Anyone else going to be in Gulmarg this winter

[mc_roon]

im going to be there from January through March. And i will be able to provide cheap accommodations as well. so whose in?

[Knucklehead]

I'm deciding between going to Gulmarg and Uzbekistan this winter. It's hard to choose, neither has a lot of info available online.

[boltonoutlaw]

Just sent in for my visa. Looking at 60 days from the 1st of '08. No plans yet, but it's Gulmarg all the way. What's the dealy on gondi passes - is there a season pass, or what?

[mc_roon]

unclear about the season pass. Most people just pay by the ride, but it might be worth it if your staying a long time to get a pass.

[Xavier]

When I was there i feb 2007 no one had season passes, usually people bought day passes (there is one pass for first phase, one for second). If you werent slow like me, then you went for the singles. The passes are so bloody cheap anyway.

Knucklehead; Uzbekistan? Do you have any linkable info? I would probably go for Gulmarg, but there is a risk it will be "crowded" this winter, the word seems to have spread.

[kiwi9]

hey mate im heading gulmarg late jan or feb if I can get enough money together,will be off sometime in march back to NZ.keen to do a bitv boarding with anyone whos keen as I'm heading by myself.and cheap accom sounds good!my email is macfarlanes@nettel.net.nz

[boltonoutlaw]

I am spending 2-3 months at Gulmarg for the '07/08 season. Looking to make friends for riding/safety and apres. Plan to live in/at Gulmarg near the gondola. Would like to assist patrol services and hold a camera for film crew, as well. Have been researching internet for advance info - would appreciate any info or welcoming. Am looking for weather info for Gulmarg, if it exists, and lastly, a recommendation for a comfortable, fair-priced hotel in Srinagar. Thanks,

[sammy5]

Hello hello, I'll be heading out to Gulmarg for Feb with a good mate from back home. That's the UK, by the way. We're all sorted for accomm with Ski Himalaya (aussie T/O), which seems basic but at least we'll minimise the time spent fooking around when we get there (fingers crossed).
It's be good to meet up for riding partners, etc with anyone who's out there. 4's the safest number of people IMHO, and a little bit of apres never hurt anyone.

Serious note: Has anyone got any half decent maps/beta for the place? Literally, google earth is the best I've got!
Sam

[boltonoutlaw]

We're all sorted for accomm with Ski Himalaya (aussie T/O), which seems basic but at least we'll minimise the time spent fooking around when we get there (fingers crossed).
...a little bit of apres never hurt anyone.
...Literally, google earth is the best I've got!

You are going to be SO happy you booked with Ski Himalaya instead of trying to do this independently. Do yourself a favor and bring the minimum as carry-on. The airport dance and security screenings in DEL & SXR are daunting and exhausting. People mob up so be prepared. The one item I was most happy I brought was my zero bag. Power goes out often and central heating is sparse and set at a minimum. My balls would have been frozen peas without my sleeping bag.

If you don't bring your own liquor you can forget about apres. Buy it in DEL duty-free shop, as there is no liquor sales in SXR or Kashmir.

If you have Google Earth then you have the best available info. Check out this blog where a lot of Gulmargian info is collected together, and you already know Peter R. of Ski Himalaya, so you have the best information available. Good luck!

PS: Map Sources

[sammy5]

If you don't bring your own liquor you can forget about apres. Buy it in DEL duty-free shop, as there is no liquor sales in SXR or Kashmir.

Sweet, what's your poison?

Seriously, good advice - I take it you've done this before? ....we leave Jan 29th so let me know if there's any stuff you've forgotten, or realise you wish you had brought.

See you out there...

Sam
---
Somehow, I can't help but start sentences with an 'S'

[boltonoutlaw]

Sweet, what's your poison?

It wouldn't be prudent to say

...we leave Jan 29th

Good, by the time you arrive the madness surrounding Republic Day should be over (I hope).

[Hugh Conway]

You can buy liquor or beer in Srinagar - if you are staying at a houseboat ask the owner/boy; they'll get it for you. Beer is legit; hard liquor is mostly black market. There's also a store you can purchase it as; didn't bother so don't know the details. Its much cheaper than in Gulmarg.

In Gulmarg the Highlands Park will serve to anyone liquor + beer in the lounge. If you are with Ski Himalayas the Pine Palace will provide beer, otherwise no unless you raise a fuss (and then they'll try to overcharge you).

