Dear PW Family,
Here is our new exploration of the season:P
Destination: Loh Dandi (As known from Kaghan side) or Dhungale(As known by Kashmiri people) 3207m or 10521feet ALT
Visiting dates: 23[SUP]rd[/SUP] April night to 25[SUP]th[/SUP] April mid night.
Best season to visit: from June to October
Last year when we did trek Butti Top from Kanshian(Balakot side) we spent a fair long time with the company of Loh Dandi on entire trek. Loh dandi remained at our right side and the perception of trek difficulty seemed evident. We marked this peak for a future trek plan. We were told that this peak is a boundary between KPK and Kashmir, so we also took it into consideration to trek it from Kashmir side. As always Faraz @faraz74 did the entire working plan but we couldn't get the right time for execution. In addition to other routines the most delaying factor to this trek was ONE AD ONLY WEATHER. We couldn't get the right window weather and finally the stage came when we (more specifically ME) decided to DO IT RIGHT NOW. No weather forecast, no extra ordinary working, no wait for any other person just DO IT RIGHT NOW. ..right now meant right this weekend. However contact with a couple of friends on eleventh hour and luckily Irfan Ul Haq who is our expedition Leader on grand Treks provided us the honor to be a part of this trek as a recreational trip. So, the first part of the team was completed
The Team
Second team (Consisting our hosts )
As it is a rare explored place, so there is no concept of tourist there. Our Jeep Driver Mr Fahad took us to the Numberdar of the Village called sarrian danna. Sardar Shahzaman was a very humble person and he warmely welcomed us. He arranged the Guide party for us.They treated us on such a way that we can't say that were our guides rather they proved to be our respected hosts. They were very happy to see tourist in their area and wanted to present their valley as a tourist place to nature lovers. So, here is a team part two
- Mr Babar
- Mr Ayub
- Mr Akram
- Mr Zikraya
Our Host of the trek
Sardar Shah Zaman who is acting leader of the village
Route: Muzaffarabad to Kahori(Neelum Road) to Battal to Dhora to Dana Sarian to noor gali to Loh Dandi(3207m)
Itinerary
Day 0: 22:30 Start from Faisalabad to Islamabd
Day 1:
02:30 Reached Islamabad
06:00 Reached Muzaffarabad and breakfast
8:30 Reached dhora via Kahori
9:00 to 10:30 Reached Dana Sarrian by a tough jeep ride
11:00 Started trekking from Dana Sarrian(2050m)
17:30 reached Noor Gali/ phutti Dhara (2840m) for night stay
Day 2
5:00 Wakeup call
06:00 Started trek to Loh Dandi
8:00 Reached on top and stayed about an hour there
10:30 reached back to camp site from a different route
11:00 to 14:00 reached back to Sarrian from a DIFFERENT ROUTE
15:00 to 17:00 reached back to Muzaffarabad and had a little chit chat with Fahad @fobak
22:00 reached Islamabad and after another 4 hour drive reached to Faisalabad..HOME SWEET HOME
Trekking Options: Last time we visit butti top from Kanshian(Balakot , Kaghan side )and marked this tempting peak which remained our companion till top from right side. We then decided to have a trek for Loh dandi in near future. On many occasion we study the GE and finally decided to do it from Kashmir side and at the end we concluded it that OUR DECISION WAS RIGHT TO DO IT FROM KASHMIR SIDE. Both sides of the this ridge(loh Dandi to Butti top) are totally unexplored. People are not familiar with tourists. People are very hospitable(will discuss in the people section)
Let we discuss the option of trek for the trekking lover people
- 2-3 days trek From Dana Sarian - Loh dandi ? sar dana ? Butti Top ? Kanshian ? Balakot
- 1-2 days trek from Dana sarian to loh Dandi
- 2 Days trek from Dana Sarian to Loh Dandi ? sar Dana ? Rajpayan
- 2 Days trek from sarian to Loh Dandi ? Kanshian
- 1-2 Days trek from Sarian ? Noor Gali ? Bala kot
- 3 Days trek from Sarian ? Noor gali- Sardana- Makra (decend back or towards paya)
- From chela
View at top:
Butti top and Makra peak are adjacent to it. We can also get a beautiful view of Musa Ka Musalla, Khanda peak, Chambra Peak, malaka e Parbat, pir chinasi,?..Kunhar River, sirin river
SO, for the time being a few teasers....
View of Makra and route to Butti top from Loh Dandi top
DSC_3016 by hmrashid, on Flickr
on the trek
DSC_3087 by hmrashid, on Flickr