Heliski Kashmir 20/21

Not sure if you've been following the news, but the security situation in Kashmir is incredibly unstable right now, more so than usual (there have been almost weekly attacks in Srinagar for the past few months, for example.) I'm sure it should be fine for skiing this season and next, and in fact I'm planning a trip this January, but I wouldn't make too many plans yet.

jackjNot sure if you've been following the news, but the security situation in Kashmir is incredibly unstable right now, more so than usual (there have been almost weekly attacks in Srinagar for the past few months, for example.) I'm sure it should be fine for skiing this season and next, and in fact I'm planning a trip this January, but I wouldn't make too many plans yet.

Thanks for the update. I haven’t been following the situation very closely.

jackjNot sure if you've been following the news, but the security situation in Kashmir is incredibly unstable right now, more so than usual (there have been almost weekly attacks in Srinagar for the past few months, for example.) I'm sure it should be fine for skiing this season and next, and in fact I'm planning a trip this January, but I wouldn't make too many plans yet.

@xxACIDTRIPxx isnt a fucking pussy. He is the security situation

HYP3R_REAL1TYThanks for the update. I haven’t been following the situation very closely.

The tl;dr since I'm sure most Newschoolers users don't follow global politics is this:

Kashmir is a disputed area between India and Pakistan, although the relevant part for skiing is controlled by India. Kashmir has previously held a special status in India allowing it to be somewhat independent, without too much oversight from the federal government. In August, India revoked this special status and placed the entire area on lockdown - nobody was allowed to leave their houses. There have been reports of abuse by the Indian armies, and there has been lots of violence against soldiers and Indians in general in Kashmir since. Tourists were banned from visiting Kashmir but this ban was revoked a few weeks ago.

Tourists are not being targeted, as the anger is directed at the Indian government, and Gulmarg has not seen any violence, however Srinagar (the main city you need to fly in through) has seen several terrorist attacks. It is being predicted that the violence will calm down as the weather gets colder, but it is still a comparitively dangerous time to visit Kashmir, and anyone planning to go needs to 1. seriously consider the risks, and 2. be prepared to cancel their trip based on security in the region.

The Ski Gulmarg website had a notice up a few days ago (which I can't find anymore) in which they said the gondola would probably be open this season, so it's not even just about you personally accepting the risk - parts of the resort may not even be open, as I'm sure they're expecting very few tourists this year. That being said, if it is open, the crowds will be tiny, so it could end up being one of the best years to go.

**This post was edited on Dec 1st 2019 at 12:57:17am

TRVP_ANGEL@xxACIDTRIPxx isnt a fucking pussy. He is the security situation

Your a man who knows wassup. How hardcore would it be to get kidnapped?!

that’s a story the boys back home would like

jackjThe tl;dr since I'm sure most Newschoolers users don't follow global politics is this:

Kashmir is a disputed area between India and Pakistan, although the relevant part for skiing is controlled by India. Kashmir has previously held a special status in India allowing it to be somewhat independent, without too much oversight from the federal government. In August, India revoked this special status and placed the entire area on lockdown - nobody was allowed to leave their houses. There have been reports of abuse by the Indian armies, and there has been lots of violence against soldiers and Indians in general in Kashmir since. Tourists were banned from visiting Kashmir but this ban was revoked a few weeks ago.

Tourists are not being targeted, as the anger is directed at the Indian government, and Gulmarg has not seen any violence, however Srinagar (the main city you need to fly in through) has seen several terrorist attacks. It is being predicted that the violence will calm down as the weather gets colder, but it is still a comparitively dangerous time to visit Kashmir, and anyone planning to go needs to 1. seriously consider the risks, and 2. be prepared to cancel their trip based on security in the region.

The Ski Gulmarg website had a notice up a few days ago (which I can't find anymore) in which they said the gondola would probably be open this season, so it's not even just about you personally accepting the risk - parts of the resort may not even be open, as I'm sure they're expecting very few tourists this year. That being said, if it is open, the crowds will be tiny, so it could end up being one of the best years to go.

**This post was edited on Dec 1st 2019 at 12:57:17am

Nice write up. Yeah I’m not too fussed about that stuff, I think it’ll add to the excitement. But it’s interesting how the security situation influences the ski fields out there.

You'd hope the people who'd sink big cash into skiing bottomless via heli would have a good idea of their ability level right? I've never heli'd or even cat skied but I couldn't imagine there would be too many people who would genuinely skow a group down

BiffbarfYou'd hope the people who'd sink big cash into skiing bottomless via heli would have a good idea of their ability level right? I've never heli'd or even cat skied but I couldn't imagine there would be too many people who would genuinely skow a group down

Lol no.

