We began the year 2026 with an idea in mind
‘To enable serious trekkers to experience true DIY trekking in a structured, safe, and community-driven format.’
To enable this, we reached out to the people part of the adventure communities on Whatsapp, Instagram and emails.
The agenda was simple - plan fast, pack right, and move entirely on your own terms and pace.
Gulabi Kantha was the first of the many DIY Treks.
Put together in a few days, executed as a self-supported climb, and experienced without relying on any setup on the mountain.
The Team
We were a team of four, each bringing a different kind of strength:
- Rohan – Founder of Tripole, trail runner, naturally quick on ascents
- Santosh – Trek leader, handling route and overall flow
- Netra – 48, runner, consistent and steady throughout
- Surinder – 60, extremely fit, matching pace without any drop
The approach was simple - carry everything, stay flexible, and keep the experience clean.
Getting There
We left from Delhi for Haridwar by Surinder’s Seltos on 11th March evening and stayed at the SBI guest house. This made sure that we didn’t tire ourselves with the long drive the next day.
On 12th March, after a quick temple visit in Rajaji National Park, we drove to Rana Chatti (2000m), reaching by 5 PM. We stayed at a homestay and coordinated with our local guide:
Santosh Rana – +91 78199 26027
Our guide mentioned that they rarely come across DIY Trekkers that too Indians.
Day 1: Nishni to Seema Thatch
13th March
From Rana Chatti at around 8am we loaded the Bolero to Nishni Village (2432m):
- ₹1000 one way
- ~30 minutes
Driver: Basudev Rana - +91 78957 44075
Start Time of the Trek: 8:30 AM
Distance: ~7 km
End Time: 2:30 PM
Elevation Gain: ~1000 m
The trail begins gradually, moving through forest sections before opening up into wider, snow-covered stretches. It’s the kind of climb where you don’t feel rushed—you just keep moving and let the altitude come to you.
By mid-day, we had settled into our pace. No crowd, no noise—just the four of us moving through the mountain.
The final stretch into Seema Thatch is steeper, but short enough to push through without breaking rhythm.
We reached camp by 2:30 PM.
There were no other teams on the mountain. No camps, no movement—just an open meadow.
Camp Setup
We set up tents and created a basic kitchen setup using a makeshift shelter.
Dinner was simple and efficient:
- Soup
- Fresh rice
- Ready-to-eat dal & kadhi pakoda
We’d picked up the ready-to-eat meals from Haldiram with the thought in mind - less cooking time, less fuel consumption, and predictable taste at altitude where cooking from scratch can be slow and inconsistent.
With temperatures dropping quickly, we wrapped up early and were in sleeping bags by 9 PM.
Day 2: Summit Push
14th March
Start Time: 7:00 AM
Distance to Summit: 2.05 km
End Time: ~10:15 AM
Elevation Gain: 595 m
The climb to Gulabi Kantha (4007m) is where the trek changes character.
It’s all snow.
Some sections are soft, where your foot sinks in. Others are hard-packed and slippery. You adjust constantly. Microspikes and gaiters aren’t optional here—they’re necessary.
For Netra & Surinder this wasn’t just a first time DIY Trek but also the first time trekking on snow. As we gained height, the ridge opened up and the views started expanding.
We’d like to pretend that we were stopping since we were awestruck by the views but in reality we were also stopping to catch our breath.
From the summit of Gulabi Kantha (4007m), you’re looking at:
- Bandarpoonch massif (6316m)
- Swargarohini massif (6252m)
- Draupadi Ka Danda range (~5600–5700m)
- Distant Gangotri side peaks like Jaonli (~6632m)
It’s a wide, open summit—no obstructions, just uninterrupted mountain lines.
The Descent: Sliding Like Kids Again
On our way down, the mood shifted.
Instead of carefully stepping through every section, we found stretches where we could slide down safely on snow. What started cautiously quickly turned into repeated slides.
At some point, it stopped being a trek and just became fun.
Those moments—completely unplanned—ended up being the highlight.
