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Today's Position
— day of fifteen
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I.
Latest Dispatch
II.
The Route
From Panchkula in the Shivaliks, up the Manali–Leh spine, into Zanskar, across the Indus, and out to the plateau of Hanle — where the road touches the China border at Mig La.
III.
The Shape of Fifteen Days
From sea level to nineteen-and-a-half thousand feet and back. The sienna line is where the road peaks each day; the glacier line is where the body sleeps. Above fourteen-thousand-five-hundred feet, the air starts to bite — that's the band shaded in red.
Distance & drive-time
Two days demand twelve hours behind the wheel; one demands thirteen. Three are short — but at altitude, even a short day taxes you.
IV.
The Seven Passes
Ranked from highest. Six are on the route to and from Mig La; the seventh is Mig La itself, and it stands alone.
V.
The Plan, Day by Day
VI.
Field Notes
Notes will appear here, oldest at the bottom — like a real journal.
VII.
The Kit
The Vehicle
KA03 NU 8125
Maruti Jimny
- Tow hooks (front + rear), 5 m straps
- Jerry cans 2 × 5 L on the spare wheel
- Snow chains, puncture kit, inflator
- UHF radio · channel TBD
- Fire extinguisher, ESS coupler
If you need to reach someone
By the numbers
- Total distance
- 2,650 km
- Days on the road
- 15
- High passes crossed
- 7
- Highest point
- 19,400 ft
- Lowest temperature, expected
- −5 °C
- Cans of fuel
- 2 × 5 L
Vehicle preparation
Documents
Originals carried separate from the car when parked overnight.
Medicines
Diamox starts the day before high altitude — consult a doctor first.