[saviouravenger]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Uncleared sections of Rohtang entail about 40 feet high snow walls. Nothing can scale those. Forget track and go, even hard core matt tracks won't work there.
Infact, even snow cutters do not know where to cut. A very old veteran leads the way and tells the engineers how to cut.
Otherwise they can start cutting at a point where there is no road.

Hey tsk1979, meant no insult or slight. My posts about Track N Go, was just wishful thinking after reading your awesome Travelogue.

Your post about the snow bank being 4-5 feet high, got me thinking about the Track N Go. I wondered if kits like this were widely available in India, just like snow chains & cables, what other possibilities would open up for us. Just thought I would put this up & see what others thought of it.

Your travelogue is an inspiring read for anyone with a remote inkling of OTR (or Snowed-Out roads in this case) and my posts, in retrospect, could be interpreted as disrespectful of your achievements on this trip. Just wanted to clarify that this was not my intention & apologies for going

Now that we have that out of the way, As a Veteran Safari Owner, what do you think about the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6X6 + Track N Go combo. Showboating or a capable tool for off season visits to the Himalayas?

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by saviouravenger

Hey tsk1979, meant no insult or slight. My posts about Track N Go, was just wishful thinking after reading your awesome Travelogue.

Your post about the snow bank being 4-5 feet high, got me thinking about the Track N Go. I wondered if kits like this were widely available in India, just like snow chains & cables, what other possibilities would open up for us. Just thought I would put this up & see what others thought of it.

Your travelogue is an inspiring read for anyone with a remote inkling of OTR (or Snowed-Out roads in this case) and my posts, in retrospect, could be interpreted as disrespectful of your achievements on this trip. Just wanted to clarify that this was not my intention & apologies for going

Now that we have that out of the way, As a Veteran Safari Owner, what do you think about the Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG 6X6 + Track N Go combo. Showboating or a capable tool for off season visits to the Himalayas?

Oops, I apologize for coming out at rude
Of course track and go is amazing, but for mostly snow fields. On narrow mountain roads, something dedicated like a matt track would be better since track and go reduces turning radius drastically.
And don't worry, there was nothing offensive about your posts at all

[tsk1979]

I made a snow drive video on the morning run

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHGs7LALDM4

[tsk1979]

As I look back, one thing is certain. The 7 point turn would have been impossible without chains. Its the deadly mix of ice and snow with depth of over one foot on the sides which we had to plough through.

So do we take off the chains now, since there is exposed tarmac? No need. The Himalayas have obliged us again with heavy fall. The road is quickly going white again. Right in front of our eyes, an inch has fallen


All this snow cover in just minutes. Still some sheltered road parts show us a hint of grey


We are at Gulaba. The land of the million tourists. Not today. Today this big one just sits there waiting.


Black is turning to white again. Yay


In season this board will display road status and warn about blockages. Today it just sits waiting. Its like the scifi movie where everybody has left the planet. A bunch of explorers are here, looking at the relics, and wondering.. where is everybody


Saying hello to Gulaba


Its time to head down again as the snowfall pics up. A signboard peeks from the sides meekly


The meadows of Gulaba. The domain of horses and para-gliders. Right now, its the domain of the Snow gods

[pjbiju]

Great travelogue as usual Tanveer. Difficult to believe that this is in India. On what dates did you make this journey?

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by pjbiju

Great travelogue as usual Tanveer. Difficult to believe that this is in India. On what dates did you make this journey?

It was a 3 day trip with Maha shivratri holiday
28th,1st,2nd (Arrive 28th feb, drive 1st march, return 2nd march)

[tsk1979]

Yay, more snowfall, the black tarmac is almost gone, and snow is piling up again


Behind us the whiteout looms.
The cloud is coming


We have never seen so much snow. Never ever. Glad we did not go to Narkanda again. These majestic slopes of gulaba make that region look like anthills!


Winter has stripped these trees of all foliage. But in a months time, they will bloom again. After the Dec/Jan drought, heavy falls in the month of feb have ensured that all the water sources are recharged


From the drivers seat


Winter paradise


In sheltered regions, still some tarmac holds out, but not for long


Good we put on the cables in the front. This is hard ice, and skidding is common here


And the snow, well its getting deeper and deeper!

[DriveToLive]

Amazing travelogue. The pictures are breathtaking! Hats off to you for doing something like this when its snowing and giving us the opportunity to see those sights. I can never imagine myself doing this, ever.

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Good we put on the cables in the front. This is hard ice, and skidding is common here

Tanveer, if I remember right, WE is 4x2. Then why do I see 4x4 in one of pictures on the WE? Or did you change the WE with another WE?

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by shipnil

Tanveer, if I remember right, WE is 4x2. Then why do I see 4x4 in one of pictures on the WE? Or did you change the WE with another WE?

If I wanted a 4x2, I would have bought a sedan or something light
WE was always 4x4.
Always!

[USJ]

Absolutely brilliant thread Tanveer, take a bow!! Have no words to express how beautifully you have captured the out of this world experience.

Just out of sheer curiosity, I want to ask a typically desi question.
How much did your beast travel per litre?

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by USJ

Absolutely brilliant thread Tanveer, take a bow!! Have no words to express how beautifully you have captured the out of this world experience.

Just out of sheer curiosity, I want to ask a typically desi question.
How much did your beast travel per litre?

We filled her up to full tank near HP border in Punjab around Kiratpur Sahib area. Then we again filled her up full tank at the same pump on coming back.
Total distance was about 550km and FE was 10.35
So
Kiratpur Sahib - Manali - Kothi - Snow drives (multiple) - Manali - Kiratpur Sahib = 10.35 liter which is fairly good.
Pure highway runs she gives around 13.5-14

[faithless_1984]

Excellent writeup and great pics as usual Tsk ! The white mountains look surreal.
I feel like kicking myself for never having witnessed snowfall in my life even though it happens heavily in our ancestral place.

[tsk1979]

The Sun has lost the battle. More clouds move in. And its snowing. Again. Black tarmac is gone. And snow starts piling up




Our shoes ensure no slipping on the ice. For the first time the elephant is not dancing on snow!


Heavens open up! Its frigid, its white. Its magical. The Himalayas bathe in white again


Up here temperatures are always sub zero, and tiny falls lie frozen in time

Footsteps in the snow. Two inches on the road already

A "water crossing" in the making I guess


In the sheltered nooks, sit ice sculptures, crafted by nature


And on the ground, we make our own artwork


Our tracks are the only one. With so much snow, nobody's coming here. This is our private pradise and its going to remain so!


Darkness will fall soon, but we are in no hurry... we just march slowly downhill

[tsk1979]

Originally Posted by faithless_1984

Excellent writeup and great pics as usual Tsk ! The white mountains look surreal.
I feel like kicking myself for never having witnessed snowfall in my life even though it happens heavily in our ancestral place.

You are not too late
This time the snowfalls have extended into March! Narkanda got heavy snowfall yesterday!