Ski-Himalaya charges you twice the walk up rate and provide shitass "guides". If thats a bargain, well, cool.

Yes, Republic Day is to be avoided. This information is a year old, FWIW. Oh, and boltonoutlaw is a douchebag who'll send you insulting PMs but has barred himself from receiving them. Consider that a character statement.

[boltonoutlaw]

You can buy liquor or beer in Srinagar...In Gulmarg the Highlands Park will serve...liquor + beer in the lounge.

I was talking about somes cases and a few handles, not a cocktail with the girls

Ski-Himalaya charges you twice the walk up rate and provide shitass "guides". If thats a bargain, well, cool.

I'll be sure to tell them you said so

Consider that a character statement.

When you pull your tits out of the wringer, and unbunch your panties, you can fire away with your PM. PS: Some yogurt up there will get rid of that yeast infection.

[Kashmir Powdercats]

My name is Peter Robinson and I am the founder of Ski Himalaya.

I have been travelling to Gulmarg for a decade.

The amount of ill informed drivel about Gulmarg which appears on snow chat forums by "one visit fountains of knowledge" never ceases to amaze me. The frequency of prejudice and bias over fact is disappointing.

SKI HIMALAYA CONTRIBUTION TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Ski Himalaya is the biggest generator of private sector jobs in winter for the communities which surround Gulmarg, where unemployment during the winter months is chronic. Last winter Ski Himalaya provided 5 to 12 weeks winter employment for the breadwinners of 15 local families, meaning that our guests contributed almost all of the winter income for in excess of 100 men, women and children from the communities surrounding Gulmarg.

SKI HIMALAYA PRICES

Ski Himalaya itineraries are costed at prices which are in line with what guests would pay if they booked all of our itinerary inclusions directly.

Sam, one of our guests above, is staying at our new centrally heated ski-in ski-out budget option, The Pir Panjal Inn, which we are offering to long-stay guests this winter at significantly less than the regular hotel tariff. "Walk-ups" will pay more, not less, for this accommodation, if they wish to book directly.

To stress the point about price, we have two party bookings this winter who have booked with us, after initially making enquiries direct with our hotel partners in Gulmarg, regarding the cost of booking direct.

MOUNTAIN HOSTING - KASHMIR POWDERCATS

Ski Himalaya does not offer mountain guides. We do provide a mountain hosting service led by local Kashmiris, which is combined with co-ordinated transport service back from the valley floor. Our team of eight drivers have been selected because they are the best and most reliable of the local taxi drivers at Tangmarg. This means our guests enjoy minimal waiting time for trips back from Tangmarg and other destinations in the valley - which is a rare experience for visitors to Gulmarg who prefer "independence".

All of our mountain hosting team participated at the beginning of this winter in a two week intensive training program which focussed exclusively on avalanche awareness and avalanche emergency rescue skills.

This professional development training continues throughout the winter, with each Sunday dedicated to training in avalanche risks of various aspects of Mt Apharwhat throughout the winter. The team rests on Saturdays, and hosts Ski Himalaya guests on the mountain from Monday to Friday.

Our mountain hosting team includes a former slalom champion of India, a former giant slalom champion for Kashmir, a former multi-placegetter in numerous Indian National and Kashmir State championships, plus the winner of the biggest alpine event in Kashmir during the 2006 winter, The Chief Minister's Cup (an event that was not held last winter).

Most of our ski team have similar backgrounds as local ski racers. We also employ three trainee snowboarders who we are skilling up for the future. At the moment they attend to our slower guests, which are of course a minority.

BEER

Ski Himalaya apologies to noone for reserving OUR beer for OUR guests.

TROLLS

As a final comment, one thing I regret about establishing "Ski Himalaya" and the publicity our website brings to Gulmarg, is the unfortunate attraction of the type of westerner who would browbeat down the price of a beer, with a barman who lives in a part of the world which had been economically devastated for the majority of the past 20 years.

These same westerners screw down the price they pay for everything, from accommodation to food to souvenirs to transport and whinge over the best way to minimise the meagre sums they pay for Gulmarg's gondola, without which they would not be visiting Kashmir in the first place.

Over & Out
Peter Robinson
www.skihimalaya.com