Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting

SS-Traveller · 31st January 2011, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I think it was Fagu near Kufri

Tanveer, since you're connected to me on FB, you'd know already! Anyway, I guess it's time to let the cat out of the bag - yes, one of the places was Fagu, and it was the HPTDC Apple Blossom...

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Our present interim residence, till 12 noon tomorrow.

Attachment 490939

Attachment 490940

Attachment 490941

But guess where this is...

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-where.jpg

In the meantime, here's snow, just snow, and even more snow.

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-snow1-0.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-snow1-1.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-snow1-2.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-snow1-3.jpg

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Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-snow1-5.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-snow1-6.jpg

akp · 31st January 2011, 20:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Tanveer, since you're connected to me on FB, you'd know already! Anyway, I guess it's time to let the cat out of the bag - yes, one of the places was Fagu, and it was the HPTDC Apple Blossom...

That was my guess too.

Quote:

But guess where this is...
Attachment 492771

You'd been there too? Did you stay here, or just to visit their restaurant? This one is actually more frequented by people going beyond Shimla - so more readily recognizable.

hvkumar · 31st January 2011, 21:46

That was a lovely trip opportunity encashed.
BTW, where are the narrow roads under snow picturised? One of the side roads near Fagu?
Reminds me of my Snow Hunt drive in Dec 2007 which took me to Dalhousie, Shimla & Manali, and I encountered snow in all 3 places!

Mpower · 31st January 2011, 21:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

Tanveer, since you're connected to me on FB, you'd know already! Anyway, I guess it's time to let the cat out of the bag - yes, one of the places was Fagu, and it was the HPTDC Apple Blossom...

What kind of temperatures were you seeing there? Are the roads salted/cleared of snow on a regular basis?

phamilyman · 31st January 2011, 22:36

the last is Narkanda market and the road from hotel hatu. right?

SS-Traveller · 31st January 2011, 23:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by akp

You'd been there too? Did you stay here, or just to visit their restaurant? This one is actually more frequented by people going beyond Shimla - so more readily recognizable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by phamilyman

the last is Narkanda market and the road from hotel hatu. right?

@akp: We wanted to stay there, but it seems 3 Tempo Traveller-loads of people from Chandigarh had apparently booked in just the previous evening, and for the record, SS-Traveller was beaten by another set of Travellers!

We did have a full breakfast there though, but the chef at Apple Blossom@Fagu makes tastier stuff.
@phamilyman:

. Hit the nail on the head!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

That was a lovely trip opportunity encashed.
BTW, where are the narrow roads under snow picturised? One of the side roads near Fagu?
Reminds me of my Snow Hunt drive in Dec 2007 which took me to Dalhousie, Shimla & Manali, and I encountered snow in all 3 places!

Thank you, HVK. The road is indeed, as phamilyman said, the one leading up from NH22 to the HPTDC Hotel Hatu at Narkanda.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

What kind of temperatures were you seeing there? Are the roads salted/cleared of snow on a regular basis?

Here's the minimum temp. readout from the thermometer in the car, recording Saturday night's lowest temp inside and outside the cabin... (Edit: Note the minus sign).

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-night.jpg

...and here's the current readout when we went to the car at 9 AM or so on Sunday.

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-morning.jpg

Roads anywhere in this region are never salted AFAIK, but yes, bulldozers do remain in action to clear the roads as required.

Enjoy the snow! Now that you know where it is from, I don't need to elaborate further with a detailed triplog/story.

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02356k100.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02357k100.jpg

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Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02389k100.jpg

The photos are from both rideon's and my camera, as well as some taken by my daughter. Rideon, please join in!!!

SS-Traveller · 1st February 2011, 00:57

Sharing a video of the scenery at Fagu...

YouTube - Snow at Fagu, Himachal Pradesh, India

v&v · 1st February 2011, 08:31

Doc,
Thats quite a lot of snow. Didnt you do snow trekking ?
By the by where are photos from rideon's camera ?
Also one more query, do these hpdc keep boots or jackets for hire ?

SS-Traveller · 1st February 2011, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by v&v

Doc,
Thats quite a lot of snow. Didnt you do snow trekking ?

No.

Quote:

Originally Posted by v&v

By the by where are photos from rideon's camera ?

All the pics where you can see H-4® driving are from rideon's camera, and then some. Some pics are also from my x10.

Quote:

Originally Posted by v&v

Also one more query, do these hpdc keep boots or jackets for hire ?

Not that I noticed, but skiing equipment is available for hire.

hvkumar · 1st February 2011, 09:58

I guess the NH22 was open beyond Fagu towards Rampur?

tsk1979 · 1st February 2011, 10:07

NH22 seldom closes for more than a couple of days, and that too if the snowfall is extremely heavy

SS-Traveller · 1st February 2011, 10:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by hvkumar

I guess the NH22 was open beyond Fagu towards Rampur?

I was told that the road after Narkanda towards Rampur (about 3 km after Narkanda) had closed on Sunday morning due to heavy snowfall on Saturday (29.1.11) night.

rideon · 1st February 2011, 22:54

Here’s how I join in.
“SS-T, all set for the dinner plans on Friday?”
“Rideon, how about dinner in snowy surroundings?”
“Sure, what do you have in mind?”
“Narkanda!”

