Stok Kangri, Ladakh

Stok Kangri peak is located in Hemis National Park in Jammu Kashmir in northern India. This is the highest peak in Himalayas Stok Range, and it is a popular choice for budding mountaineers for summit climbing. It is getting climbed a number of time every year.

The reason why Stok Kangri peak sees so many climbers is its relatively easy access to the summit. Besides bagging the summit of Stok Kangri peak you get the bonus of experiencing the Zanskar valley with close quarters. The natural landscape of Markha valley is something right out of the psychedelic movie. Trekking allows you to observe things from another perspective. When you go through remote villages you find the vast gap of living standards between city life and the remote life there. The Stok Kangri climb would give you that exact feeling.

Stok Kangri lies in Hemis National Park making it a wildlife heaven. The valley is very famous for sighting the elusive Snow Leopard and a number of other rare wildlife species. The valley is also home to Tahr and Himalayan Fox. As a side tour, you can also visit a number of old monasteries that are found in this region.

STOK KANGRI PEAK STATISTICS

• Difficulty: NON-TECHINCAL CLIMBING / CHALLENGING
• Elevation in feet: 20187
• Elevation in meters: 6153
• Prominence: 888 m
• Coordinates: 33°59 N 77°26E
• Location: Stok Range / Zanskar Range, Jammu Kashmir, India in Hemis National Park
• First ascent: In 1951
• Climbing window: July till mid-October
• Nearest international airport: New Delhi, India,
• Nearest domestic airport: Leh, India

Stok Kangri Peak Climbing – Getting Ready

The summit of Stok Kangri is accessible if you have the Will and Composure. And for that, you have to train yourself so that you don’t falter when it matters the most. Start the muscle-building training in a gym and begin running in open air. Treadmill runs might not be enough. Train your mind for the harsh weather that you may encounter during Stok Kangri peak climb.

Gears List for Stok Kangri Peak Climb

• Clothing: Lightweight long underwear top, Expedition weight underwear bottoms, Down suit, Waterproof breathable jacket & pants, Wind shirts/light shell jacket, Jacket synthetic or fleece of down feather, Synthetic insulated pants etc.
• Gear for Hand & Head: Liner glove, Windcheater fleece gloves, Mittens with liners, Bandanna, Sun hat, Insulated climbing gloves, woolen caps, Face mask etc.
• Other Accessories: Glacier glasses, Sunglasses/Goggles, anti-glare glasses, night vision glasses, Headlamp with spare bulb and extra batteries.
• Climbing Gears: Ice ax, Crampons, Webbing, Carabineers, Rappel device, Ascenders, Jumar, Piton, Shovel etc.
• Protection and First-Aid: Sunscreen, Toiletry kit, Water purification tablets, Zip-lock bags, Ear plugs, First-aid and all essential medicines.
• Gears for Travel: Expedition duffel bag, Nylon stuff sacks, Rucksack, Day pack for hiking purpose etc.
• Camping Equipment: Tents, sleeping bags with liner, Trekking poles, Pee bottle, Pee Funnel for Women, Water bottles, Sleeping mat, etc.
• Footwear: Cold weather boots, Climbing boots, Casual shoes, Gaiters, Koflach, Crampon, Lightweight/ Midweight/ Liner socks.

Stok Kangri Peak Climbing Information

Access to Stok Kangri is only for few months of the year. Basically climbing season begins in July in this part of the Himalayas. For three months or so the weather allows you to explore this region and pursue mountaineering. So you have to time your program accordingly. Climbing Stok Kangri is relatively less expensive than many other peaks in the Himalayas.