It seems you forgot some veterans like Dr Arn (god of Iron Butt!), Bunny (the Himalayan addict), Yogesh, Salil etc!

How can a mere mortal like me forget people like Yogesh, Bunny and Dr. Arn. Thanks for 'reminding' me!

:-)
On a serious note, to others, my trip is shaping up for 3/4th week of June it seems, via Spiti valley and coming back from Srinagar side. Shall keep you guys updated

And please, plaudits aside - I am nowhere in the league of experts. Most of us (,yself included) basically just need to sit on the saddle and twiddle the throttle.
People like Doc Arn (2500km 36 hours!)/Bunny(MLa/1600km 31 hours)/Salil(all those frozen rides)/Lovemax(2 days to leh/Mind over matter for M La) are the true kickass guys.

Doing alot of the same thing, or writing sexy triplogs about something, or years of experience never made one any better than the other. People like me are just vocal about bursting the bubble of touring, esp the hype of Leh rides.

That said, my experience was very clear -
a. Wind/clouds pick up strength as the day progresses - ESP around the passes.
b. Water crossings are best done early morning or post ~4pm - just post noon is when the ice melt and hence streams peak.
c. lastly, its not the sexy/macho thing - but I prefer to walk into a water crossing first - then if its bad - to put the bike in first gear and push it through. But atleast you neither fall nor struggle or use clutch

@Rachit, Razor, all: Dnt count me "IN" guys but I maybe dropping by as a surprise PACKAGE!!!

hey spider.. even our plan is still very tentative.. but i want to do this by heart.. its like now or never for me..!
if we manage to do.. u are more than welcome to drop IN

i was plannin to leave on the 1st of june. From delhi.... would love to join any groups....

Rachit even me.& though this info was posted somewhere I am reposting as only yesterday my father[member of YHAI] gave me this form to have a look on hearing about my plans to goto LEH.



This is very cost effective tour as its with YHAI who are funded through government (only 9500 rs for entire tour)

Also this expedition will be registred in Guiness book of records.

All arrangements of doctors,tools,medicines alongwith support vehicles will be taken care by YHAi

I am just posting this as an option.

hey DK, this sounds interesting..!! ur dad is a member of this.. thats wonderful yar..!
need to check out thoroughly .. 9500 is really good..!! infact me & other guy was planning the trip in the month of June..
lets c..! am taking this print with me.! thnx man..!

Dude only glitch is last day of registration is tomorrow.Also upon cancelations only 50% will be refunded.
I can't plan for that long man given the current state of the market.

Other thing is like 100 bikers man so will be crowded as maybe felt by others too,but I figured that anyways there are lotsa people touring LEH so it will have considerabe people.

yeah thats wht i was thinkin right now..!! too many bikers will be too clutered..!!
btw, Last date for Registration is 31th May 2009 as per that document..
& it also seems to be too long to wait for that..!
m planning a ride from mumbai itself.. Source to Destination on bike..
lets c.!! will keep u updated..!

Ahh...31st May.the printout my dad showed had 3th april.Maybe they updated the site upon finding not too many people.
btw Aug is really a nice season to tour LEH as has been told by some people.Ofcourse it's subjective.

It makes sense only if:

a. You want to just stick on the main road
b. You want to travel in the largest bhajan mandali known
c. You just go by low costs.

a. You can do the full circuit yourself in 17 days
b. You can go with likeminded friends and have a whale of a time
c. YHAI Giving petrol costs is really attractive but its better to go directly even at higher costs

Well thought i just add some inputs here on going to Leh .
First avoid medication , i know maybe its unavoidable and i personally have gone through the agony twice but last year i did the entire stretch without diomox and stayed at pang also .
Rule of thumb is same here climb slowly and let ur body adapt . in 2007 we had to go back from pang because few of the riders were hit by AMS and they were taken back and we went ahead .so keep it as precaution.

Last year there were incidents wherein one of the fellow rider collapsed because he went too fast and there was lack of oxygen to his brain thankfully just before sarchu there was a army check post and guy was given oxygen .

And people who are doing in June avoid doing pongong-soo in the same day and even if you are doing ensure that you come back before 3 PM to the last check post else all the water crossings are flooded ,last year we were struck there for one night and went back to army camp for the night . infact right infront of us we saw one scorpio been washed into the valley so its pretty bad sometimes .

Dont ride to glory let other glorify your name .

We dont buy that. all websites say that and even docs say one should take a diomax at Manali. thats it. just one. Plus ofcourse lots of water!

I think you are referring to the Pagal nullah that comes around 15-20km before Pangong Tso. Last heard, an alternate road was being made in 2008. Lets hope its up this year