So first week of June is final?? even i have planned for around the same time. but in one of your posts you talked about some place where civilians like us are not allowed...does it mean you leave the other guys at that point to continue your own solo journey? or wot? please explain..

Civilians have to obtain inner line permits from the DC's office in Leh to visit places like Diskit, the Nubra valley, Pangong Tso, Chushul etc. I am not aware of the validity period of these permits, you would have to check with other threads here.

I am not sure of this but I think the Siachen glacier is off limits; no permits for this place. Again, please do check.

Sure sir!!

Hi Icemang,

I was planning for a Leh trip too and it was nice to read through the post.
I will be joining you on 3rd June at Jammu as I am planning to ride all the way from Mumbai.
I am planning to start my journey from Mumbai on 30th May hoping to catch you at Jammu on 3rd June.

This will be my first trip to Leh so i can really use all the help.

Senior xBHP guys specially who have done Mumbai-Leh-Mumbai on bike earleir, kindly share your thoughts on this.
I have read the posts of Vishwas Sir and it was really helpful but i may require more guidence as this is my first ride to Leh.
It will be really apreciated.

Guys who are planning to ride all the way from Mumbai/Pune can share their views.

Dear hoodwind,

Welcome on board!

As it will be your first trip to high altitude areas, you should start off on a program of physical fitness at the earliest. Nothing major, just a brisk 45 min walk followed by some calisthenics. A weight loss of about 5 odd kgs would be of great help as the regimen you would follow to lose this weight will make you fit for Leh. Do get your BP checked and then go by the advice of your doctor.

Preps for the bike are covered very well on various threads in this forum and elsewhere like bcmtouring.com; there is a separate thread for prepping bikes for Leh on bcm, pretty good, do check it out.

Clothing is also covered very well here and elsewhere. I cannot but add the critical requirement of a pair of excellent sunglasses. The atmosphere in Leh and adjoining areas is thinner than in it is in the plains. So, the sun's glare is much higher and if not protected against, can cause temporary blindness akin to snow blindness. Do go for a neutral shade like Ray Ban's aviator, a little on the darker than lighter side.

My Excel sheet here will be of further help

Thanks Icemang for the info. really appreciated!!

There is a slight change in my trip plans due to leave approvals from my office.
Now i will be starting my journey on JUNE 2 and will reach Leh on JUNE 9 via Manali.
I guess according to your trip schedule, you will be also in Leh around JUNE 9 so i join you guys there.

I have also started a thread : The Mumbai-Leh-Mumbai Bike Trip 2012
for my journey and in-case if someone finds the schedule more suitable, they are more than welcome.

Also i was hoping if i can share the trip preparation details posted by you on this thread on my thread. It will be of great help.

Kindly Let me know if i can post your preparation posts on my thread or not.

About your changed schedule. I am not sure if the passes on the Manali-Leh route would be open in the first week of June. You would need to check before you start the ride.

You are welcome to post any part of my thread on your thread. A mention of the origins would be nice

Thanks Icemang for allowing me to share the posts on my thread. And i will mention the source every time or else i would have not asked the permission itself!!

I will keep an eye on the news and road status of the manali-leh route and if unfortunately passes dont open at that time then will have to take the srinagar-leh route from chandigarh.

Thanks for being so courteous (and I mean it, I am not being sarcastic)

From what I know of this axis (Manali-Leh), it does not open till the 2nd week of June.Yet, weather can be freakish so all the best

An update about my own plan.

I plan to load my bike at Ahmedabad on 01 June and reach Jammu on the same train on 02 June. So, if there are any chaps on that axis, do network so that we can pool resources. I am [email protected]

---------- Post added at 09:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 AM ----------

Aspirants for this ride will find these links informative and educative.

I would urge all readers to read these links so that

a) they know what climatic conditions obtain at high altitude

b) they know the effect of these conditions on their body(ies)

c) they can understand and articulate any problems that they are facing and

d) medical intervention is timely and focussed.

Altitude sickness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

High altitude pulmonary edema - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

High altitude cerebral edema - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q...3g4nfPcsNXHF3g - a small monograph by a specialised doctor

Chilblains - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Frostbite - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - please read this very attentively

Photokeratitis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hypothermia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Forewarned is forearmed...

ill be available for the tour.

I don't remember you posting on this thread. Also, I don't remember anybody asking you about your availability nor caring about it... So what if you are available? You want a f@#$%^g written invitation embossed on gold plate or what? Helluva presumptuous chap you appear to be...

Tentative revised itinerary

I have been speaking to a few colleagues and to some people who have done this trip in recent years. I am putting up a revised schedule based on their inputs. The dates have been advanced by exactly one week, solely to cater for opening up of the passes on the Leh-Manali axis.

Do put up your comments

10 Jun Sunday Jammu afternoon: Rendezvous of members, introductions, checks and prep for the next day.

11 June Monday Jammu to Srinagar/Pahalgam: Start from a place agreed to on 3rd. Pahalgam has been reported as a better alternative to Srinagar. We can decide in-situ

12 June Tuesday Srinagar/Pahalgam to Drass/Kargil: If Zojilla proves too time consuming, then Drass else Kargil.

13 Jun Wednesday Kargil to Leh via Lamayuru: Early start as members might want time for photography.

14 Jun Thursday Leh: 1st day of acclimatisation, sight-seeing, application for permits, bike and equipment check etc. Carb reset done here.

15 June Friday Leh: 2nd day of acclimatisation and sight-seeing if required.

16 June Saturday Leh to Pangong Tso: Onward journey

17 Jun Sunday Pangong Tso to Leh Via Chushul and Chumathang: Return journey.

18 June Monday Leh to Siachen: I don't know if civilians are permitted there these days.

19 June Tuesday Siachen to Leh: ditto as above.

20 June Wednesday Leh: Rest in Leh, prep for the return trip.

21 June Thursday Leh to Pang: self explanatory.

22 June Friday Pang to Keylong: ditto

23 June Saturday Keylong to Manali/Kulu: depending upon what people prefer

24 June Sunday Kulu to Ambala: for me as I will catch a train from there to Pune.

Total days on the road: 14.

Emergencies etc: 2 days in spare on both sides for travel arrangements.

Grand total: 16 days.

can i join u??

sorry for the inconvenience i cause you brother.. anyways..