Budget : INR 21000
Highest Altitude Gain : 5,289 Mtr. ( 17,352 Ft. ).
Grade : Challenging.
Approx Trekking Km : 60 Kms.
Activities : Trekking, Camping & Photography of Nature.
Best Time to Go : May - Mid July & September - October.
Looming at a lofty height of 5,289 m, the Friendship peak is one of the most famous and sought after peak of the Pir Panjal range. An ideal proving ground for a budding mountaineer; it is the only open peak in the Himachal region. Apart from offering majestic panoramic views of the Pir Panjal range, Friendship Peak is also the vantage point for the captivating views of the Shitidhar, Hanuman Tibba, Indrasan, Deo Tibba Peaks & Seven Sisters. Though graded as non technical, the climb requires a good amount of physical fitness, and a prior high altitude climbing experience would be helpful.
The trek starts from the village of Dhundi. A uphill climb through lush green valley and thick forests leads to the first camp site at Luahli. After a acclimatization period at Luahli, the trek resumes for the base camp. This region is marked by moraines and boulder zones, moving through green patches, crossing rivers. This region is also full of glacial ice. The subsequent trek to the summit camp involves moving through thick snow regions and ascending and descending on snowy slopes. The panoramic view of Friendship Peak, Shitidhar Peak, Ladakhi Peak, Hanuman Tibba, and Seven Sisters is the highlight of this stretch. The summit attempt is done from this camp, at the earliest of morning as weather becomes randomly unpredictable as the sun climbs further up in the sky.
The climb is as exciting as it sounds and more. It is a must add to the profile of every budding mountaineer.