A trekking group has successfully scaled two peaks in the Thajwas region-Sindh Valley range.
The 4-member group during two day trek which started from Sarbal, the last village of Kashmir from Sonamarg side on Baltal route, on August 14 covered Durinar-1, Durinar-2 (Nilnag), Durinar-3 (Barafsar), Mount Eastern Pinnacle and Mount Vale Head covering a total distance of 21.65 kilometers of hilly track with elevation gain of 3010 meters above sea level.
The group was led by NawabMouzam Khan and included MusadiqWani, cyclist Akbar Khan and this correspondent.
The trek started on August 14 at 9 AM in the morning from Sarbal Village and after negotiating various passes and glacier crossings, the group reached Durinar-1 at 2 PM. The first of the three high altitude alpine lakes that gets its water from glaciers stand at an altitude of 4100 Mtr (13451). After a night halt, the group started next day journey at 7:30 AM and reached to Durinar-2 (Nilnag) at around 8:30. The second lake is nearby and only 100 Metre of elevation separates the first two lakes.
The journey to the third and the most important lake Durinar-3 (Barafsar) which is known as highest Lake of J&K was the toughest.
To reach out to third lake, trekkers had to negotiate massive snow fields, rock fields and also the elevation gain which makes it even tougher.
At around 11 AM, the group reached Durinar-3 which lies at an altitude of 4600 Mtr (15091 Ft).
From the lake, one can have view of Mount Kolahoi, the highest peak of J&K, as that lies exactly opposite to the lake. The part of the lake was still covered under snow and an iceberg had separated lake into two parts.
After reaching the highest lake of J&K, the group decided to scale Mount Eastern Pinnacle which lies at an altitude of 4700 Mtr (15419 Ft) and successfully scaled the peak.
From the top of the peak one can have view of whole Thajiwas valley on one side and Mount Kolahoi and Satlanjan valley on other side.
Opposite to the Eastern Pinnacle peak lies Mount Vale Head and the group decided to scale that as well. For that they had to scale down from Eastern Pinnacle and cover snow field and then start their journey again from the base of third lake.
Mount Vale Head lies at an altitude of 4688 Mtr (15380 Ft) is full of rock fields and there is continuous rock falls happening.