Panpatia Glacier, Exploration

Publication Year: 2008.

Pantpatia Glacier, exploration. The trail from Badrinath to Kedarnath Valley, as followed by the team of Shipton and Tilman, is a fascinating piece of history. Their trail via the Gandharpongi Valley was followed by a British team led by Martin Moran. There was a route from the nearby Panpatia Glacier to cross a pass toward the southern valley, giving an easier exit to the Kedar Valley. The exploration was completed this year by a team led by Tapan Pandit, from West Bengal . In June they entered the Khirao valley and reached its head where the Panpatia Bamak (glacier) lies. Following the northern edge of the glacier, they crossed Parvati Col to reach the upper plateau. Traversing southwest on this plateau they crossed Panpatia Col and descended to Kachni Tal and Madhyamaheshwar. Previous parties had tried this crossing from both directions and failed. With this historic crossing the routes of earlier explorations are now joined.

Harish Kapadia, Honorary Editor, The Himalayan Journal