What is the best time to attempt a winter Kedarkantha Trek and what are the things to keep in mind?
Considering the fact most people want to see snow on their first winter Himalayan trek, the end of December would be an ideal and safe time to go for it. I say safe because later in peak winters, drastic weather conditions might not permit you to scale till the summit. It’s not impossible but depends on everyday weather.
thumb_upLike (47)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up47 likes
comment
3 replies
J
Julia Zhang 3 minutes ago
We have a saying here in the mountains that ‘you go as far as the mountain lets you’ and I have ...
C
Chloe Santos 12 minutes ago
Of course, it’s not all about the summit when you embark upon a trek, it’s so much more. The she...
We have a saying here in the mountains that ‘you go as far as the mountain lets you’ and I have experienced it to be inexplicably true. I have personally led 11 batches in the winter season of 2019-20 (mid-November to February first week), and we were able to reach the summit in nine of the batches.
thumb_upLike (0)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up0 likes
comment
3 replies
S
Scarlett Brown 2 minutes ago
Of course, it’s not all about the summit when you embark upon a trek, it’s so much more. The she...
B
Brandon Kumar 1 minutes ago
But that does not mean your work is done. Even though we rate the trek as easy-moderate, you require...
Of course, it’s not all about the summit when you embark upon a trek, it’s so much more. The sheer peace and tranquility that the mountains offer is a priceless reward in itself.
Here are some of the things that you need to keep in mind before going for the trek:
Physical Fitness - I understand that the very fact that you were finally able to book the trek in spite of uncertain leaves and friends backing out at the eleventh hour is an achievement in itself.
thumb_upLike (13)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up13 likes
comment
1 replies
A
Ava White 16 minutes ago
But that does not mean your work is done. Even though we rate the trek as easy-moderate, you require...
L
Liam Wilson Member
access_time
16 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
But that does not mean your work is done. Even though we rate the trek as easy-moderate, you require a decent level of physical fitness to be able to enjoy the trek.
thumb_upLike (3)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up3 likes
comment
1 replies
A
Audrey Mueller 6 minutes ago
I’ll talk more about it a little later. Mental Preparedness - I would say this is even more im...
S
Sophie Martin Member
access_time
45 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
I’ll talk more about it a little later. Mental Preparedness - I would say this is even more important than the former, especially because it is the winter season. Most of us are not accustomed to that kind of freezing cold temperatures in our regular lives.
thumb_upLike (38)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up38 likes
comment
2 replies
L
Lily Watson 23 minutes ago
Being mentally prepared gives you an edge over anything that is to come before you. It’s always mi...
M
Madison Singh 39 minutes ago
Break in your shoes - This might not seem to be a big one, but will make a huge difference on the...
S
Sophia Chen Member
access_time
40 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Being mentally prepared gives you an edge over anything that is to come before you. It’s always mind over body.
thumb_upLike (5)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up5 likes
comment
2 replies
S
Sophia Chen 10 minutes ago
Break in your shoes - This might not seem to be a big one, but will make a huge difference on the...
L
Luna Park 24 minutes ago
This will ensure that you are comfortable in the shoes (they tend to be a little heavier than usual)...
J
James Smith Moderator
access_time
11 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Break in your shoes - This might not seem to be a big one, but will make a huge difference on the trek. It is suggested that you start wearing your trekking shoes at least a month before going to the mountains.
thumb_upLike (14)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up14 likes
comment
2 replies
M
Madison Singh 2 minutes ago
This will ensure that you are comfortable in the shoes (they tend to be a little heavier than usual)...
E
Evelyn Zhang 1 minutes ago
Layering is simply wearing multiple layers of clothing instead of one big layer. For example, we hav...
B
Brandon Kumar Member
access_time
60 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
This will ensure that you are comfortable in the shoes (they tend to be a little heavier than usual) and the shoes can take the shape of your feet. If you skip this part, there are high chances of you getting blisters on the trek. I have seen a lot of trekkers get blisters on their very first day which can compromise the experience to come. What is layering and how to layer for a Kedarkantha Trek?
thumb_upLike (20)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up20 likes
G
Grace Liu Member
access_time
13 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Layering is simply wearing multiple layers of clothing instead of one big layer. For example, we have all studied in our school time, that two thin blankets are more effective than one thick one. The reason for this is that heat is trapped between the multiple layers.
