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Roopkund in January
Uttarakhand, India
January buries Roopkund under 3-5 metres of snow. The skeleton lake at 5,029m is invisible beneath ice. The trek route from Lohajung is completely closed — avalanche risk, zero visibility, impassable snow. Even the base village of Wan is snowbound. This is one of India's most extreme high-altitude environments in winter.
The January story
There is no trekking payoff in January — Roopkund is sealed. Use this month to plan: the trek is 53km round trip from Lohajung, takes 7-8 days, and requires genuine fitness (you're going from 2,350m to 5,029m). Book with operators who provide microspikes, gaiters, and experienced guides. The skeleton lake's mystery — hundreds of people killed simultaneously around 850 AD, likely by a massive hailstorm — has been studied by National Geographic and multiple universities. DNA analysis revealed both South Asian and Mediterranean-origin victims. This isn't just a trek; it's a crime scene investigation at 5,000 metres. Start cardio training now for a May-June attempt.
Why January scores 0/5
Weather
Deep snow at 5,000m. Trail buried. Skeleton Lake frozen under meters of ice. No access until May. Extreme conditions.
Roads & Access
self drive: Possible to Lohajung — high clearance needed. Then 8-day trek. road condition: Rough mountain road to Lohajung via Karnaprayag. Last 50km very bad. Then multi-day trek. public transport: Buses to Karnaprayag from Rishikesh. Shared taxi to Lohajung. Then trek only. from nearest city: Lohajung (trek base) then 8-day trek. Rishikesh — 260km to Lohajung, 10hr. last km difficulty: extreme
Safety & Emergency
Safety: 1/5. rescue: SDRF helicopter — weather dependent. Trek operator responsible for group safety. helpline: 1077 (UK disaster). ambulance: Not available on trek. Helicopter evacuation only (weather dependent). police station: Lohajung outpost — basic. nearest hospital: No medical facility for 3+ days on trek. Lohajung PHC first aid only. District Hospital Chamoli — 100km
Network
VI: No, JIO: No, BSNL: No, NOTE: Yes, AIRTEL: No. NO mobile signal for entire 8-day trek. Weak BSNL at Lohajung only. Completely off-grid
Kids
Not ideal for kids — Once-in-a-lifetime experience for very fit older teens
Elevation
5,029m — High altitude, acclimatisation needed
Who should go
- ✓Experienced trekkers / adventurers
- ✓Nobody — trek is closed under deep snow
Who should think twice
- ✗First-time travelers
- ✗Anyone with health conditions
- ✗Everyone — the trek is closed and the approach is impassable
- ✗No exceptions — avalanche and exposure risk is lethal
All 12 Months
| Month | Score | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Januaryviewing | 0/5 | Deep snow at 5,000m. Trail buried. Skeleton Lake frozen under meters of ice. No access until May. Extreme conditions. |
| February | 0/5 | Snowbound. Trail completely impassable. Village bases like Lohajung accessible but trek impossible. Extreme winter. |
| March | 0/5 | Snow still deep above 3,500m. Lower approach clearing but summit route months from opening. Not trekking season. |
| April | 1/5 | Snow melting at lower elevations 5-14°C. Bedni Bugyal still under snow. Trek not viable yet. Lohajung accessible. |
| May | 4/5 | Trek season opens. Bedni and Ali Bugyal melting. 8-18°C at camps. Snow still at lake. Acclimatization essential. |
| June | 5/5 | Best month 8-18°C. Ali and Bedni bugyals carpeted in alpine wildflowers. Skeleton Lake snow-free. Clear summit views. |
| July | 2/5 | Monsoon. Dangerous trail conditions. Slippery rock, zero visibility. Skeleton Lake hidden in cloud. Leeches. Avoid. |
| August | 1/5 | Peak monsoon. Trail extremely dangerous. Landslides common. Cloud cover total. Multiple trekker rescues yearly. Avoid. |
| September | 3/5 | Post-monsoon window 4-14°C. Trail clearing. Bugyals golden. Lake emerging from cloud. Brief September window works. |
| October | 4/5 | Late season 0-10°C. Golden autumn bugyals. Skeleton Lake visible. Cold nights. Snow approaching summit. Last window. |
| November | 1/5 | Winter closing in -5 to 5°C. Snow at summit. Lower camps accessible but lake trek dangerous. Season ending. |
| December | 0/5 | Snowbound. Trail buried. Skeleton Lake frozen. Lohajung base accessible but no trekking possible. 5-month closure. |
Practical Details
How to reach
Lohajung (trek base) then 8-day trek. Rishikesh — 260km to Lohajung, 10hr. Roads: Rough mountain road to Lohajung via Karnaprayag. Last 50km very bad. Then multi-day trek. Self-drive: Possible to Lohajung — high clearance needed. Then 8-day trek. Public transport: Buses to Karnaprayag from Rishikesh. Shared taxi to Lohajung. Then trek only. Last stretch: extreme
Elevation
5,029m
Difficulty
hard
Budget tier
budget
Nearby in Uttarakhand scoring high in January
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