Introducing the #Himachali_Tandoor
A versatile - wood fired - cast iron space heater that makes surviving the Himalayan winter, a whole lot easier.
For more intresting content and snapshots of life in the Indian Himalaya, please subscribe to our YouTube Channel:
https://youtube.com/@MysticHimalyanTrails
"Winters firstborn snow
dots the soul with magic'
- Anjie Weiland Crosby
#firstsnowoftheyear
#manaliwinters
#themagicofsnow
#manaliwildlifesanctuary
#winterbeckons
#theseasonofhealing
#winterwilderness
#mystichimalayantrails
Happy International Snow Leopard Day!
At Mystic Himalayan Trails, we simply can not imagine the Himalaya without it's Snow Leopards.
The Grey Ghost of the Mountains doesn't just rule our rugged highland home, but our hearts as well; As the emblem of our Himalayan wilderness.
Known variously as Shen, Shan, Irbis, Him-Tendua, Saeh and Ounce throughout its mountain realm, the Snow Leopard(Panthera uncia), is perhaps the most beautiful and enigmatic wild feline found on our planet.
There are only a handful of people, who've ever witnessed this 'Phantom of the Snows' stalk and hunt it's prey. We are privileged to be amongst those chosen few. Although we couldn't film the actual hunt (since it was over quickly, before we could even set up our camera gear), we were granted ample time to capture the elusive ghost cat on its kill. And for that... we are very grateful. 🙏
Video: Rahul Ogra.
(Video shot near 'Thang' in the Kibber WLS, Spiti Valley. Indian Himalaya. February 2018) - Please watch in Landscape mode.
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For more information about our upcoming Snow Leopard expeditions (Jan - March 2023), please feel free to DM us. You can also email us on [email protected].
Or call us on + 91 8219660954
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#snowleopardsofinstagram
#internationalsnowleopardday
#pantherauncia
#irbis
#shen
#ounce
#mountainmonarch
#snowleopardtrust
#wwfsnowleopards
#panthera
#slowleopardconservancy
#jaggedglobe
#wildlifefilmmaking
#wildlifephotography
#mountainecosystems
#weboflife
#apexpredator
#conservationeducation
#winterwildlife
#spitiinwinter
#spitivalley
#indianhimalayas
#mystichimalayantrails
#monsoonvibes #monsoondiaries #monsoonrhapsody @Mystic Himalayan Trails
Our trips aren't always just about Mountaineering, Trekking and Wilderness Exploration... We also love to immerse ourselves in the 'Vibe' of a place This often helps us curate unparalleled Cultural and Experiential trips for you. Enchanting journeys that are designed to bring you close to the People of our Mountains, and their unique Way Of Life. Here's such an experience. One of the last floating vegetable markets in the world; where boat people from around the famous Dal Lake in Kashmir, gather in the back channels of the lake at the break of dawn every day, to sell their produce. The floating gardens in this lake are renowned for their fresh 'organic' veggies that flourish on Reed beds covered with rich alluvium, dredged up from the lake. The transactions between the vendors are often loud, boistrous and quite entertaining. Plus, this also happens to be probably one of the very few markets in this day and age, where barter of produce between different vendors still takes place. For curated trips like these, write to us at [email protected] or call us on + 91 8219660954 #DalLake #floatingvegetablemarket #vocalforlocal #freshorganicproduce #srinagar #kashmir #culture #wayoflife #vegetablevendors #experientialtours #peopleandfaces #mystichimalayantrails
Trans Himalayan Winter Driving on Ice
Trans Himalayan exploration in mid winter, is not for the faint of heart. It often entails driving on frozen rivers and lakes to reach your destination.
In this video, we are driving across the frozen river at Korzok Sumdo, on our way to Tso Moriri - The jewel of the Rupshu highlands. Other than the fact that the ice provides virtually no traction for your tyres, the biggest hazard is the variable thickness of the frozen sheet over the water. Sometimes, there is a weak spot in the ice... And that spells trouble. Just hearing the ice crackle under your vehicle, is enough to make your hair stand on end.
With Srinivasan Periathiruvadi @natureimagesindia on the Rupshu - Changthang Highlands of Ladakh. Mid February 2022
#transhimalayanexploration
#winterinladakh
#winterdrivingskills
#korzok
#sumdo
#tsomoririlake
#rupshu
#changtjang
#offroad
#himalayaneinter
#wheelsonice
#mystichimalayantrails
FIRST TREK POST LOCKDOWN
Trekkers heading out on the trail to the base of Mt. Deo Tibba (6001 mtrs). June 2021
Co-incidentally the Himachal Govt. has just today eased travel restrictions for visitors from other states. Now you don't need a RTPCR report anymore. You just have to register online. Ladakh and Kashmir are going to follow suit.
With this, we are announcing the start of our climbing, trekking & wilderness exploration season 2021 - 2022. And of course, we've got all the Covid SOP's in place.
There are some awesome expeditions and trips planned in Himachal, Ladakh and Kashmir. Call us on + 91 8219660954, or drop us a message on [email protected] for more info.