So after a little bit of deliberation with the family, I take a half day from the office, do the necessary last minute packings and move to SS-T’s place.

“Where do we stop for the night, SS-T?”
“Nowhere! We drive till we reach Narkanda.”

Now, I’m a man who loves a lot of things and of course his sleep (not in the necessary order, though) and when SS-T said “Nowhere” I went, “Not do-able. I’ve never been awake for 24 hrs at a stretch and now here is this guy telling me I have to stay awake for 33 odd hours in total”
But what the heck, I might as well give it a shot.
And so there it began. An "impromptu" snow hunting with the H-4®.

Some pictures that have not yet been posted.

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-11.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-22.jpg

Daybreak in the mountains

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-33.jpg

SS-Traveller · 2nd February 2011, 00:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by rideon

“Where do we stop for the night, SS-T?”
“Nowhere! We drive till we reach Narkanda.”

...when SS-T said “Nowhere” I went, “Not do-able. I’ve never been awake for 24 hrs at a stretch...

. You wouldn't have known until you tried!

Quote:

Daybreak in the mountains

That was a glorious time indeed. We were looking forward to the sky lightening up after the night drive on mountain roads, and as we progressed closer to Narkanda, the roads became progressively worse and bumpy, with snow on either side and wet patches on the path.

Here's a quick video of the road after Fagu, as seen in my headlights...

YouTube - Driving in Himachal at night

Past midnight, the roads are totally devoid of human presence in the mountains, and P-stops (no tea-stops possible) are nothing if not a little scary, esp. when you have such leafless trees to keep you company!

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02307k100.jpg

And then, @6:45 AM, we stopped to watch this beautiful dawn breaking...

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dawnre.jpg

SS-Traveller · 2nd February 2011, 13:48

Some pictures from Fagu, in and around the Apple Blossom Hotel.

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02390k100.jpg

H-4® & QuickSilver parked together

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02407k100.jpg

The hotel...

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02406k100.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02400k100.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02402k100.jpg

The room and the view from the window...

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02420k100.jpg

Around the hotel...

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02391k100.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02392k100.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02403k100.jpg

Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting-dsc02394k100.jpg

Patch of snow that caught me unawares and got free wheelspin. Wife maintains I took H-4® into it intentionally to test 4wd. Someone mentioned they can see a teddy bear to the right of the patch.

31st January 2011, 21:46	#18
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Re: Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting That was a lovely trip opportunity encashed. BTW, where are the narrow roads under snow picturised? One of the side roads near Fagu? Reminds me of my Snow Hunt drive in Dec 2007 which took me to Dalhousie, Shimla & Manali, and I encountered snow in all 3 places!
	() Thanks

31st January 2011, 22:36	#20
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,642 Times	Re: Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting the last is Narkanda market and the road from hotel hatu. right?
	() Thanks

1st February 2011, 08:31	#23
v&v Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,545 Thanked: 1,205 Times View My Garage	Re: Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting Doc, Thats quite a lot of snow. Didnt you do snow trekking ? By the by where are photos from rideon's camera ? Also one more query, do these hpdc keep boots or jackets for hire ?
	() Thanks

1st February 2011, 09:58	#25
hvkumar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 7,369 Thanked: 3,454 Times	Re: Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting I guess the NH22 was open beyond Fagu towards Rampur?
	() Thanks

1st February 2011, 10:07	#26
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,825 Times View My Garage	Re: Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting NH22 seldom closes for more than a couple of days, and that too if the snowfall is extremely heavy
	() Thanks

1st February 2011, 22:54	#28
rideon BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: DXB/DEL/MEL Posts: 124 Thanked: 24 Times View My Garage	Re: Hawk-0n-Fours® (H-4®) Roadtrip: H-4® & QuickSilver Go Snow-Hunting Here’s how I join in. “SS-T, all set for the dinner plans on Friday?” “Rideon, how about dinner in snowy surroundings?” “Sure, what do you have in mind?” “Narkanda!” So after a little bit of deliberation with the family, I take a half day from the office, do the necessary last minute packings and move to SS-T’s place. “Where do we stop for the night, SS-T?” “Nowhere! We drive till we reach Narkanda.” Now, I’m a man who loves a lot of things and of course his sleep (not in the necessary order, though) and when SS-T said “Nowhere” I went, “Not do-able. I’ve never been awake for 24 hrs at a stretch and now here is this guy telling me I have to stay awake for 33 odd hours in total” But what the heck, I might as well give it a shot. And so there it began. An "impromptu" snow hunting with the H-4®. Some pictures that have not yet been posted. Daybreak in the mountains
	() Thanks

2nd February 2011, 13:48	#30
SS-Traveller Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 8,164 Thanked: 27,143 Times View My Garage	Fagu Some pictures from Fagu, in and around the Apple Blossom Hotel. H-4® & QuickSilver parked together The hotel... The room and the view from the window... Around the hotel... Patch of snow that caught me unawares and got free wheelspin. Wife maintains I took H-4® into it intentionally to test 4wd. Someone mentioned they can see a teddy bear to the right of the patch. Last edited by SS-Traveller : 2nd February 2011 at 13:53.
	(1) Thanks