Stok Kangri

Stok Kangri (6,153 metres (20,187 ft)) is the highest mountain in the Stok Range of the Himalayas in the Ladakh region of northwest India. The peak is located in Hemis National Park, 12 km southwest of the trailhead at 3,610 metres (11,844 ft) in the village of Stok and around 15  km southwest of the Ladakhi capital of Leh.

Contents

• Map of Stok Kangri 194201
• Trekking to the summit of Stok Kangri
• References

Map of Stok Kangri, 194201

Despite its altitude, Stok Kangri is a popular trekking peak and is often climbed as an initial non-technical foray into high altitude mountaineering. However, Stok Kangri is very often underestimated for its difficulty level and in particular the need to acclimatise before and during the ascent.

In late July and August, all but the top of the peak may be snow-free. The elevation data was verified by GPS readings from 11 satellites at the Summit during a late July 2007 joint Nepalese-US expedition which encountered snow cover for 85% of the final four-hour, four km, 900 metre climb.

List of peaks seen from Stok Kangri Summit :

1. Apsarasas Kangri I, 7,245 metres (23,770 ft)
2. Chamshen Kangri, 6,950 metres (22,802 ft)
3. Kun, 7,077 metres (23,219 ft)
4. Lungsher Kangri, 6,666 metres (21,870 ft)
5. Mamostong Kangri, 7,516 metres (24,659 ft)
6. Nun, 7,135 metres (23,409 ft)
7. Rimo Kangri I, 7,385 metres (24,229 ft)
8. Rimo Kangri III, 7,233 metres (23,730 ft)
9. Saser Kangri I, 7,672 metres (25,171 ft)
10. Saser Kangri II, 7,513 metres (24,649 ft)
11. Saser Kangri III, 7,495 metres (24,590 ft)
12. Z2, 6,152 metres (20,184 ft)
13. K2, 8,611 metres (28,251 ft)

The shortest route to the peak (often used for the descent) is along the Stok valley, following the Stok Chu to Stok village. This valley's grazing landscape, especially near the village, was devastated by the 2010 Ladakh floods, the most severe in decades.