Friendship Peak Expedition
Situated in Beas Kund area of Pir Panjal range at an altitude of 5289m, Friendship peak is an ideal non-technical trekking peak for those with limited or no mountaineering experience but definately requires good fitness.Facing several other peaks like Hanuman Tibba, Shitidhar,Indra Asan and Deo Tibba, the summit of this Friendship offers spectacular panoramic views of the Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges.The best time to climb this peak is from May to June and September to October. We trek from Solang to Bakarthach and setup a base camp here.Then we move to advance base camp & attempt the summit.
Friendship Peak is made only for experienced trekkers who want to test their limits. The challenges faced in the trek should not be underestimated. You should attempt this trek only If you have already done a trek that climbs to 4700-5000 metres. It is recommended not to opt this trek if you cannot get acclimatized at high altitudes. Besides you need to have a strong physical endurance to complete this trek. For details on trek difficulty level, please read on Bikat Rating Scale
A basic mountaineering course is recommended though not mandatory in case of highly experienced & skilled trekkers. At least 2-3 challenging treks along with 20 – 25 total trekking days in the Himalayas.
Jog/Run for 5 Kms in 25-30 mins Or Walk continuously for 10 kms (with 3-4 small breaks) on plain terrain (slight incline is better) and
Hold your breath for 40 seconds and
3 sets of Climbing 30 – 40 steps in one stretch and
Push Ups – 10 and
Lunges & Squats – 15 X 2 sets
If you are not meeting these benchmarks, please use the preparation schedule to improve your fitness till you achieve the above benchmarks.
How to use an Ice Axe
How to use Climbing boots & Crampons
How to rope up & follow queued climbing/descending
How to self-arrest using an ice axe
Knowledge of Basic First aid
Its a good trekking peak & gives you a glimpse of how actual mountaineering expeditions are conducted. So, if you have enough trekking (view eligibility) & now want to stretch your limits, this expedition is just right for you.
The base camp for the Friendship Peak Trek is Solang Nallah in the beautiful Solang Valley. It is a short drive of 13 km from Manali to Solang Valley. The road from Manali to Solang Nala is lined with apple and pine trees. There are private taxis running between Manali and Solang Valley that cost you anything between INR 2500 to 4000 depending upon the season. Manali is well connected to Delhi with all kinds of transport (except direct train) and can easily be reached through road or air.
By Road : The road distance from Delhi to Manali is 536 km. There are overnight HRTC buses and Volvos available from ISBT Kashmere Gate, Delhi for Manali. It is a 14 hour journey by bus. You can book your bus tickets online through hrtchp.com or any other bus services available. You can also hire a private taxi or an outstation cab from Delhi.
By Rail : To reach by train, take a direct train from Delhi to Pathankot. Some of the trains that run on this route are Delhi-Pathankot Express, Jammu Tawi Express, Delhi-Dhauladhar Express. You can then take a bus from Pathankot to Manali. Or you can take a connecting train to Joginder Nagar from Pathankot which is the nearest station to Manali. There are buses running frequently between Joginder Nagar and Manali.
By Air : The nearest airport is Bhuntar airport which is located 50 km from Manali. There are taxis available at the airport which will take you to Manali. You can also take local buses that keep running from Bhuntar to Manali at a very regular frequency. Buses are decent and very cheap compared to taxi that can cost you around INR 2000-5000 depending upon the season.
Airtel and BSNL may have coverage at some points upto Beas Kund. Bakkarthatch & Dhundi have decent coverage of BSNL. One can expect full reception till Solang Valley.
Manali is the gateway to Solang Valley where you can participate in adventure activities like paragliding, and zorbing in the summer months when the snow melts. Visit the ancient Hadimba Devi Temple which has an interesting mythological tale associated with it. Walk through the charming lanes of Old manali. Visit the bazaar to buy some souvenirs. Jogini Fall and Vashisht Temple are other famous attractions in Manali. You can also visit Rohtang pass while you are in Manali.
Click here for text packing list.
June or September - October
The minimum age limit is 13 years. However, minors aged between 13 to 17 should be accompanied with their parents or guardians. If you are above the age of 60, kindly carry a medical certificate from your doctor that deem you fit for adventure activities like trekking.