Similarly, when you use layered clothing in the mountains, your body warmth is trapped and thus it is more effective.
thumb_upLike (41)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up41 likes
C
Chloe Santos Moderator
access_time
42 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
During the day when the sun is out, you might not need a lot of layers. Sometimes one shirt would also suffice.
thumb_upLike (36)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up36 likes
comment
3 replies
A
Alexander Wang 16 minutes ago
But, if it’s cloudy or snowing, then you will need multiple layers. Starting from the innermost on...
A
Audrey Mueller 20 minutes ago
While walking in any weather, usually one bottom layer (good quality trek pants) will be enough. If ...
But, if it’s cloudy or snowing, then you will need multiple layers. Starting from the innermost one, they comprise a shirt (full-sleeves would be preferable), a fleece jacket, a down/padded jacket, and finally a rain jacket or a windcheater.
thumb_upLike (9)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up9 likes
D
David Cohen Member
access_time
48 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
While walking in any weather, usually one bottom layer (good quality trek pants) will be enough. If it rains/snows, you could wear a poncho or rain pants.
thumb_upLike (14)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up14 likes
comment
2 replies
A
Ava White 8 minutes ago
During the night, when you sleep in your tents, it can get pretty cold. Though you will...
N
Nathan Chen 13 minutes ago
Thermals are only effective when they are in direct contact with the skin. And thermals are not to b...
I
Isaac Schmidt Member
access_time
34 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
During the night, when you sleep in your tents, it can get pretty cold. Though you will have a very warm and thick sleeping bag, proper layering during the night will ensure a good and uninterrupted sleep. In addition to all the layers mentioned above, you could also wear your thermals as the innermost layer.
thumb_upLike (0)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up0 likes
comment
1 replies
C
Charlotte Lee 16 minutes ago
Thermals are only effective when they are in direct contact with the skin. And thermals are not to b...
N
Nathan Chen Member
access_time
18 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Thermals are only effective when they are in direct contact with the skin. And thermals are not to be worn when you are walking as it could get very warm and irritable, because as it is your body is giving off a lot of heat in the form of sweat while trekking.
Apart from this, you should also carry good gloves and socks. At night, you can wear woollen socks too.
thumb_upLike (15)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up15 likes
A
Audrey Mueller Member
access_time
38 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Keeping your extremities warm and cozy is the best possible care in the winters. Also, cover your head at all times as most of the body heat escapes through our head. You could use a sun-cap in the day and a woollen cap in the night.
On a side note, do not forget your sunglasses as they will shield your eyes from the direct sunlight reflected by the snow.
thumb_upLike (38)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up38 likes
comment
1 replies
I
Isabella Johnson 33 minutes ago
Your sunglasses should be UV rays protected. This is especially important in the winters as there is...
J
Jack Thompson Member
access_time
60 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Your sunglasses should be UV rays protected. This is especially important in the winters as there is a lot of snow everywhere.
thumb_upLike (22)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up22 likes
L
Liam Wilson Member
access_time
21 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Avoiding this might lead to snow blindness, if exposed for a longer duration of time. Do I need gaiters and spikes for Kedarkantha Trek? First, let me just explain to you what gaiters and spikes really are.
thumb_upLike (4)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up4 likes
M
Mia Anderson Member
access_time
110 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
So, a pair of gaiters is a waterproof gear that goes around your shins and ankle and latches to the shoes. It prevents the snow from entering your shoes from the ankle and thus keeping your foot dry. On the other hand, spikes are pointed metal projections that you can wear on the sole of your shoes.
thumb_upLike (0)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up0 likes
comment
2 replies
B
Brandon Kumar 76 minutes ago
They help you get better grip if the surface is too slippery (hard snow or ice). To answer the q...
C
Chloe Santos 52 minutes ago
That soft snow could easily get inside your shoes and completely wet your socks and feet, especially...
A
Alexander Wang Member
access_time
92 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
They help you get better grip if the surface is too slippery (hard snow or ice). To answer the question if you need gaiters and spikes for a winter Kedarkantha trek depends totally on the weather on that particular day. Since we can’t always predict the weather, it would be better if you carry it with you, just in case.