RudyGarmischLol no.

Got any good stories? If I dropped 10k+ on a trip I'd make damn well sure I was in bomb shape and had great gear

BiffbarfYou'd hope the people who'd sink big cash into skiing bottomless via heli would have a good idea of their ability level right? I've never heli'd or even cat skied but I couldn't imagine there would be too many people who would genuinely skow a group down

plenty of rich folks who can ski a couple laps on the black diamonds at Vail before heading back to their penthouse condos for apres in their private hot tubs, also have money to blow on heliskiing. they saw it in a wArReN MiLlEr film and it just looked so cool, and theyve done some double blacks before so no biggie right??

jackjplenty of rich folks who can ski a couple laps on the black diamonds at Vail before heading back to their penthouse condos for apres in their private hot tubs, also have money to blow on heliskiing. they saw it in a wArReN MiLlEr film and it just looked so cool, and theyve done some double blacks before so no biggie right??

This. From what I’ve noticed the majority of people on social media cat skiing and heliskiing are these folks, and professional athletes.

Gulmarg is sick, I've been last year but I wouldn't fully rely on helicopters. We considered doing 1 or 2 days of heli skiing but the heli's had been rented last minute by politicians for the elections in Delhi so were unavailable. You probably want to have a back up (taking the gondola and touring) and have it confirmed that you will rent the heli. Things are definitely not as well arranged there as in any western country.

**This post was edited on Dec 2nd 2019 at 8:06:29am

So I took a 4 day trip out there in Feb 2016 when the political situation was a bit better. It was still pretty fucking bad though. There was a car bombing in the town square that my transit missed by like an hour; a tourist got mauled by an Indian army dog and had to stay there for 2 weeks getting rabies treatments, my guide's cousin died in an avalanche, a guy got mugged at the only ATM in town, I fought off a rapist, and of course, an imposter picked me up from my hotel for my airport transportation and I kicked him in the head and drove the car off a cliff to escape. Kashmir is fucked up, and you couldn't pay me to go back. It's all fun and games until you're looking down the barrels of a dozen cold war m-16s. I know I'm not going to talk you out of it though, so all I can do is give you the best advice I can:

1. Book everything through Kashmir Heliski. They are the only reputable booking agents there, period. Only use their guides for nonheli stuff. Only use their transportation. Only stay at their lodge. Only use their gear. Only eat at places they recommend. It will cost about 20% more total, but it is soooooooo worth it. You need a proper handler at all times, and these folks are the only ones you can trust.

2. Bring a fuckload of cash for the trip so you dont have to try to get any. Also have like 5-10 grand liquid in case you need emergency medical expenses or need to pass a serious bribe.

3. In Delhi, stay at a nice western chain hotel that has it's own airport shuttle, restaurant, and good security.

4. Take out the biggest travel insurance policy and life insurance policy you can.

5. Deflect out of any political conversations. "Oh I totally see the Kashmiri's side," and you might end up being used as a political prop in some fucked up way.

6. Dont walk around or try to sightsee on your own, especially at night. You need a handler at all times.

7. Dont make unsavvy avvie decisions you wouldnt normally make because your guide pressures you into. That snowpack is fucked up.

8. Dont bring women. Now I'm saying this as a woman that soloed out there. The place is 10x more dangerous for women. Women have no business being there. Dont think of it as India, think of it as Pakistan. You are literally paying to go to a war zone.

9. You can save a fuckload on flights by flying through a major vacation destination in Asia: think Bangkok, Shanghai, ect...

Good luck lol

larilinesignSo I took a 4 day trip out there in Feb 2016 when the political situation was a bit better. It was still pretty fucking bad though. There was a car bombing in the town square that my transit missed by like an hour; a tourist got mauled by an Indian army dog and had to stay there for 2 weeks getting rabies treatments, my guide's cousin died in an avalanche, a guy got mugged at the only ATM in town, I fought off a rapist, and of course, an imposter picked me up from my hotel for my airport transportation and I kicked him in the head and drove the car off a cliff to escape. Kashmir is fucked up, and you couldn't pay me to go back. It's all fun and games until you're looking down the barrels of a dozen cold war m-16s. I know I'm not going to talk you out of it though, so all I can do is give you the best advice I can:

1. Book everything through Kashmir Heliski. They are the only reputable booking agents there, period. Only use their guides for nonheli stuff. Only use their transportation. Only stay at their lodge. Only use their gear. Only eat at places they recommend. It will cost about 20% more total, but it is soooooooo worth it. You need a proper handler at all times, and these folks are the only ones you can trust.

