[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Actually that bolder has been there since more than a year.
When I did chandertaal last year, we had to cross it with foodguards of the safari scraping the boulder, and one tire right at the edge of the cliff.
Harsh later did it, and boulder was still there.
Its sort of a permanent feature now.
At few other places also road has gotten very narrow, such that big SUVs scrape the sides while negotiating it.

Yes, that was a dicey section. While I could have got through down, I was not happy about climbing back - it was a steep gradient and I would have the rock to my right side with difficulties in judging and manouevering - so In decided to turn back.

[tsk1979]

postpaid BSNL works in ladakh. Postpaid Airtel etc., works only in Leh city.
Now BSNL working is an oxymoron.
This means you can give missed rings. So if you know morse code, you can communicate using missed rings from villages.

That said, the most reliable form of communication is satellite phone, which is available in most remote villages at 1-2rs/minute.

[gajadonga]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Yes, that was a dicey section. While I could have got through down, I was not happy about climbing back - it was a steep gradient and I would have the rock to my right side with difficulties in judging and manouevering - so In decided to turn back.

@tsk1979 and hvkumar
You both seem to remember every nook and corner of these regions.
Even the boulders and rocks.
One guy in maruthi the other guy in matiz and both graduated to SUVs
in the most difficult terrains.Great stuff.

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Matiz in its 2004 drive to Ladakh - 2,43,454 kms on the odo, and 6,900 kms during the trip


The Matiz is still with me, at 2,60,000 kms+ on its odo, despite it almost 13 years old


The Scorpio in its 2009 drive to Ladakh - 2,01,926 kms in the odo at the start of the drive, 7,301 kms during the trip

The Scorpio had completed 2,75,000 kms earlier this year


The Scorpio in its 2011 drive to Ladakh - 2,78,943 kms on the odo when it started for the trip, 8,788 kms during the drive


I realised yesterday that I have driven 4 times to Ladakh in cars that were over 2 lakh kms old!

Need I say any more?

HVK, what do you do to clock such high odo readings, that too not in one car but two cars? Or do you make it a point to do 3/4 long journeys each year?

[akaush]

Originally Posted by shipnil

HVK, what do you do to clock such high odo readings, that too not in one car but two cars? Or do you make it a point to do 3/4 long journeys each year?

Its not just the trips, if HVK needs to come to Delhi for 2-3 days he will drive to Delhi from Mumbai.
Most of his work related short trips are also in his car.

(HVK, Do you know the concept of Vayu-yaan? he he Just kidding !)

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by shipnil

HVK, what do you do to clock such high odo readings, that too not in one car but two cars? Or do you make it a point to do 3/4 long journeys each year?

Over the last 26 years, I have owned vehicles continuously and I have had only 4 vehicles - the TVS Suzuki AX100 mobile (125,000 kms), Mahindra Commander (118,000 kms), Daewoo Matiz (260,000 kms) and now the Mahindra Scorpio (291,000 kms). I still have 3 of the 4 with me, but only one of them is in active use at any point in time.

As akaush explained, I capitalise on every opportunity to drive cross-country be it on business or leisure - and all my personal holidays in the last 16 years or so have always been on wheels. I stopped doing weekend trips long ago, and confine myself to 3-4 long trips a year, each of my trips may be 3,000 kms and more.

[laluks]

Day 09
20th August 2011
Kaaza - Jispa

We reached Batal by 10:45AM.

We still have a long way to Leh


We have come a long way


Distances to touristy places from Batal


We almost created a traffic bottleneck at Batal. The first convoy of vehicles after the road opened. Calls for a celebration!


Batal Doggy welcomed us! Ain't he looking like snowy of Tintin!






We stopped for breakfast at Batal Chacha's place

NJ happy to get his hot Maggi


Everybody's happy to get to eat


Batal Uncle


Batal Aunty


Thanks to them you get to eat some hot food, get to rest a while in the beds they have in these treacherous and unrelenting terrain. God bless them. Bless them a lot.

continued...

