Walking on (frozen) water

The Chadar trek in Ladakh, NW India, is probably one of the hardest but most rewarding treks in a region known for the severity of its winters.

Traditionally most treks in this Tibetan region follow old trade or pilgrimage routes, and the Chadar ('White veil') is taken by Zanskaris in years past to trade butter, a product of their summer farming; but not able to travel in the heat of summer.

Most accounts of this journey are of the 'oh how we suffered' type, even when walking the route you will meet trekkers who constantly tell outrageous lies about the temperature (minus 40 was the biggest fib).

What they do not tell you is the stunning beauty of the ice, the friendliness of the Zanskaris, and the chance to witness a people whose winter life style has changed little for years.

Thank you Brian, Lobsang, Stanzin, Norbu, Ben, Peter, Denio, Laurence,

Diane, Tad, Markus and Christine for your great company on my four treks into Zanskar in winter.