Experience high altitude mountaineering and explore untouched habitats as an active member of a research team for five weeks.
Ladakh, known as the land of the high passes, is one of the most
remote regions of the Indian Himalaya. The region forms part of the
Tibetan plateau and the semi-nomadic mountain people that live there
are predominantly Buddhist. You will be visiting the scarcely visited Nubra Valley area which
offers unrivalled mountaineering and endless opportunities for
exploration and adventure including the chance to bag some unclimbed
6,000m peaks. The main fieldwork focus is on human interaction with the
environment. You will be investigating both the impact on human
physiology, through high altitude physiology studies, and the impact on
the mountain ecosystem, through environmental science work on the
unique local flora and fauna. You will also be updating the existing
maps of the area contributing to a greater understanding of this
important though rarely accessed region. Your journey begins, after a brief stop in Delhi, by flying over the
Greater Himalayan ranges into Leh, the capital of Ladakh. This is one
of the highest cities in the world and you will spend three days here
acclimatising to the altitude of 3,500m and exploring Leh's rich scenic
and cultural aspects. It is an important period as it will allow our
bodies to adjust to the rarefied oxygen levels in preparation for the
trekking, climbing and the higher altitudes to come.
From Leh you travel to Hundar Dok via the Khardungla pass, which at
18,360 ft is the world's highest motorable road you then embark on
three days of superb trekking through the dramatic landscape to
establish base camp for further acclimatisation, training and packing
before dispersing into two groups to begin the research and adventure
projects. Two main areas of fieldwork 1. Human interaction with and impact on the environment a. High Altitude Physiology You will be contributing to work examining the effects of altitude on the human body. b. Environmental Science investigating the human impact on the mountain eco-system determined by conducting census and survey work on flora and fauna The Nubra Valley is generally unknown and poorly mapped. You will be
exploring, surveying and mapping the expedition area and thus
contributing to a greater understanding of the region. The main emphasis of the expedition is around mountaineering and you
will attempt various 6,000m peaks. We hope to achieve at least one
first ascent.
2. Mapping the Nubra Valley
No mountaineering experience is necessary as our
experienced mountain leaders will provide full training in the safe use
of all equipment. However expedition members will require a good level
of personal fitness along with the ability to cope with cold weather.
I will never forget this summer, from the moment that everybody met up at Heathrow, to the time when we said our goodbyes I have had some of the best times ever. Experiencing the Ladakhi culture first hand is something that I will always remember. Going to Leh was amazing, and although we were there to work I had a brilliant time, and it was a great place to get to see. Summiting a 6000m peak was also a special moment for me, as it was something that I never thought I would have been able to do. The struggle on the way up was well worth the feeling of achievement I had when I reached the top. This really was a once in a lifetime experience!