Gaiters are a blessing when you have to walk in fresh snow.
thumb_upLike (20)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up20 likes
comment
2 replies
N
Noah Davis 53 minutes ago
That soft snow could easily get inside your shoes and completely wet your socks and feet, especially...
A
Andrew Wilson 42 minutes ago
This is because in winters there is a lot of snow, and it starts to melt once the sun is out. Also, ...
H
Hannah Kim Member
access_time
48 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
That soft snow could easily get inside your shoes and completely wet your socks and feet, especially if you are the one who is breaking the trail. Gaiters could prove to be useful when you are descending from the summit.
thumb_upLike (20)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up20 likes
comment
1 replies
A
Ava White 31 minutes ago
This is because in winters there is a lot of snow, and it starts to melt once the sun is out. Also, ...
S
Sophie Martin Member
access_time
75 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
This is because in winters there is a lot of snow, and it starts to melt once the sun is out. Also, the descent from the summit involves a lot of fun and long snow-slides wherein the gaiters would be quite helpful.
thumb_upLike (50)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up50 likes
comment
3 replies
J
Julia Zhang 58 minutes ago
Trust me, the slides are exhilarating and you must not miss them. I once had a trekker who had parti...
A
Alexander Wang 52 minutes ago
I somehow convinced him to just give it a try once and then there was no stopping. It was an amazing...
Trust me, the slides are exhilarating and you must not miss them. I once had a trekker who had partial vertigo and he simply refused to slide. He would rather choose the long descent.
thumb_upLike (36)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up36 likes
comment
1 replies
G
Grace Liu 18 minutes ago
I somehow convinced him to just give it a try once and then there was no stopping. It was an amazing...
R
Ryan Garcia Member
access_time
54 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
I somehow convinced him to just give it a try once and then there was no stopping. It was an amazing experience for him.
Like I said, the spikes give you a lot of advantage when the surface you’re walking on is slippery (hard snow or ice), especially when you are descending.
thumb_upLike (45)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up45 likes
W
William Brown Member
access_time
28 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Personally speaking, they have helped me many times on the slopes. It just gets easier, and the risk of slipping and falling is almost eliminated. Do keep in mind not to use spikes in a rocky trail as that will damage them.
thumb_upLike (30)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up30 likes
comment
3 replies
D
Daniel Kumar 11 minutes ago
In my experience in the winters, it’s preferable to have gaiters and spikes handy. You never know ...
W
William Brown 22 minutes ago
It’s quite safe to plan a solo winter Kedarkantha trek, but I would have to say it highly depends ...
In my experience in the winters, it’s preferable to have gaiters and spikes handy. You never know when you might need them. How safe is it to plan a solo winter kedarkantha trek?
thumb_upLike (13)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up13 likes
I
Isaac Schmidt Member
access_time
90 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
It’s quite safe to plan a solo winter Kedarkantha trek, but I would have to say it highly depends on the level of your preparedness. You should have all the right gear that you may or may not need during the trek. You should be prepared for any kind of adversity that could happen.
thumb_upLike (7)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up7 likes
comment
1 replies
N
Noah Davis 2 minutes ago
You’ll need to start by acquiring a forest permit for yourself to camp in the Govind ...
E
Ethan Thomas Member
access_time
62 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
You’ll need to start by acquiring a forest permit for yourself to camp in the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary. You’ll come across a check post while travelling to Sankri, the base village of Kedarkantha.
thumb_upLike (15)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up15 likes
comment
2 replies
A
Amelia Singh 8 minutes ago
You can easily get a forest permit by giving the relevant government authorised ID.
An e...
T
Thomas Anderson 36 minutes ago
On the downside, winter is the busiest season for Kedarkantha and the crowds on the trail can someti...
T
Thomas Anderson Member
access_time
160 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
You can easily get a forest permit by giving the relevant government authorised ID.
An easier option would be to choose the popular trail to Kedarkantha which goes from Sankri - Juda Ka Tabaab - KK Basecamp - Summit - Hargaon - Sankri. This is the conventional trail and it would be easier because you’ll find a lot of groups taking the same route, and you won’t lose your way. Also, food won’t really be an issue as there are a lot of dhabas on this trail.
thumb_upLike (46)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up46 likes
comment
2 replies
E
Emma Wilson 129 minutes ago
On the downside, winter is the busiest season for Kedarkantha and the crowds on the trail can someti...
