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THESE ARE NEW COORDINATES - SEE LOG BELOW
My 3rd cache in the hills around McLeodganj – TurnAround@Triund.
See also Himachal Hill High – and – Gaddi Hill House.
(Also visit BhagSu SlateVu)
I rate this a 4... with the option of the harder finish. Just a 3.5 if you return the easy way.
Hope for a clear/warm day... and expect to spend about 7-8 +/- hours in the High Himachal Hills.
Galu Devi is the start point to the actual trail… This is about 1.5 hrs. walk up from McLeodganj – or a 300 Rs ride up a rough road. Taxi up recommended, for an easier start to the day.
Start early – a cup of chai at the trailhead café is nice@
N32^ 15.295’
E076^ 19.574’
Pleasant, easy walking as you traverse the hillside… shady/cool if early… sunnier/hotter if later… views are great, anytime.
Plan on a (very) fast, steady 2 hrs up… or a pleasant 2.5 hours… or a very leisurely 3 hrs (with stops for tea)
Pass an exit path back to Bhagsu@
N32^ 15.125’
E076^ 20.214’
Two hillside chai shops about an hour+ along… plus a third spot for refreshments toward the end… just before the last, steeper part of the trail@
N32^ 15.732’
E076^ 20.919’
Arrive@the Triund Meadows@
N32^ 15.691’
E076^ 21.264’
Say... WOW!
A choice of rest spots, view spots, refreshment spots… enjoy a respite, before heading up to the cache.
(Left, around the ridge, eventually goes to Indahara pass. Camp further up, if you want to explore the higher trails/passes.)
Wander right… along the pleasant ridge, meadows, boulders, rhododendron trees. scenic peaks and deep valleys… you will come to a high point@
N32^ 15.291’
E076^ 21.287’
Keep along the ridge… losing a bit of elevation… until the GeoCache - TurnAround@Triund@
N32^ 15.122’
E076^ 21.255’
THESE ARE NEW COORDINATES - SEE LOG BELOW
I chose this point because (besides the views) it takes you reasonably far from the Triund meadows - to offer complete mountain tranquility… I doubt you will see another person up there.
It becomes a decision point = turn around point. Going back to Triund offers no challenge - just a long, but easy, walk down.
BUT, continuing on will put you in A VERY ISOLATED AND REMOTE POSITION – with likely not another person, for a long way down, over some ROUGH/STEEP TERRAIN. But, if you are strong and confident, as well as prepared… it’s a nice circuit.
So, this is your crux - for how you want to return to the valley…
The easy, but long way is the way you came… good trails, with refreshments on the way.
OR
The shorter – but steeper, harder way. Keep going down the ridge to the group of stone houses you can see below@
N32^ 14.866’
E076^ 21.090’
Great spot to rest... but then, serious down time...
Looking down to the valley, drop down right a bit to a spot@
N32^ 14.892’
E076^ 21.030’
If anything… tend to keep right as you work down steep, terrain, with minimal trails… a mid-point is@
N32^ 14.838’
E076^ 20.881’
Pick a way down… just don’t get sucked into the deep rhododendron gully on your left… eventually, you are aiming for a Shiva shrine you can see below@
N32^ 14.826’
E076^ 20.642’
Down a bit more will take you to a choice@
N32^ 14.741’
E076^ 20.489’
Head down tending right into the forest, on a reasonably ok trail, will take you back to Shiva café – above Bagsu falls@
N32^ 14.889’
E076^ 20.380’
…make sure you find the best quality trail heading down and right…but occasionally zigzag back into the valley… you should see the café below, as you descend.
OR… Heading straight down the ridge on the left – on fair, but steeper, trails – some choices will exist to tend right, or keep straight down the ridge… but eventually you will drop you down below the falls… then cross over and head into the bustle of Bhagsu.
If you choose going back... remember the exit path back to Bhagsu@
N32^ 15.125’
E076^ 20.214’
It's steeper, but much more direct, than going all the way back to Galu Devi.
Cut down into a creek@
N32^ 15.077'
E076^ 19.965'
This will take you to the highest house and trail down to town. As you head down the trail to Bhagsu... many fine places with cold beer and hot pizza will beckon you to rest your weary feet and relax a while.
Additional Hints
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