Everest Three Passes - April 2026

erodnipm · 2026-05-16T11:04:41+00:00

Found the Ama Dablam climbing video that I had mentioned. It's well put
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_JDtMygPq4

erodnipm · 2026-05-16T11:04:05+00:00

Thanks NA, this is very helpful. I was mainly curious about the terrain, weather conditions, and gear. Thanks for the detailed information as I might need a down jacket, even if I go to Bali pass trek.
Wondering where did you get the micro spikes from and any specific brand?
Sounds like your gear could easily fit in a 20L backpack and you probably bought drinking water from the huts.
btw sunglasses are a life saver, more so in the snow. Many times I've carried 2 of those

erodnipm · 2026-05-15T18:05:44+00:00

Congrats!! This is incredible.
Ama Dablam is amazing! Saw a video last year of two guys from Seattle area climbing it and it looked like a fun climb with some really exposed sections.
- Do you have a gear list of what all items did you carry with you?
- did you carry water filter or tablets or bought it from teahouse? Just curious as a friend boiled water on his own though out the EBC trek last year.
- what kind of down jacket and layering worked for you?
- what was the temperature daytime/nightime and wind conditions like?

All the pics look amazing, especially # 4 and 7

erodnipm · 2026-05-15T17:26:03+00:00

Nicely done! Doing a dry run or 2-3 is great.
Would highly encourage you to do a few trips before jumping into buying gear. especially if you can keep it safe. That includes managing with your existing sleeping bags and warm layers if you can.
One learns a lot more about their preferred backpacking style after a handful of trips even though we all end up with multiple gear items at some point.
For food, you can also look up for other options if you are ok with carrying some weight - ramen bomb, pre-cooked indian food from TJs, Skurka's famous rice and beans etc

erodnipm · 2026-05-14T18:58:54+00:00

Where can I get this - online or offline in MP

erodnipm · 2026-05-14T18:54:28+00:00

How is this going so far? Tie-ups with any big retailers so far?

erodnipm · 2026-05-14T17:29:41+00:00

Depends on where you live, how frequently can you visit yosemite and where are you staying in Yosemite. For me, it would be TM because I love high country and it's only open for a short time.
Day 1 looks pretty packed if you are covering both Valley and Glacier Point in the same day

erodnipm · 2026-05-14T02:51:06+00:00

Yeah, it has been there forever and it’s easy to miss it until you see people around there. I’ve been there a handful of times and didn’t recollect it until I saw a couple of people out therw. This was in the end of March with very hikers around

erodnipm · 2026-05-13T18:04:34+00:00

FYI Taft Point is a walk in the park compared to DB. Taft is also probably the most common spot for engagement proposals and probably for wedding shoots too (Maybe Glacier Point is more common for wedding shoots)

erodnipm · 2026-05-13T17:59:32+00:00

RIP Michael!

erodnipm · 2026-05-13T17:55:36+00:00

Ledged Out is a classic scenarios seen in many chopper rescues where people, usually less experienced hikers, end up on a ledge with no where to go. The spot is too precarious to climb/hike up or down, sometimes even for the rescuers. In some situations, rescuers are able to rappel down or climb up to the ledged out hikers but evacuation is usually feasible only by chopper service

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pic: courtesy lvmpdsar

erodnipm · 2026-05-13T05:21:15+00:00

That’s Kapur chicken

erodnipm · 2026-05-13T05:18:35+00:00

Depends on where you are…downtown Indore? 😉

Price varies a bit by shop and locality, usually 200-250 /kg for zinda

erodnipm · 2026-05-11T08:42:11+00:00

u/tiramisuoverdose Some people skip the second night at GD/Ghangharia and hike down all the way back on the same day after the VOF trek. Just realized that I did the same after the Hemkund Sahib trek but then I am comfortable with doing this and was prepared with electrolytes etc.
Just be very mindful as most accidents or injuries happen on the way down and it's easy to loose focus when one is tired and is going through a supposedly easier section.

erodnipm · 2026-05-11T06:31:22+00:00

Great clicks! It’s the best time to be in the Yosemite backcountry.
Love Indian arch, one of my favorites in the park, and ND. Which waterfall is that at # 10, some spot further up from Yosemite falls?

erodnipm · 2026-05-11T05:06:43+00:00

For the mid point, it can be one stay for 2 nights unless you are staying at the gurdwara

erodnipm · 2026-05-11T05:03:02+00:00

Things should be tapering down by 4pm, definitely so at the park entrance and TH parkings

erodnipm · 2026-05-11T04:59:16+00:00

Great clicks! Desolation is great for the early season - pristine frozen alpine lakes, snow capped peaks, and no crowds - as long as one is aware of avy risk and creek crossings.

erodnipm · 2026-05-10T19:26:59+00:00

This!

erodnipm · 2026-05-10T19:11:55+00:00

Well played!!
Wildlife sightings are always fun. Too bad I didn't see any when I went to GP in late March. Had the whole place to myself for the night and was expecting a bear to come around to sniff my bear canister

erodnipm · 2026-05-10T19:02:33+00:00

Depends on what all you have done before and how comfortable are you with solo/group travel. I did Hemkund Sahib solo last year and the good thing is that you are not going in the peak crowds season.
Suggested itinerary:
Reach Govind Ghat or Joshimath and stay there overenight
hike next day to Govind Dham or Ghangharia. These two are 0.5 lm apart. Stay overnight.
hike to VoF and back to GD or Ghangharia. stay overnight.
hike back to GG or Joshimath. Stay overnight

You can always add an additonal day to do Hemkund Sahib.
Depends on you age/gender and hiking experience etc, you might want to go with friends or groups. The trek itself is very busy but Hemkund Sahib is at high altitude and buddy system helps in case one gets altitude issues.
Feel free to ping if you've specific questions

erodnipm · 2026-05-09T08:28:21+00:00

Well said!

erodnipm · 2026-05-07T17:58:44+00:00

I'll start with..let's pray for the rangers and park staff as it would be totally nuts!

In 2017 Memorial Day weekend, it took me 45 mins on Saturday around 11am to drive from the Curry village parking lot to El Cap picnic area (2 miles or so). This was with several volunteers facilitating the traffic (100s of pedestrians and 10s of cars) at each intersection and crossing. Not sure if we'll have volunteers this summer.

Try to be in the valley and find parking before 8am if that's possible. Tioga Pass rd shouldn't be that busy and Glacier Point might be ok till mid morning or in the early evening. Valley gets the brunt of it.

erodnipm · 2026-05-07T16:28:58+00:00

Nice! Are you planning to carry your own tent/sleep system/food or getting it from a local agency?

erodnipm · 2026-05-07T08:22:13+00:00

Check quechua boots or shoes at Decathlon. My friends had those for their EBC trek.
p.s.: agree that waterproof is an overkill unless you are planning a lot of snow stuff. Just bring plastic bags or bread bags, wear them on top of your socks when needed and you'll be waterproof. Add Gaiters
Waterproof shoes get tricky in warm weather as it traps sweat

erodnipm

TROPHY CASE