2. Bring a fuckload of cash for the trip so you dont have to try to get any. Also have like 5-10 grand liquid in case you need emergency medical expenses or need to pass a serious bribe.

3. In Delhi, stay at a nice western chain hotel that has it's own airport shuttle, restaurant, and good security.

4. Take out the biggest travel insurance policy and life insurance policy you can.

5. Deflect out of any political conversations. "Oh I totally see the Kashmiri's side," and you might end up being used as a political prop in some fucked up way.

6. Dont walk around or try to sightsee on your own, especially at night. You need a handler at all times.

7. Dont make unsavvy avvie decisions you wouldnt normally make because your guide pressures you into. That snowpack is fucked up.

8. Dont bring women. Now I'm saying this as a woman that soloed out there. The place is 10x more dangerous for women. Women have no business being there. Dont think of it as India, think of it as Pakistan. You are literally paying to go to a war zone.

9. You can save a fuckload on flights by flying through a major vacation destination in Asia: think Bangkok, Shanghai, ect...

Good luck lol

Jesus Christ, that’s gnarly. You drove a car off a cliff?

But yeah thanks for the advice, it’s much appreciated!

HYP3R_REAL1TYJesus Christ, that’s gnarly. You drove a car off a cliff?

But yeah thanks for the advice, it’s much appreciated!

Yeah buddy. About 5 minutes into getting in the car I realized what was going on. I kicked him in the head, grabbed the wheel, and swerved us off the road about a 25' fall into the golf course.

I was banged up but not seriously injured. I spit a couple teeth out, booted my door open and climbed up to the road. My real arranged shuttle just happened to be right there and saw the whole thing. Handed him a stack of cash and said "Airport, no stopping."

We drove past like a dozen Indian Army vehicles that were responding to the crash. Tell you what, getting through Srinigar airport security bloodied, concussed, foregn, and half blind from the glass in my eyes was a son of a bitch. "I was in a skiing accident yesterday."

I got through though and luck have it, ran into an army medic at my hotel bar in Delhi. He picked the glass out, superglued a couple cuts, and bought me a few stiff drinks.

Got my teeth stuck back in Beijing, but one of them is chipped real bad and I get PTSD flashbacks when I run my tongue against it.

**This post was edited on Dec 2nd 2019 at 4:40:50pm

Meh I deleted my photo

**This post was edited on Dec 2nd 2019 at 4:43:06pm

larilinesignYeah buddy. About 5 minutes into getting in the car I realized what was going on. I kicked him in the head, grabbed the wheel, and swerved us off the road about a 25' fall into the golf course.

I was banged up but not seriously injured. I spit a couple teeth out, booted my door open and climbed up to the road. My real arranged shuttle just happened to be right there and saw the whole thing. Handed him a stack of cash and said "Airport, no stopping."

We drove past like a dozen Indian Army vehicles that were responding to the crash. Tell you what, getting through Srinigar airport security bloodied, concussed, foregn, and half blind from the glass in my eyes was a son of a bitch. "I was in a skiing accident yesterday."

I got through though and luck have it, ran into an army medic at my hotel bar in Delhi. He picked the glass out, superglued a couple cuts, and bought me a few stiff drinks.

Got my teeth stuck back in Beijing, but one of them is chipped real bad and I get PTSD flashbacks when I run my tongue against it.

**This post was edited on Dec 2nd 2019 at 4:40:50pm

thats hardcore!!! How was the skiing?

You fucking better be hardcore if you're gonna go out there.

Snow was gnarly af. It had been over 50°f everyday for like 2 weeks. That intense sun baking the huge snowpack made it a wild ride wet slide outta your mind. Huge shocks like this are common, and it shows in the layers.

The vert is insane, and the main runs, even a blue under the gondola, were all littered with avalanches, most as big or bigger than a colorado r4.

On top of that, it was a pretty skied up. So in bounds I felt like I was just pushing around a fuck load of avvie debris and chunder.

If you did catch a powder day, it would probs be massive.

Boy did I catch bad conditions tho.

Heliskiing, the snow was much better. HOT POW! But devastating wet slide conditions only really allowed the rider to ski a 16,500' powder blue. The motherfucker shit was strictly off limits.

I mean, I don't wanna say there wasn't good lines to be had. I had plenty of sick ones. I just had to play my hand more than I was used to. There is no way to keep a normal head in the chaos of the place though, so it's tricky to hold your focus.