Trek Maps

If you are looking for trek maps and elevation profiles for treks in Himachal, you are in the right place. This page has links to maps for all the treks I have been to till now. And each of

these maps has been personally mapped using a GPS, so you can rest assured that the map has actually walked the trail. A bit on how best to use them though. The trails are indicative at best. Do not take them as absolute truths. There are multiple reasons for saying this:

1. GPS is an electronic instrument and has an inherent error. Additionally, in mountainous terrains, the satellite reception is not always the best. So, the actual trail and the GPS trail may differ. My GPS, a Garmin eTrex Vista Hcx has admitted an error of 53 142 metres at times.
2. I have seen the GPS disorient many times in the last 2-3 months and draw gibberish tracks; drop altitude by 100 metres in a flash when I was actually climbing.
3. Routes on trekking trails often change e.g. different trails used in summer and winter because of snow or change of trail due to landslides.
4. There are mostly multiple trails possible, especially in jungles, each as good as the other. So, no one trail is the 'the trail'.
5. If you have taken along a guide, he is better than a GPS. Your guide knows the local conditions and area well, your GPS does not.

So, wise words from an old man. The best way to use these trails is to use them for waypoints. If you can see yourself walking on the trail I have mapped, very nice. Say thanks! If not, dont panic and dont abuse me. Just ensure you can see some kind of a path and by some way, long and winding or short and straight, it seems to be going to the next waypoint marked on the trail. The waypoints are pretty accurate in most cases because I have waited for sometime and let the GPS stabilize and reduce error before marking them. Most importantly, waypoints are visible to the naked eye. Use the GPS trail in conjunction with the route details on individual trek pages.

If you love this site too much and do not even want to navigate out of it for looking at a map, use the Open Street Map frame at the end of this page. But then, you got to find the trails on the map yourself. Small price to pay for the love!!

| More...