N
Nathan Chen 151 minutes ago
The more adventurous and exciting way would be to take the not-so-popular trail that st...
G
Grace Liu Member
access_time
66 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
On the downside, winter is the busiest season for Kedarkantha and the crowds on the trail can sometimes be overwhelming. You would have come this far to the mountains for some peace and quiet, but that could get difficult.
thumb_upLike (19)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up19 likes
comment
2 replies
N
Noah Davis 56 minutes ago
The more adventurous and exciting way would be to take the not-so-popular trail that st...
M
Madison Singh 65 minutes ago
You can get a GPX file (navigation) for the same from our website.
A rather important f...
J
Jack Thompson Member
access_time
136 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
The more adventurous and exciting way would be to take the not-so-popular trail that starts from a village called Kothgaon which is a mere 4 kms from Sankri. If you follow this route, you’ll definitely get your much needed calm and seclusion. We at Indiahikes take this route for the very same reasons.
thumb_upLike (29)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up29 likes
S
Sofia Garcia Member
access_time
70 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
You can get a GPX file (navigation) for the same from our website.
A rather important factor while trekking in the mountains is the availability of water. More so when you are doing it on your own.
thumb_upLike (40)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up40 likes
comment
1 replies
M
Mason Rodriguez 18 minutes ago
You will find small streams on your way from which you can fill your bottles. In the peak winter sea...
A
Amelia Singh Moderator
access_time
180 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
You will find small streams on your way from which you can fill your bottles. In the peak winter season this situation can pose a challenge as the streams might freeze due to the temperatures.
thumb_upLike (19)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up19 likes
comment
2 replies
N
Natalie Lopez 99 minutes ago
This is just something to keep in mind. This is being prepared for the worst....
L
Lucas Martinez 106 minutes ago
On the other hand, if you choose the popular trail, I don’t think getting water would be that diff...
N
Nathan Chen Member
access_time
148 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
This is just something to keep in mind. This is being prepared for the worst.
thumb_upLike (41)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up41 likes
D
Daniel Kumar Member
access_time
38 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
On the other hand, if you choose the popular trail, I don’t think getting water would be that difficult due to the presence of dhabas. Don’t shy away from asking for help during the trek. Mountain people are the best kind of people I have met, they are very generous and helpful.
thumb_upLike (36)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up36 likes
comment
3 replies
E
Ethan Thomas 9 minutes ago
If at any point in time you need help, just ask for it. It’s very likely that they would do so eve...
A
Alexander Wang 36 minutes ago
It usually snows during the night because of the low temperatures. On such days, it’s not surprisi...
If at any point in time you need help, just ask for it. It’s very likely that they would do so even without you asking them.
In all probability, it can snow anytime in the winters.
thumb_upLike (30)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up30 likes
E
Ella Rodriguez Member
access_time
40 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
It usually snows during the night because of the low temperatures. On such days, it’s not surprising to wake up and see that the entire trail is covered in fresh white snow. Or to be more precise, the trail just vanishes overnight after heavy snowfall.
thumb_upLike (13)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up13 likes
comment
2 replies
H
Harper Kim 29 minutes ago
Then it would come upon you to break the trail. I have had to do it a couple of times this winter an...
A
Aria Nguyen 36 minutes ago
You should take your decisions based on the weather and the situation. The mountain is always going ...
S
Sebastian Silva Member
access_time
41 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Then it would come upon you to break the trail. I have had to do it a couple of times this winter and believe me when I say that it is tiring. It quite literally takes double the effort as well as time.
thumb_upLike (22)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up22 likes
D
Daniel Kumar Member
access_time
210 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
You should take your decisions based on the weather and the situation. The mountain is always going to be there, what’s more important is your safety and well-being. What is the fitness required for Winter Kedarkantha Trek? Like I said earlier, even though we categorise Kedarkantha as an easy-moderate trek, a decent level of fitness is required.
thumb_upLike (11)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up11 likes
E
Emma Wilson Admin
access_time
215 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
I say this because if you struggle the entire trek, you won’t be able to enjoy the journey. You don’t just have to finish the trek or reach till the summit, it’s the experience that comes with it that matters.
thumb_upLike (10)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up10 likes
A
Audrey Mueller Member
access_time
44 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Also, the difficulty of a trek increases a little bit in the winter months. This is true for any other trek out there. High levels of snow can sometimes pose as a challenge.
thumb_upLike (42)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up42 likes
comment
1 replies
S
Sebastian Silva 39 minutes ago
That is why it is imperative that you prepare well before going to the mountains.
