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Set deep in the Indian Himalayas on the western edge of the Tibetan plateau, Ladakh, or 'Little Tibet', is one of the highest and driest inhabited places on earth. It is a land of high passes on the borderland of India and Tibet. This is an extremely harsh environment, yet for centuries it is home to a rich and self-sustaining Buddhist culture. "Life was very simple, but people always had enough, and more than anything they were happy", says Tashi Rabgyas, Ladakh's leading poet, scholar and philosopher.
The Ladakh region is drained by the Indus River and has been part of important trade and pilgrim caravans for millennia. The upper Indus watershed comprises the Ladakh, Stok and Zanskar ranges. It is nestled between the great snow-capped Himalaya Range, the East Karakoram mountain belt and the vast Tibetan plateau, and therefore is sometimes referred to as the “Trans-Himalaya.”
Our study treks will introduce us to the metamorphic rocks of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline zone, the sedimentary rocks of the Tethyan Zone and the Himalayan granites. Perfectly exposed faults and folds effecting brilliant multicolored rocks bear evidence of the formation of the Earth’s greatest mountain ranges.
From south to north there is
a remarkable rainshadow effect. In the southern
most reaches
there are interesting forests influenced
by the highly seasonal monsoon. Northward as
available moisture declines a semi arid to arid
biologic community predominates, except along
the river’s riparian zones.
In the context of an evolving protected area strategy, we will study Ladakh’s flora and fauna including:
Snow leopards, lynx, Marco Polo Sheep, Tibetan Gazelle, Tibetan Antelope (chiru), bharal (blue sheep), ibex, urial, wolves, wild yaks, kiangs, brown bears, marmots, pikas, and markhor
Black-necked cranes, citrine wagtail, horned lark, grandala, streaked rosefinch, great rosefinch, common raven, Tibetan partridges, snowcocks, chukars, lammergeiers, golden eagles, Himalayan griffins, merlin, Tibetan snowfinch, black-billed magpie and white-tailed rubythroats
We will be studying in a land
of deep Buddhist heritage typified by gompas
(Tibetan Buddhist monasteries) and ancient forts,
traversing high grazing areas and visiting small
Buddhist villages. While higher altitude grassy
meadows and ridges have been utilized for yak-grazing,
the traditional economy in Ladakh was founded
on agriculture based on irrigation in the riparian
zones of the Indus and Zanskar rivers. Communities
provided for their own needs, depending on long-distance
trade only for luxuries.
As in other parts of the world, the global market economic pressures in Ladakh have resulted in cash-cropping, petrochemical agriculture, and idealized images of western consumer culture. Trekking ecotourism has had some negative impacts on the more popular trails. Ladakh is therefore in a transition, and we will study human ecology and sustainable development in the Himalayan context.
SCHEDULE
While based in Leh (altitude, 11,526 feet), the program involves several 8-10 day extended backpacks at high altitude. You must be in EXCELLENT physical condition, able to backpack 10 miles/day with a 50 pound backpack. We will frequently be crossing boulder fields. On longer treks, when possible, we will utilize horses to carry some of our gear reducing our carry weight. We will carefully acclimatize to our working altitudes of 3500 to 5000 meters. In September temperature will range from 45-70 degrees. In October the temperatures will dip, 32 to 60 degrees. A brief early season snowstorm is always a possibility.
The program meets in Delhi, India on the evening of August 30, 2005. You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements. Airfare as of February 2005 is about $1,400 (roundtrip). I will meet students upon their arrival in Delhi at a designated hotel near the airport. We will travel by bus together to Leh, Ladakh, India. Travel in Ladakh will be by public transport, rented vehicle, and/or foot.
(Thanks to Jamie Bailey for the photos on this page.)
program info | courses | field conditions | instructor | costs