Gulmarg '07/08 - Snowboarding in Kashmir

[boltonoutlaw]

Hi,
I am going to Gulmarg, India for the '07/08 season and want to thank the previous posters here at TGR for their submissions - especially DBS for the great trip report from Gulmarg "06/07. Excellent.

I am posting the url for my blogspot "Gulmarg '07/08 - Snowboarding in Kashmir" for anyone else considering this trip. At this point it contains useful links to sources for information and travel to share. Later, the blog will become the trip report.

Please post any new trip reports or additional information about Gulmarg to this thread. Also, I'm still looking to meet other riders/skiers from any hemisphere that will be in Gulmarg this winter. Pray for Snow!

[Franz Klammer]

I greatly enjoyed reading http://www.thelineofcontrol.com/ last season. I wish I could go this year, but it's not going to happen.

[Hugh Conway]

Did you really pay $2,000 to fly to Srinagar? If you did, why are you giving others advice ono how to get to Kashmir? You got raped. Buy a ticket to Delhi or Mumbai then get a connecting flight. You'll have to change terminals in Delhi anyways (a royal pain in the ass) and you'll likely have to spend a night in Delhi anyways. DEL-SXR is ~$150 RT for tickets purchased same day and given the current oversupply in the Indian aviation market there is little need to book ahead. Kingfisher, Jet, Air India and Air Sahara fly that route among many others. There's an ATM in Gulmarg - it takes Mastercard, not VISA and is open most days during normal business hours (despite the sign saying 24hr ATM).

Otherwise, be polite, have an open mind, and stop fucking it up for everyone who'll follow you with stupid handholding pablum.

[boltonoutlaw]

Easy chorus boy. Ur not too sharp. Thats 2K R/T from JFK. If you do much better than 1500 I'll carry your skis to the summit from the gondi.
Not sure how a common TR fuck's up a place - it takes angry a**holes like you to do that

[ImSearchingforPowder]

I hope a bomb falls on your head when you go to Kashmir

[boltonoutlaw]

That is funny. I'd be pissed too if I was from Knoxville

I hope a bomb falls on your head when you go to Kashmir

Real people are dying real deaths right now in Kashmir as a result of bombs. I hope you are proud of yourself.

[ImSearchingforPowder]

Yea I'd be pissed too if I was a liberal

[Hugh Conway]

Easy chorus boy. Ur not too sharp. Thats 2K R/T from JFK. If you do much better than 1500 I'll carry your skis to the summit from the gondi.
Not sure how a common TR fuck's up a place - it takes angry a**holes like you to do that

boltonoutlaw's TR will feature pictures of him on a sledge wearing rented boots and fur coat with a smug look of satisfaction being dragged around on a sledge for rs. 100

I'm more than happy to keep the perceived cost of getting there for tosspots as high as you want it to be.

[ImSearchingforPowder]

Another TR would probably include him in some type of hostage video on NBC

[boltonoutlaw]

TR will feature pictures of him on a sledge wearing rented boots and fur coat

Bringing my own boots, and thanks for the well-wishes.

[unofficialandes]

I hear it is a crazy place - your going to have a great time!

I know some guys who will be there this winter -- pm me if you want their info

[boltonoutlaw]

WINTER SEASON
Gulmarg Kashmir winter season will open on 21 December 2007 and close on 15th of April 2008. After April backcountry ski/snowboard touring and camping is also possible, avalanche risk remains high after March.

FIRST SNOW FALL 2007-2008
In Kashmir both North Himalayan ranges 5500ft ALT and North Peerpanchal ranges 4800ft ALT experienced first six inches of snow fall on 23 Septenber 2007, which resulted drop in temperature. This time we have (-2) freezing temperature in night and morning in Gulmarg. Last year first snow fall in Gulmarg was on 1st December 2007, we ski/snowboard from top of Apharwat to Gulmarg and Tangmarg. The main season of powder in Gulmarg starts from 10th of December up to end of March.
Last year in end of March snow condition was excellent to enjoy Himalayan powder dreams.

