The Rupin Pass is generally thought to be amongst India's most iconic high-altitude crossings, connecting the vibrant and historical forests of Uttarakhand with the rugged landscape of Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. It is rated a Level 3 trek (Moderate-Difficult), with its constantly evolving landscapes from lush oak tree forests and hanging villages to glacial meadows and a stunning 3-stage waterfall. Most trekkers' challenge on this trek comes at the very end of their trek when they must navigate a tough vertical ascent of approximately 2,000+ meters within an extremely narrow gully created from both snow and rock, with an open elevation of 15,250 ft. above sea level. The trek not only requires physical endurance, but also mental toughness for technical trekking sections and need for adequate acclimatization related to the rapid rate of elevation gain. These factors combined make the Rupin Pass a must-do experience on a seasoned trekker's bucket list for adventurous trekking at extreme high altitude.

1. Terrain: Geology at High Altitude

• The Trail: This path offers so much diversity in terms of the different types of surfaces encountered, from the soft loam of oak woods, to slippery granite slabs, loose scree, and finally the iconic gully, a steep 70 degree slope consisting of snow and boulders.
• The Challenge: You are not just trekking, but you are constantly adjusting the way your feet contact the ground. Whether balancing on a log bridge over the Rupin River, or using kick-step techniques to trek into solid snow on the final push to the summit, you will constantly be adjusting your footwork.
• Honest Take: This trek is knee punishing. Although the ascent on the trek is grueling, it is the 5,000 '+ descent into Sangla on the last day that will leave most trekkers at their physical limit.

2. Altitude: Manageable, Not Neglected

• The Stats: From Dhaula to the Rupin Pass, you will be gaining nearly 9,000 ft. total vertical ascent over five days of trekking.
• The Challenge: At Dhanderas Thatch, the difference in atmospheric density (i.e. thin air) will become noticeable. After this point, every step in the gully will feel as if you have taken ten due to the lack of available oxygen.
• Honest Take: This trek will have a classic stairway to heaven profile. If you haven't trained your cardiovascular system in the least, the final 1,000 ft. uphill will feel like you're trekking in slow motion.

3. The Weather: Unpredictably Beautiful

• The Conditions: The Rupin Valley is a funnel for weather systems, meaning you could experience extreme heat in the lower meadows, and a localized blizzard at the pass within three hours of each other.
• The Challenge: At the pass, high winds can make trekking on the narrow ridge dangerous, while rain in the lower sections of the trek will create mudslides on the steep forest trails.
• Honest Take: Do not trust a clear blue sky. The weather on the Rupin valley does not just change; it is actually resetting itself. You will need to access your entire layering system at all times, as it will be buried at the bottom of your bag.

4. Duration and Remoteness: The Mental Aspect

• The Stats: You will be off the grid for the entire 7- 8 day trek. You will have no cellular connection, no electricity, and no way to contact anyone once you leave the trailhead at Jiskun/Jakha.
• The Challenge: There is no easy way to quit the trek mid-way through. Once you arrive at the Upper Waterfall Camp, the only way to get out the fastest is to finish the trek. This can take mentally for anyone that is used to being connected to others.
• Honest Take: This is as much a mental obstacle as it is physical. By day five, you will be feeling the cold along with the lack of creature comforts.

The Rupin Pass Trek is classified as a moderate to difficult level trek and should not be taken lightly by any casual trekkers. While it does not require technical mountaineering skills, it still requires a reasonable level of fitness and mountain sense in order for you to enjoy the trek. Because the difficulty of this trek is back-loaded, although the initial days may seem like all you are doing is trekking in paradise, the last push through the 15,250 ft. gully will be a very difficult, oxygen-deprived scramble that will challenge both your lungs and your mind. If you arrive prepared for extremely steep uphill, knee-crushing declines, and the unpredictable weather patterns of a crossover pass, the Rupin Pass trek will be an adrenaline rush; if you arrive unfit, the Rupin Pass will teach you what being small feels like rather than providing a peaceful, easy trek in the clouds.

The Beginner - Friendly Myth

There has been a longstanding misconception that the Rupin Pass is a good beginner trek because of the high number of trekkers who share images of the location on social media. However, calling it beginner-friendly is quite misleading, and many people find themselves unprepared due to the reality of this trek. While the first two days, passing through both the hanging villages of Jakha and the fir forests of Uttarakhand, may be an easier trek, most of the actual difficulty of this trek is in the second half, unlike other entry-level treks that may have similar altitudes but become less challenging once you leave the lower elevations. This is a highly technical trek and requires a great amount of cardiovascular endurance and ability to navigate through complex terrains. The Rupin Pass can be more accurately characterized as a bridge trek for someone who has completed a couple of treks to 12,000 feet, and has now made the transition to the technical and challenging parts of completing a trek to 15,250 feet.

The Summit Push: The Real Test

The summit push on the Rupin Pass is a true test of endurance that sets this trail apart from regular treks in the Himalayas. Trekking from Upper Waterfall camp in the freezing darkness before dawn, trekkers must cross the notorious gully that is your last obstacle before reaching the pass. Depending on the month this area requires a lot of effort to kick step up through deep, hardened snow or to trek precariously over shifting boulders and loose scree. At 15,250 feet, you are working against thin air so every step up takes a great deal of strength of mind to achieve. It is very much a prolonged, high intensity ascent and the rewarding fatigue you experience will be matched by the breathtaking, movie-like view of Kinnaur Kailash once you reach the top.

