My wild life connections

 
 
 
 

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Day 7 : leh - karu - zingral - Changla - Darbuk -Tangtse - Pagal nala

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Day 7:
This day our scorpio driver came to our hotel by 8. He were all ready by then. we decided to have break fast at Karu, where we have to take a diversion to Changla from the normal leh - Manali route. We informed the Scorpio driver to fill in the fuel cans and catch us at karu. We reached Karu had our break fast but still no signs of our Scorpio. He was busy collecting the bills for the trip! (who wanted it) This delay was very costly for us, as after 2 its almost impossible to cross Tangtse to pangong Tso. The PAGAL NALA stands in between the too. He came after almost an hour. We then made your way towards Changla. The roads were very inviting. I drove at higher speeds, as the roads were almost clear from gravel.



But as we moved up, I saw gravel in the middle of the roads, so kept to the corners but was very cautious. Later I lost my confidence, as the gravel was widely spread across the road. Prayed none should ve any incident signaled and moved on. After a while I stopped as there were no signs of the Scorpio again. he again came late and excused that there was some stones in his disk break! Man this guy is planning for something!

But anyways, Mohan can sense if he is purposely delaying, we sent the scorpio ahead and asked him to wait at Changla :)

you cant miss this view


Sumit and Chetan


My stead


We then drove up, I didnt feel any trouble with my bike. I have removed the restriction that we have put on K&N air filter. The bike was smooth. Didnt imagine that I could reach the top so fast.



As you see above, its just at an altitude of 17.3K feet. My bikes range is up to 17.5K feet :) Changla Baba offers free tea to its visitors upto 6 pm :) We had free tea and ppl hurried to leave fearing for the devil AMS. (By now, even we dont feel it the fear made us cautious :P ) We then descended down. I was in no mood to wait/stop for pics. My only aim was to cross Pagal nala before 1. The time was 12 by now. As we descended down, we saw boards "land slide area". "snow area" etc. At the bottom there was frozen pond. I wanted to drive down to the pond. But time constraint. So moved on.

Took a few pics stealthily as I cant move so far ahead of the group
landslide zone


The other side of Changla


The roads after this were too good. Fresh roads, with good visiblity. You can round and round on the hills :). I then reached a diversion close to Tangtse. The left goes to Shayok(never knew what it is) and the right to Tangtse





The guys reached after some 15 mins. Again cursed for not stopping for pics. I said that am concerned about crossing Pagal nala. and immediately the Scorpio fellow started jumping we cant cross, we cant cross and We was very slow. It was almost late for us its 2 pm and still we have around 30 kms. After crossing around 15 kms, the Scorpio fellow stopped and said am not coming we cant cross. I insisted that we will atleast go and check it out. We need not even try crossing but lets see the nala in its majestic form, becoz the morning the stream will be very small. The driver then gave fundas on fuel wastage. and our guys too supported it. I felt am not yielding to this bull shit! you guys stay here I will go see that nala and come and moved forward. The roads were too good. The sands were very fine, ya much more than that of Moore plains. As I drive I could see water level increasing. the stream is spreading its legs :) Then I reached the nala. As i stopped the bike and started checking the stream, the other guys too arrived. They said that the scorpio will come a little late. (So he is making sure that he is not crossing is it ?)
Check the snaps and see what we would ve missed if we didnt come :)

Vehicles at the nala. From top angle


The ferocious


Some localities and trekkers cross it


The Nala is widening





While returning the water was really increasing. The sand around the roads were very inviting ! So went on it. man its just quick sand check it out.

No there is no shake in the pics




No wonder this called Pagal nala. Some 15 bridges were built across the roads, this pagal will eat it all once again. As its full of sand, the path under the bridge gets filled soon and the brdge is submerged. Now, the new roads are being built along the mountains.





Once we cam out of the danger zone. we played a while with this stream crossing :D


We then came to a place were we had proper lunch. I went inside on of the tents and slept. It was already dark when I got. Sumit, Sunil and Chetan have already woke up and had a round of photographs. I then went out for my set of pics!

The humble fellow of the place, has built a small vegetable garden for himself.


the stream is diverted to irriigate the paddy fields.
our new Photographer




Sun is about to set!


I found a golden treasure!


The place was not technically backward. There was a solar panel that charges the battery during the day. The batter is poerful enough to even operate a 5 hp motor.



And the motor


Some structures


We then had a hearty dinner too and snored for the day. we need to cross the nala by 6 tomorrow and Tomorrow is a BIG thing. we are gonna attempt marsMikla !!