#postlockdownplans
#himalayanadventures
#livelovelaugh
#breathe
#homeiswherethemountainsare
#mystichimalayantrails
"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”
- Lewis Carrol (Through the looking glass)
@mystic.himalayan.trails.manali
(Dhungri forest. Manali, Himachal Pradesh, India. April 23rd, 2021)
#springsnow
#manali
#letitsnow
#mountainweather
#himalaya
#DadAndDaughterTime
#mystichimalayantrails
#giantslalomski
A teaser from the recently concluded 'Himachal Pradesh State level winter Games championship' held at the Solang Valley ski resort near Manali, on the 25th and 26th of January 2020.
On display were downhill, Nordic and cross country skiing and snowboarding competitions for men and women.
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This video is from the men's 'Giant Slalom' downhill skiing event and features one of the leading contenders completing his run.
#wintersports
#skihimalayas
#giant_slalom
#himalayanwinter
#manaliskiing
#speedskiing
#inlovewithwinter
#snowboarding
#mystichimalayantrails
Since we're getting ready, for what promises to be another fabulous snow leopard season, thought we'd share another short field video - on a somewhat lighter note 🙂
This, is Intended to give you a glimpse into the banter that happens between our team members in the field; whenever we go out scouting out for snow leopards and other wildlife in the stunningly beautiful - but frigid - highlands of 'White Spiti'
Here me and Dhamaal, (@tanzinthuktan), my tough as nails field assistant, chitchat over field radio, while Shri (@chunitkesang) my right hand and younger brother from Kibber, wields the camera.
Shot on the trail to the Gete highlands in upper spiti, tracking the elusive grey ghost of the mountains - the Snow Leopard(Panthera uncia)
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#hiddenHimalaya #snowleopards #transhimalayanwinter #thegreatoutdoors
#winterwilderness #spitivalley #wildlifephotography #himalayan_natural_history #snowleopardtrust #panthera_uncia#wwfindia #panthera
#dr_george_schaller #mystichimalayantrails
Moving on from our last post, where we gave you a small teaser of what our winter wilderness exploration is like, we bring you another one.
This is a group of Himalayan Ibex, also known as Siberian Ibex (Capra sibirica), foraging on a bleak - snowbound - pasture in the Spiti highlands.
The Ibex (along with Himalayan Blue Sheep), constitute one of the primary prey species for the Snow Leopard, the apex predator in the Himalaya. Hopefully, this video will give you an insight into their behavior and also how tough it is for wildlife to survive the harsh Himalayan winter.
#himalaya #winter_wilderness_exploration #himalayan_wildlife
#spitivalley
#conservation
#wildlifephotography
#wwf_india
#snowleopardtrust
#mystichimalayantrails
December 2019 @ #theblackforestcottage, Manali.
Watching the dancing snowflakes descend on the majestic Deodhars; with the theme from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake playing in the background;
This... is what winter is meant to be. ❄⛄🌨
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Call us on + 91 8219589670 / + 91 8219660954 for more information or queries.
#manali
#winterwonderland
#snowflakes
#cozycottage
#wintercheer
#festiveseason
#wintersports
#swanlake
#tchaikovsky
#merrychristmas
#theblackforestcottage
#mystichimalayantrails
"Stop acting so small.
You are the Universe
in ecstatic motion. "
- Jalaludin Rumi
The song of a glacial mountain stream, rushing on it's way to meet the 'Pin' river.
(September, 2019. Pin valley WLS. Spiti. Himachal Pradesh, India)
#spitivalley #pin_valley_national_park #labrangnallah #naturevideography #landscapephotography #TransHimalayanWilderness #curated_himalayan_experiences #natureimages #glacialmeltwater #mountain_stream #mellowlight #solitude #mystichimalayantrails
(Turn on the sound for this one). Here's a small glimpse into what our winter wilderness exploration is like...
(Gete rangelands. Kibber WLS. Spiti. India)
Early March, 2019.
#spitivalley #transhimalayanwinter #powdersnow #winterwilderness #exploration #wildlifephotography #realmofthesnowleopard #harshwinter #kibber #mystichimalayantrails
The Majestic Mt. Nun
The immense bulk of Mt. Nun (at 7,135 Mtrs. or 23,409 Ft.), the highest mountain in the Jammu & Kashmir Himalaya, as seen from a lofty windswept ridge high above the Parkachik La. This pass connects the Parkachik village with the village of Panikhar in the Suru valley of Kargil district (J & K).
This great peak, which was climbed for the first time by Pierre Vittoz and Claude Kogan in 1953 by the west ridge route, is surrounded by massive glaciers (as evidenced in the video). It is separated from it's neighbor Mt. Kun (7,077 M) by a 4 km long snow plateau.
(Above the Parkachik La. Suru Valley, Kargil, Jammu & Kashmir - India. September, 2018)
#MountNun #SuruValley #Panikhar #Parkachik #HighHimalaya #Mountaineering #IndianHimalaya #MountainMadness #MysticHimalayanTrails