GULMARG GONDOLA OPERATION AND TARIFF FOR 2007-2008 WINTER SEASON
1ST DECEMBER 2007 TO 1ST JANUARY 2008
Phase 1st (approximately 9 am opening for the tourists)
Phase 2nd (approximately 9.30 am opening for the tourists)
1ST JANUARY TO 1ST FEBERUARY.
Phase 1st (approximately 8.30 am opening for the tourists)
Phase 2nd (approximately 9.30 am opening for the tourists)
1ST FEBERUARY TO 1ST MARCH
Phase 1st (approximately 8.00 am opening for the tourists)
Phase 2nd (approximately 9.30 am opening for the tourists)
1ST MARCH TO ROUND THE YEAR
Phase 1st (approximately 10.00am opening for the tourists)
phase 2nd (apptroximately 10.30 am opening for the tourists)

TARIFF FOR 2007-2008 WINTER SEASON
Phase 1
Single trip. RS 100
DAY PASSES
Domestic skiers/snowboard RS 300
Foreign skiers/snowboard RS 500
WEEKLY PASSES
Foreign skiers/snowboard RS 3000
Domestic skiers/snowboard RS 1500

PHASE 2
Single trip RS 250 for both domestic & foreigner
DAY PASSES
Foreigner skier/snowboard RS 1000
Domestic skier/snowboard RS 500
WEEKLY PASSES
Foreigner skier/snow board RS 5000
Domestic skier/snowboard RS 3000
SEASONAL PASSES
For both domestic and foriegner RS 18000

Text snipped from J&K Tourism Press Release
More info...J&K State Cable Car Corp., LTD
More info...J&K Tourism

[rideit]

What the fuck is this 'tourist-domestic' price differentiation crap?

[jon gaper]

charge the tourists more? same with the airfares and hotels in india. and 1000rs for the day? isnt that about $20? and isnt that a months pay for a hotel worker?

i did ski gulmarg 20 yrs ago. the electricity went out several times a day. you can spend a lot of time on the lift. still that way?

any beheadings lately?

good luck. go to ladahk if you can

[boltonoutlaw]

Norwegian Skier Lost in Kashmir.
Two trips, two mistakes, two search operations. Death wish?
Hope she gets found - Good luck.

[Sparky]

I am very jealous, I hope to get there soon. Looking forward to the TR. Have a good one.

[Hugh Conway]

Norwegian Skier Lost in Kashmir.
Two trips, two mistakes, two search operations. Death wish?
Hope she gets found - Good luck.

Why don't you STFU about people you don't know and have likely never met?

Hope they find F

[FrozenPPT]

Go with an open mind because things will not go your way. Thats all I can say.

I had no idea Gulmarg was a big ski destination spot. Maybe the next time I am in India.

[Nomad79]

$2000 may not be the cheapest ticket, but its definitely not a rip off. I travel to india every year and its hard to find tickets for less than $1700 to the major cities.

What the fuck is this 'tourist-domestic' price differentiation crap?

Easiest way to explain it is to correlate it to the in state vs out of state vs international tution rates at public universities in the US. they figure since the taxes paid by people in india help develop the infrastructure there, they are given a break in the prices. i am sure that some of it also comes down to subsidising it for a lot of indians who could not afford it otherwise...but this kinda is their logic.

Hope you have a great trip bolton. Hopefully i will be able to go to Gulmarg soon.

[boltonoutlaw]

What the fuck is this 'tourist-domestic' price differentiation crap?

Easiest way to explain it is to correlate it to the in state vs out of state vs international tution rates at public universities in the US. they figure since the taxes paid by people in india help develop the infrastructure there, they are given a break in the prices.

Great analogy.
In any case the difference in the rate amounts to a pittance. Harping on it here is easy. Raising a stink over it in front of the locals there only makes you look cheap. One can always opt to stick to principles, and stay home.

[boltonoutlaw]

Thread bump - Blog updated:

Gulmarg '07/08

[filthyfrenchbum]

+++++VIBES+++++

Did you actually end up returning or not? Your blog is very well written, but some action pictures would be a welcome addition.

[boltonoutlaw]

Did you actually end up returning or not?

It took a month to get compensation tickets from the airlines, but they finally forked 'em out. I fly to SXR Monday for the remainder of the season. Sorry about the lack of actions shots (for now) - will post from Gulmarg. Thanks for the comps + vibes.

[Poz]

looks cool man. I'll be in India next year, hoping to make it to Gulmarg.

All depends when we get there and how I can convince my woman that we should be skiing instead of sitting on a beach in Goa.

[soul_skier]

i've been talking to mc_roon a bit, he arrived around a week ago, when I heard from him his first words were "get here yesterday, this place is the definition of sickness."


That is all I have to add