Jon Wyatt 

Skiing the Himalayas

Gulmarg in Kashmir is attracting growing numbers of western skiers who are fleeing the crowded pistes of the Alps
  
  


Kashmir: Skiing in Kasmir
Buying tickets for the Gulmarg Gondola, which rises to altitude of 3,979m, making it the highest ski lift in the world (two Chinese lifts do go higher, but just take up sightseers who return on the lift, rather than offering skiers access to runs)
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
From the top station of the gondola, skiers walk to the summit of Mount Apharwat, at 4,124m, from where there are off-piste runs in all directions and views down through the mist to the Vale of Kashmir
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
From the summit you can descend through forests all the way down to the valley village of Drang at around 2,200m
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
Hitching a lift with the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, after a backcountry run that ended on a remote army road close to the Pakistan border
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
A sign at the Gondola base station
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
The Highlands Park Hotel, with Mount Apharwat in the background, where skiers, walkers and golfers have been coming since 1966
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
Set up by a retired military officer, the staff at the Highlands Park wear uniforms adapted from the old officer’s “batman”.
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
Repairs are carried out at the Kashmir Alpine Ski Shop, an Aladdin’s Cave of ski gear
Photograph: Jon Waytt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Waytt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
Gulmarg is popular with Indian tourists as well as western skiers witha a sense of adventure
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
As well as the gondola, Gulmarg has three beginners drag lifts in the village. Interest in skiing among Indian tourists is growing rapidly
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
Climbing a ridge towards one of Apharwat’s subsiduary peaks
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
Snow-covered fallen trees create a natural fun park
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
Tom Robbins skis down in front of Sunrise Peak
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
Sunrise Peak has no lifts at all but a New Zealand firm is planning to start a heliski operation on it next year
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/jonwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
Kashmir: Skiing in Kashmir
Ending the trip with a night staying in a houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar, before flying back to Delhi the next morning
Photograph: Jon Wyatt/johnwyatt.co.uk Photograph: Jon Wyatt/guardian.co.uk
 

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