1. The Exceptional Acclimators: This group includes people who have already been acclimatized to altitudes above 12,500 feet without experiencing any serious AMS. The altitude change of 3,550 feet is more than can acclimate to very well, especially since the difference from 11,700 feet to 15,250 feet is such a big jump.
2. Biomechanically Prepared: This group includes people with very strong eccentric (downhill) leg muscles. You will also need to prepare your legs to recover from a continuous 5,000-foot descent into Sangla, which puts your knees and quadriceps through a tough test.
3. Multipurpose Navigators: This group of people will be comfortable on mixed terrain. You must be able to balance on loose rocks and boulders, as well as on slippery snow (particularly when you are navigating the gully at an angle of 60 to 70 degrees).
4. Self-Reliant Expeditioners: This group of trekkers will be responsible for their own layering and hydration. Because the Rupin gully is a natural funnel for all types of weather, you will need to be able to control your own body temperature without the constant guidance of staff.
5. Cultural and Geological Explorers: This group of people wishes to experience the Trans-Himalayan Crossover by viewing the impressive change from the lush, green valleys of Uttarakhand to the vast, barren, rocky ridges in Kinnaur.

Rupin Pass vs. Phulara Ridge: When comparing Rupin Pass to Phulara Ridge, you will find considerable differences in difficulty between these two trails with Phulara being a much less technical trail and easier to trek than Rupin. Although both trails start from the same area, they have very different elevations with Phulara being hard as Rupin. Phulara is essentially a ridge trek with gradual terrain and moderate elevations creating a great opportunity for someone who is getting accustomed to altitude trekking experience while Rupin has much steeper, more technical ascents, remounts and descent than Phulara requiring additional strength and conditioning for trekking the (15,250') to the top.

Rupin Pass vs. Bali Pass: When comparing Rupin Pass vs. Bali Pass, they both are extremely challenging high elevation trails, but Bali Pass is much higher as well as significantly more difficult to trek due to the extreme exposure, with razor sharp ridgelines and very steep descents. The Rupin gully is steep; however it is a shorter steep than the Bali Pass. Bali Pass is primarily for people that have previously completed trails such as Rupin, and are looking for a much more advanced challenging technical alpine environment than either of the two trails.

Rupin Pass vs. Sandakphu: Rupin Pass and Sandakphu are very different from one another. Sandakphu is a mostly teahouse trek, with many well-marked paths and vehicle access. You will be challenged by this trek to Sandakphu if you're used to trekking to Sandakphu. If you find that you do not have enough self-sufficiency and fitness to do the same for Rupin as you did for Sandakphu, then there is little chance of succeeding at Rupin.

Verdict: Rupin Pass is the perfect graduation trek that spans the trekking from being a casual trekker to becoming a high altitude mountaineer. Sandakphu represents an entry level trek, while Phulara Ridge is a moderate altitude trek. The Rupin Pass is a challenging trek requiring a major step in grit to complete the difficult gullies. For those who have surpassed the scenic nature of treks but are still not quite ready for the high level of technical skill required for coiling the trail to Bali Pass, this trek fills this gap.

Achieving summit of Rupin Pass isn't just about being in the right place at the right time; it takes planning and effort to train for a challenge like this one, which is classified as level 3, as it goes from a trek in the park to a high altitude expedition as soon as you hit the waterfall camps. So whether or not you want to get to the top, enjoy the challenge of getting there; you must train for the technical and physical requirements that a 15,250 ft crossover will require, rather than simply being fit enough, to have a positive summit experience.

1. Physical Preparation: Engine Building

The Rupin Pass is going to test your cardiovascular endurance and biomechanical endurance. You are creating a reliable engine, not just fitness, that doesn't shut down when your oxygen levels fall too low. 

• Your 5km Benchmark: Your goal is to run a 5km in less than 30 minutes - 32 minutes. By achieving this benchmark, you will have sufficiently developed your heart and lungs, thus enabling them to sustain the rapid vertical ascent of the gully which is from the waterfall camps to the summit.
• Eccentric Loading: The 5,000 ft descent from the Rupin Pass to Sangla is a knee-breaker. Train with weighted step-downs and lunges to condition your quads for the continual downhill braking required after you leave the Pass.
• Backpack Conditioning: The trek should not be the first time you are carrying additional weight. To simulate the effect on your body while you are scrambling through the steep, low-oxygen gully, train using an 8-10kg backpack on stairs.

2. Gear Preparation: Your Lifeline

Your gear is your only lifeline while you are ascending through the weather funnel of the Rupin gully. The correct equipment at high altitude will determine whether you will successfully cross the Rupin gully or be forced to trek back down.

• Footwear integrity: Wear high-ankle trekking boots with deep lugs. You'll encounter slippery mud, loose scree and hard-packed snow along the way, and the most important safety feature of your footwear is good traction, so wear boots with good traction.
• Five Layer System: As weather can change in an instant, it is important to carry a good down jacket (rated for -10 degrees) and a good waterproof shell. Use moisture management materials to keep your core from dropping during your summit push.
• Tech Essentials: Use high-quality aluminum trekking poles to save your joints while dropping down from Sangla, and micro-spikes to maintain your grip while trekking up the 70-degree icy slope of the Rupin gully.