You co...
M
Mason Rodriguez Member
access_time
135 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
That is why it is imperative that you prepare well before going to the mountains.
You could start running, at least a month before the trek. If you are able to cover a distance of 5 km under 35 minutes, lack of stamina will definitely not be a problem on the slopes.
thumb_upLike (24)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up24 likes
comment
1 replies
C
Chloe Santos 105 minutes ago
You can start small and then work your way up.
I understand that not everyone likes to ...
E
Emma Wilson Admin
access_time
184 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
You can start small and then work your way up.
I understand that not everyone likes to run. For those of us who don’t, you could do any other kind of exercise that helps you build your stamina as well as strength.
thumb_upLike (1)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up1 likes
comment
1 replies
S
Sebastian Silva 94 minutes ago
You can traverse the stairs of your apartment a couple of times. Different kinds of squats are somet...
B
Brandon Kumar Member
access_time
188 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
You can traverse the stairs of your apartment a couple of times. Different kinds of squats are something that’ll help you build your leg muscles. This will prove to be very beneficial on the trek, as it wouldn’t be a new chore for your muscles.
thumb_upLike (46)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up46 likes
comment
1 replies
A
Ava White 45 minutes ago
Personally, I feel that playing a sport can turn out to be the best kind of exercise. B...
J
Julia Zhang Member
access_time
48 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Personally, I feel that playing a sport can turn out to be the best kind of exercise. Before I moved to the mountains, I used to play badminton every single day and I gave the game a lot of credit for whatever fitness I have today.
thumb_upLike (32)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up32 likes
comment
3 replies
S
Sophia Chen 10 minutes ago
If you don’t like running or working out, this is your best option. Any kind of sport will do as l...
J
Julia Zhang 36 minutes ago
After all this, I think you are more than ready for Kedarkantha this winter. Hope to see you on the ...
If you don’t like running or working out, this is your best option. Any kind of sport will do as long as it keeps you on the go.
thumb_upLike (42)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up42 likes
comment
1 replies
A
Audrey Mueller 20 minutes ago
After all this, I think you are more than ready for Kedarkantha this winter. Hope to see you on the ...
S
Sophie Martin Member
access_time
100 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
After all this, I think you are more than ready for Kedarkantha this winter. Hope to see you on the slopes.CHECK OUR TREKKING RANGE Related tagsRelated tags :Mountain SportsTrekking
For the Love of Sports
When you join our subscribe list, you get access to the best of sports inspiration, tips, stories and more to practice your sport.
thumb_upLike (44)
commentReply (3)
thumb_up44 likes
comment
3 replies
A
Alexander Wang 36 minutes ago
Just One Digest Per Month (Promise)Thank you! Your submission has been received!Oops!...
E
Evelyn Zhang 61 minutes ago
Something went wrong while submitting the form. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powere...
Thank you! Your submission has been received!Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.By subscribing you agree to receive marketing emails from AFS and agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
thumb_upLike (30)
commentReply (0)
thumb_up30 likes
B
Brandon Kumar Member
access_time
54 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Decathlon Sports India 2020Subscribe
Please subscribe hereThank you! Your submission has been received!Oops!
thumb_upLike (4)
commentReply (1)
thumb_up4 likes
comment
1 replies
E
Evelyn Zhang 50 minutes ago
Something went wrong while submitting the form....
J
Jack Thompson Member
access_time
275 minutes ago
Friday, 09 May 2025
Something went wrong while submitting the form.
thumb_upLike (8)
commentReply (2)
thumb_up8 likes
comment
2 replies
W
William Brown 178 minutes ago
Most Asked Questions About Kedarkantha Trek All the wonders you seek are within yourself. SportsPeop...