Back at Seema Thatch
We reached camp by 12 PM. After a bit of stretching and soaking in the experience of the summit, we started prepping for lunch:
- Rice
- Ready-to-eat Dal makhani & Chicken
Around the same time, a large commercial trekking group started arriving—20 to 30 people, fully supported.
A completely different way of doing the same mountain.
We also met a solo day hiker at camp. Sat down, made coffee, and shared a cup with him. Quick conversations like these somehow stay with you.
Descent to Nishni
Start Time: 2:30 PM
Distance: ~7 km
End Time: 5:30 PM
Elevation Loss: ~1000 m
Moving down through the trail where we were struggling on our way up. Somewhere midway, light snowfall started.
Nothing extreme, but enough to change the feel of the trail. Visibility dipped slightly, and the descent became more about staying consistent. Soon enough we could see the village and reached Nishni by 5:30 PM.
After loading the rucksacks onto the Bolero, we decided to indulge and have pahado wali Maggi.
Return Journey
We drove back to Rana Chatti and even though our bodies were tired from the long trek, decided to drive and cover some distance to reduce the next day’s travel time.
We reached Vikasnagar at 2 AM, rested briefly, and left at 8:15 AM.
Reached Delhi by 2:30 PM. This ensured that we had enough time to unpack and rest to begin the Monday with renewed energy from the mountains.
Costs & Logistics
- Insurance: ₹500 per head (ASC 360)
- Permits (including camping): ₹1300 (arranged via guide)
- Total cost (Delhi to Delhi): ₹31,441
- Per head (4 members): ~₹7,860
This includes travel, permits, stay, guide, food (travel + trek), and shared gear.
GPX file - DIY Trek with Tripole - Gulabi Kantha
For those who are doing this trek for the first time, would highly recommend taking a local guide (Santosh Rana – +91 78199 26027) instead of relying on the GPX trail.
What Else Is Around
This region has more to offer than just Gulabi Kantha:
- Yamunotri Temple – a 5 km trek and something we’re definitely coming back for next year
- Saptrishi Kund – believed to be the source of the Yamuna, a much tougher and lesser-explored route
Packing & Planning
For a DIY winter trek like Gulabi Kantha, packing directly impacts how efficiently you move. Since everything is carried by the team, each item needs to justify its weight.
Personal Gear
- Rucksacks
- Waist pack
- Sleeping bag
- Camping mat
- Trail mix
- Energy bars (x3)
- Energy oral mix (Enerzal etc.)
- Tea / Coffee
- Medicines (Roko / personal medication)
- Personal utensils (plate, spoon, mug)
- Winter cap
- Winter buff
- Sports cap
- Sunglasses
- Trekking T-shirt (x2)
- Trek pants
- Snow pants (optional)
- Vest / innerwear
- Windcheater jacket
- Insulated jacket (comfort rating ~ -5°C)
- Trekking socks (x2)
- Woolen socks (x1)
- Trekking shoes
- Upper & lower thermals
- Water bottle (preferably foldable)
- Thermos bottle
- Headlamp
- Snow gloves
- Microspikes
- Gaiters
- Poncho
- Hiking poles
- Slippers
- Medium towel
- Large towel (for transit)
- Toiletries (sanitizer, toilet paper, paper soap, toothbrush, paste, sunscreen, lip balm)
- Watch cable
- Phone cables
- Power bank
Shared Gear & Food Plan
Meals planned:
- Dinner 1 – Rice + Dal
- Breakfast 1 – Milk oats
- Lunch 1 – Rice + Dal
- Dinner 2 – Rice + Dal
- Breakfast 2 – Masala oats
Shared items:
- Milk powder
- Cooking utensils (rice/water pan)
- Utensil cleaner
- Tent
- Stove
- Gas canisters
Why DIY Trekking
DIY trekking strips things down to the basics. No fixed camps, no external dependencies—just your team, your decisions, and the mountain.
And when it works, it feels earned.
If you want to join us for the next DIY trekking experience, this is exactly the kind of format we’ll be building on—small teams, flexible plans, and full ownership of the journey.