Goecha La: A surreal journey in November

Goecha La trek: A photo story during autumn in November

You must have wondered about what is so special about Goecha La trek? Well, every trek is beautiful to say the least, but Goecha La will literally spellbound you. After monsoon, October onward mornings are encouraging for fantastic view of the high mountains. But that is one side only. Fog and mist in this valley will follow you even in autumn, typically in the afternoon. It remains rich green, truly a Sikkim speciality. To summarise and keep it short, this is a photo journal of:

Goecha La trek during mid of November 2018.
During day walk it was foggy, which is a bit unusual for this time. Even though the two high points, Dzongri top and Goecha La first view point were fairly clear and presented surreal views of Kanchendzongha.
Weather remained chilly throughout the day and plunging well below freezing at Dzongri and above.
It snowed at Dzongri, around 2/3 inches during the trek.

Here it was how our trekker Soumya Deep captured the mood of the trek. All photos are shared by Soumya Deep.

Initial hike for couple of days of is rather easy, inside forest most of the time. At times it may seem uninteresting if you can’t wait to see the high mountains. Wait, you will get your turn later 😎 Essentially you will get to acclimatise inside treeline till you reach Tsokha.

on-the-way-to-scahen-goechala-photo-blog — How green is the valley

valley-below-tsokha-goecha-la-trek — From Bakhim

tsokha-trekker-hut-and-camping-ground-goechala-trek — Camping ground and Trekkers Hut at Tsokha

an-evening-in-tsokha — Valley view from Tsokha

Then comes the difficult climb to Dzongri. A really long and tiring day, covering some 12 Km and significant altitude gain of almost ~ 1000 m/3300 ft. Though you will enjoy the walk amidst one of the best forest stretch on Himalayas, yes, Tsokha to the midway Phedang. On a clear day views from here is fascinating. The second stretch, i.e. from Phedang to Dzongri is challenging, almost no respite from upward winding trail till we reach Deorali. From here it is actually a descent to Dzongri and the camping ground.

forest-stretch-from-tsokha-to-phedang — Amazing forest walk

misty-forest-on-the-way-to-phedang — Misty forest: A Sikkim speciality

rhododendron-forest-at-phedang — Rhododendrons bloom is spring

Finally you will reach Dzongri, end of an exhausting day. The altitude of this place is conducive for snowfall, particularly in autumn-fall or spring. And it did…

snowfall-at-dzongri

happy-face-after-snowfall

enjoying-outside-after-an-afternoon-snowfall

snowy-dzongri-camping-ground

Next morning, gratifying view from Dzongri top. Deposited snow turned the landscape rather unusual and surreal.

snowy-dzongri-top-and-pandim — Dzongri top, mount Pandim forming backdrop

sunrise-at-dzongri-top — Sunrise time panorama

golden-hue-on-kanchenjunga — And here she is the third highest mountain standing tall above 28000 ft, Kanchenjunga

frosty-bushes

grasses-forming-carpet-like-texture

From Dzongri the initial walk is through the meadows followed by a steep descent to Kokchurang. Weather turned misty on the meadows and onward, which is somewhat uncommon in November. This place is beside Prek Chu river and one of the most photogenic places on this trek. Your walk will continue from here to Thansing and finally ending for the day at Lamuney.

mount-jopuno-obscured — Jopuno peak from Dzongri meadows

kokchurang-and-prek-chu-river — Prek Chu river @ Kokchurang

towards-thansing — Walk continues to Thansing

Then comes the “D-Day”. Early morning push to Goecha La View Point 1/Sunrise Point, and returning all the way to Kokchurang via Lamuney and Thansing.

kanchenjunga-from-goechala-viewpoint-1-in-november — D moment from sunrise point

at-sunrise-point-goechala-trek-in-november — At Goecha La View Point 1

birds-eye-view-of-samity-lake-while-descending — Samity lake: The essential photo spot during descent

frosty-lamuney-camp-in-november — Lunch time at Lamuney

yoga-at-lamuney-in-front-of-kanchenjunga — What is a better place to demonstrate some skills?

foggy-kokchurang-trekkers-hut-in-the-evening — Fog engulfing Kokchurang Trekkers Hut

Cloud cover disappeared next morning. It was a bright sunny day. The place seemed a different one producing clear view of mount Pandim. Today’s walk is inside dense forest to Phedang a different route bypassing the climb to Dzongri and then tracing the same trail back to Tsokha.