[doctorkats]

@godfather

sure as hell we will!
that was to ebb you on.not meant to intimidate you.
i wont dare to upset you or the family, don corleone (...sicilian music playing in the background)

by the way your onboard digital compass may have to be recalibrated during long journeys to ascertain true field conditions.quite a pain actually.personally i have always preferred a victorinox needle compass.got me out of the woods more often and never needed to star gaze.

[tsk1979]

doctorkats, I also agree for the 8-9 day plan. Steer wants to do Raid-De-Himalays style, which I think is dangerous, and you don't get to enjoy the trip too.
Also we can stop at Jispa, first night halt at Sarchu means AMS.

[arunforu1]

Hi guys reading every post in this thread & wants to be in......I am crazy advent. driver.....

But august is it right time?.....rain means landslides + roadblocks!

well sadly have to leave india again, within a month, but already started pushing my boss to delay...as i do want to join..its been a long time dream to drive to leh, but everytime i planned, my co-passengers gave-up at the last moment....so many volunteers this time wow.

@tsk are you planning to take your indica?.......if you think ground clearance is not going to be problem(i am unaware of road conditions there)....i have driven indica to many trecheous tracks, provided ground clearance is adequate.....loose soil, mud slush, gravel....i am accustomed to....

If not then, i would try to finish "running in period"on a new safari, before that time.......

[tsk1979]

Huh arun. I am not taking indica. I am hitching a ride and have booked two slots with steer. I think we have 3 safari's confirmed.
4 people /safari comes to around 12 people possible.
I don't think taking any car is a good idea.
2WD MUV okay, if there is no slush, but car? A no no.

Yes August is when it rains.
We were thinking about Aug because of 15 Aug holiday
This can be pushed to last week of august too, but no holidays then. Last week of august means start on 25th Aug and Finish by 2 september.

[kpzen]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

We were thinking about Aug because of 15 Aug holiday
This can be pushed to last week of august too, but no holidays then. Last week of august means start on 25th Aug and Finish by 2 september.

2nd/3rd(Mon/Tue) september should be a holiday for Janmashtmi so u guys can enjoy the extended weekend....
28th Aug is Rakshabandan...

[tsk1979]

28th aug is a hol, but sadly no sept 2/3. Different places have different hols. I guess last week of Aug is good too, if the rains abate by then.

[theMAG]

Will the 4X2 Safaris be adequate where you folks are going?

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by theMAG

Will the 4X2 Safaris be adequate where you folks are going?

They are just rough-roading, not off-roading. On bad roads, 4x2 will do fine. The 4wd becomes necessary when you get into slushy off-road situations where one set of tyres (front or rear)completely loose traction.

[Steeroid]

Okay guys the overwhelming sentiment is to take things easy, and I think we should respect that.

However, I would still suggest that we keep the 'transport' section as short as possible and not waste time in getting to where the action is.

Bunny, tsk & doctorkats can you come up with a revised itinerary for the trip after discussing offline (over phone maybe?)

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

Okay guys the overwhelming sentiment is to take things easy, and I think we should respect that.

However, I would still suggest that we keep the 'transport' section as short as possible and not waste time in getting to where the action is.

Bunny, tsk & doctorkats can you come up with a revised itinerary for the trip after discussing offline (over phone maybe?)

A chat session on Yahoo messenger or Skype chat could be good.
Can we have a multi user conference in either Yahoo messenger or Skype(chat).

PM me your Yahoo id's we can fix a time like 10pm or so.

[suman]

Originally Posted by theMAG

Will the 4X2 Safaris be adequate where you folks are going?

There are quite a few places on that route where 4x4 would be a blessing

[BunnyPunia]

tsk : have PMed u my yahoo id

4*4 wont be necessary until unless you are going deep into places like zanskar/suru/marsimek La etc. Every yr Leh is done by vehicles like normal road going cars and all MUVs like the Qualis. The 4*2 safaris will do just fine

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by doctorkats

@godfather

sure as hell we will!
that was to ebb you on.not meant to intimidate you.
i wont dare to upset you or the family, don corleone (...sicilian music playing in the background)

by the way your onboard digital compass may have to be recalibrated during long journeys to ascertain true field conditions.quite a pain actually.personally i have always preferred a victorinox needle compass.got me out of the woods more often and never needed to star gaze.

doctorkats, could you also send your id to me. We can have the conference over next 2-3 days.
As for compasses, I have a handheld GPS(Car power adaptor too), so don't need antique things

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

As for compasses, I have a handheld GPS(Car power adaptor too), so don't need antique things

I will be carrying a Garmin and hopefully should be able to borrow a satellite phone from my colleagues in Thuraya. Other equipment - can someone make a list?

I was thinking:

1. 1 Tent per car.

2. Shovel (portable one available here)

3. Torches/Electric Lanterns.

4. Air compressor for tyres + Tyre repair kit (I will carry)

5. Jump start kit ?

6. One easy to use jack (not Safari OE which is a pain in the backside)

7. More-than-first-aid Kit including some pills for AMS.

8. At least 2 fuel cans for diesel.

9. Maggie (I prefer Top Ramen), Biscuits, large cans of Water, Glucose, Tea bags, Instant (yuk!) coffee and hardship rations.

10. One can each of Brake/Steering/Coolang/Transmission/Engine fluid/oil - just in case?

11. Towropes.

12. Oxygen - I believe you get these in small cans at pharmacies now. Pick up a few.

13. Fire extinguisher - one per car mandatory. Cease Fire chalega.

I like the number 13 so I'll stop here.

[Sideways]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

hopefully should be able to borrow a satellite phone from my colleagues in Thuraya.

Thats a great idea. Dont know how much the GPS is going to help though, unless someone has GPS charted maps of the area.