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Day 6 : Leh - Permits and Bike maintenance

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This day we all woke up around 8 and no signs of AMS. So the devil has left us free :) We came do to check the bikes. I removed the bike cover and tried to open the seat lock and oops! the key twisted. On inspection we found that the middle stem of the key was intact but the sides have a crack. As issue happened with Sumits too. and thats we call it as a twin bike :). This means we need to go to the welding shop, get it welded and file so that the keep enters the key hole. Sunil too need to weld his side stand. So Sumit, Sunil and Chetan left. While I and Mohan stayed back. We both uploaded the fotos to Sunils laptop and our drives and cleared the memory stick. By 9:30 we were so hungry so headed have breakfast. We just ordered it and when food about to be serrved Sunil called me to come back. Though we said we will come back in 15 mins, he lost his patience and was rude. Though I yielded and asked Mohan to get the parcel. Mohan parceled his food and came back. But to his dismay he was hurried to go to get the permits, so he couldnt ve his food. This became a issue later.

We reached the office by 10:15 and filled the forms to get the permits. I and Sumit were asked to get some juice/snacks, while sat with his rude face. Chetan and Sunil were involved in getting the permits. walking down and street and climbing the streets was difficult. At last we found some fresh juice parceled it came back. The permit work was almost done. There we saw to ladies whose nose was bleeding. Then on discussion we came to know, the bleeding occurs if we breath through the nose. then Sunil and Chetan too said that at times their nose bleeds. In the morning if I clean my nose I too used to find some red dry spots. ya, the doctor at pang too advised to breath through our mouth. We understood how important it is. The permit issue was done and I and mohan went in search of a prepaid Airtel Card. I had BSNL prepaid and Huthc post paid. Mohan Airtel Prepaid.
NOTE: In Jammu Kashmir - No prepaid cards from outside J&K will work. Post paid Aitel and BSNL works. Hutch is useless there.

The procedure to get the prepaid card was simple, Just fill a form, submit the passport copy and name of the hotel in which we are currently staying and the card will be given in hand. The activation will take 4 to 5 hours.

We were happy to hear this. Got the card. had some good meal. Mean while Mohan as promised to give some photos of some Kids who stayed in Leh. He has given it for a hard copy. we collected that too and came back to the hotel. ya we shifted to a new hotel now. We then left to fill in Fuel and also to clean he bikes. There is only one Service station and thats "Maruthi Service" in Leh. We washed the bikes clean. Sunil got a Yamaha stand fixed to his bike. Sumit too changed his lock. I asked the mechanic to take a test rode, just to know if he notices the worn out clutch. And as expected he said, Everything is good expect for the clutch. He said you might get stuck anywhere. hmmm and we have planned to do Marsmikla the next day. For a second I felt a bit worried, but as soosn as I looked at the bike, He gave positive ray of hope :) That means He WILL do it. :) Sunil had a spare clutch plates, But he said he wont lend it. Anyways my bike wont yield so fast.

We returned back to the hotel. Now, its time for bike maintenance. Sunil decided to do 'needling' for this bike. He felt his bike is running rich and thats the reason for poor mileage and pull. And change my engine oil. The carbs were perfectly in sync.

On discussion I came to know that the pter comets were suffering a bit. means -> They had to declutch above 16K feet. My comet was fine upto 17.5K feet, but had a weak clutch.

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Maiden Ride to Leh - marsmikla, Hanle, Chumur.

3 Comet GT250 and 1 P200 made to leh this summer. The Highlight of this trip was marsmikla, hanle and Chumur - The less inhibited villages at an altitude of 16K feet.

Riders - Ride

Sunil - Comet GT250 - Black
Prabhu - Comet GT250 - Black
Sumit - Comet Gt250 - Red
Chetan - Pulsar 200- Black

Dates:
Start - July 18
End - Aug 3

Route:
Bangalore - Delhi - Flight
delhi - Chandigarh - Taxi

Bikes:
Chandigarh - Manali - keylong- Pang - Leh
Pagalnala - Marsmikla - pangong Tso - Chushul - Leh
leh - kardungla
leh - Rumste - keylong - Mandi - Chandigarh

Chumatang - Hanle - Chumur - Leh: Scorpio

Pics and Logs:
day1 - Bangalore - delhi - Chandigarh
day 2 - Chandigarh - Manali
day 3 : Manali - Keylong
Day 4 : Keylong - Pang
day 5 : Pang - Leh
Day 6 : Leh - Permits
Day 6 : Leh - Changla - tangtse - Pagal nala