[laluks]

Day 09
20th August 2011
Kaaza - Jispa

After a good serving of hot Maggi and multiple tea I ventured out to look around Batal.

A torn flag swaying in the winds


Seems they grow their own peas


Views of the river





The Batal Bridge


HVK checking under the Scorpio for a disconnected speed sensor cable


We move ahead of Batal by 11:30AM. We also gave lift to two mechanics from Batal to Gramphoo. They were stuck there for almost a week.

We were behind a herd of sheep


Majestic


Cute


Slowly we drove past them towards Gramphoo


The drive till now has been good, and with that feeling we moved forward completely unaware of what lies ahead!

continued...

[laluks]

Day 09
20th August 2011
Kaaza - Jispa

We slowly moved along the banks of the river


Our Pilot Doggy - He would have almost ran two kilometers with us


A caravan








The river bed


The roads ahead


We also stopped by to smell some flowers






continued...

[laluks]

Day 09
20th August 2011
Kaaza - Jispa

A little later we reached a water crossing


The two mechanics helping baby Alto


Discovery Bolero was comfortable with the obstacle


TS is relieved on crossing the stream


Another one - Baby Alto comfortably crossing it


Another obstacle - slush and boulders. HVK walks back while I stayed back to warn the team


HVK waits for the small cars


HVK helping Baby Alto


A chat with AP


HVK signals all clear to me to come back to the Scorpio


continued...

[laluks]

Day 09
20th August 2011
Kaaza - Jispa

Slow and Steady we moved on


Bikers




The way forward did not look easy at all




HVK helping the team


Discovery Bolero was at home


We reached Chotta Dhara by 13:00hrs


We could see the PWD Rest house at a distance


Chotta Dhara PWD Rest House - The only solace in the otherwise treacherous place!


Chotta Dhara - It really drains your patience, courage and test your skills!

continued...

[laluks]

Day 09
20th August 2011
Kaaza - Jispa

I almost cried at the looks of the way forward


It was nothing less that torture


Baby Alto had an unfortunate under body hit here, and the Gear lever was stuck


no_enthu_da checking out where he had hit


The god sent mechanic working on the car


HVK and KSM-Vtec looks on


The mechanics were able to get the Baby Alto all right. We moved on slowly and carefully from then on.

Bulldozer clearing slush


You can see the road workers helping the Swifty behind


By 14:30hrs we reach the infamous water crossing. The water current was strong and it was at least 2+ feet deep, with huge boulders below


HVK signals that Discovery Bolero comes first than the small cars.


continued...

[laluks]

Day 09
20th August 2011
Kaaza - Jispa

These picture series shows how the Discovery Bolero cleared this obstacle.










Notice the depth












I do not have any pictures from now of the rescue mission, since I had to be with the tow rope, crossing the stream and connecting to the other three vehicles.

All those have been detailed before with videos and other pictures.

After all the vehicles were towed out we moved forward by 15:30hrs, almost an hour of operations here.

continued...

[laluks]

Day 09
20th August 2011
Kaaza - Jispa

Immediately we got our next obstacle


This time it was slush


The small cars carefully cleared it




Discovery Bolero at home


We reached Chathru by 16:00hrs. 120Km in 11hours, phew






The Chathru Bridge




Beautiful Mountains


A waterfall at Chathru


We slowly moved on towards Gramphoo

continued...

[laluks]

Day 09
20th August 2011
Kaaza - Jispa

Some beautiful views to soothe us down after all the treacherous terrains that we had been to.










Another water crossing




We stopped by to smell more flowers!




Some more views







We reached Gramphoo by 17:30 hrs

HVK waiting for the team to arrive at Gramphoo


Altitude of Gramphoo


KeyLong is 45 Kilometers ahead, Jispa is still further


Having reached Gramphoo by 17:30hrs our next destination was Tandi to fill fuel for our beauties. We moved on...

continued...