganga (hot springs), Pandupul (steeped within the Pandava mythology) and Mantalai. One passes through amazing forests of Betula( bhojpatra) and walnut, and makes some risky river crossings on wire-suspended baskets! The only persons you’ll now meet are the migratory Gujjars and Gaddis.
sides. From here it’s another two days of hard climbing to the Pin Parbat pass. The saddle of the pass is roofed with a permanent ice field and must be crossed cautiously because it is crisscrossed with crevasses. The fifth day’s campsite is much below the pass, on the banks of the infant Pin river at 4200 meters.
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