We all seek different kinds of terrain in different regions of the Himalayas. Bhrigu Lake is the shortest and most popular monsoon trail for those who love to trek in mild showers and a pleasant weather. This spiritual alpine lake settled at the height of 4,267 M attracts people from all over the globe for stargazing, meditation, trekking, and exploring some breathtaking sceneries. After the emerald green Bhrigu Lake itself, the second-best highlight of this short trek is a monumental view of giants such as the Seven Sister Peaks, Deo Tibba, Hanuman Tibba, and Solang valley from the Rola Kholi campsite. Monsoons cast a green spell on the trail taking you through enchanting meadows, vibrant wildflowers, and also massive boulders. Overall, if we were to describe the 3-day trek in 3 words, we would call it an ideal ‘long weekend trek’.
In this article, we will discuss the difficulty level of the Bhrigu Lake trek and the gear and skills you need to complete the trek safely.
The difficulty level of the trek:
The Bhrigu Lake trek is a level 2 trek on the Bikat Rating Scale.
About the BRS: The Bikat Rating Scale rates the difficulty level of all treks and expeditions in our portfolio after taking into account their geographical and climatic conditions.
According to this scale, if you are a beginner who is unsure of your fitness level and don’t know what to expect on a trek, a trek-rated one will be a good place to start. If you liked your very first trekking experience and are looking to test your limits next, the treks rated 2 or 3 will do the job for you.
A beginner who is sure of their fitness level on the other hand is welcome to skip the first two levels and directly start with one of the treks rated 3.
From 4 onwards, the rules change a little. It is mandatory to have trekking experience of the previous level to participate in the next level.
The trails of Bhrigu Lake trek
Dominated by meadows, the trail on day 1, from Gulaba to Rola Kholi, takes us through moderate ascends for 7 km with most of it running through the grasslands. The trail for day 2 is full of surprises. We climb 5 km through a mix of meadows, scree, boulders, and slush created by the rain, to reach a high ground near the beautiful Bhrigu Lake. Small flowers with vibrant hues, the humble shepherd’s dog, and drizzles of monsoon showers accompany us throughout. Now that you have a fair idea about the trail, let’s look at some of the challenges you might encounter.
Challenge 1: Continuous Ascent
Pick any Himalayan trek with lush meadows; it takes a long time to cross a forest section, traverse through a few plains and reach high ground. But, in a short trek like Bhrigu Lake, the forest section quickly ends and leads us into a wide meadow with steady ascends. There is not an inch of flat land for 7 km before Rola Kholi. This patch requires adequate leg strength to get through and reach the campsite for the day in time. Baby steps and a constant rhythm of waking are the tricks of the trade usually employed by experts for such terrain.
Challenge 2: Altitude
Though the trek to Bhrigu Lake is easy and suitable for all, acclimatizing to high altitude is still a challenge. And since it is a short trek, we are also gaining this altitude fairly quickly. On day 1 we go up 800M in 6 hours. This kind of altitude gain may take a toll even on seasoned trekkers. Proper hydration of the body and adequate layering with a standard fitness level are some things that can prevent you from the ill effects of altitude and help your body adapt to the quickly changing environment better. Nausea, headache, and tiredness are some common symptoms that come with sudden altitude gain which are likely to happen to you on this trail. However, it is important to keep your symptoms in check and inform the trek leaders of any physical discomfort you might experience. All in all, proper nutrition and hydration are the best preventive medicines at high altitude.
Challenge 3: Whiteouts
The cotton clouds of monsoon envelop the entire landscape of Bhrigu Lake within a matter of seconds. Walking through the mystical clouds is, without a doubt, a heavenly experience. But sometimes, the clouds get carried away to grow thicker and denser, reducing the visibility to zero. We have heard many stories of trekkers losing their way in the past. We would advise you to stay close to your trek leader or local guide during such whiteouts.
GEAR REQUIRED FOR BHRIGU LAKE
While we will be providing most of the equipment needed for trekking (tents, sleeping bags, etc), there is some basic gear you will need from your end to get through your hike comfortably.
These are a sturdy, lightweight backpack and comfortable trekking shoes. In case, you plan on purchasing them, please refer to the articles below for some helpful tips on how to go about choosing the right gear for your trek.
A branded backpack can be a hefty spend when it comes to trekking. But this needn’t be the case if you know what to look for when purchasing one.
One of our founders, Pankaj, purchased a non-branded pack for INR 1100 in 2010 and the pack continues to work just fine for him. In the article linked above, he shares some helpful tips on what to look for when choosing a trekking backpack.
How to choose a good pair of hiking shoes
Conventional sports shoes don’t suit trekking trails. We recommend wearing high ankle shoes with sturdy soles. These not only provide better support but also reduce the possibility of injuries while hiking. Please refer to the guide linked above for some useful tips on choosing trekking shoes.
SKILLS REQUIRED FOR BHRIGU LAKE TREK
Bikat Adventures is primarily an adventure learning organization. This means our key objective is not just to help trekkers complete their treks but also to ensure they pick up some valuable lessons and skills in trekking along the way.
To achieve this, we have created learning modules and paired them to different levels on the Bikat Rating Scale.
These modules are taught in real-time on the trails by our trek leaders.
The following are some skills that are likely to come in handy on a trek to Bhrigu Lake.
While you will have all the assistance you need on the trek from our capable trek leaders and guides, we suggest browsing through the articles below to get an idea of what is involved.
Ascending and Descending on Trails
As mentioned in the challenges, Day 1 is all about steady ascents. Maintaining the right rhythm and body posture can help avoid injuries and stress on your ankles and knees. The guide linked above shares some useful tips on how to ascend and descend down trails.
Being a monsoon trek, Bhrigu Lake receives frequent rains. This means we need to pack backpacks in such a way that our rain gear is accessible during the trek. The article linked above shares some useful guidelines you can follow to pack your backpacks efficiently while on the trail.
Our trek leaders will be guiding you on how to pitch a tent during the trek. Nevertheless, we are linking the article above for anyone who might be interested in reading about it.
Unlike winter treks of the Himalayas, the temperature of Bhrigu Lake is bearable. But, the weather here rapidly changes because of the monsoon rain. Switching from rainwear to warm clothes affects the temperature of your body. A simple 2 layered quick-dry attire during sunny days, a poncho or rainwear during rains, and a down jacket in chilly winds would do the trick. The article linked above will give you a fair idea of the layers you need and guide you on how to layer up at campsites and while hiking.
Trekking poles can come in handy while trekking, especially during descents. Please refer to the article above to find out the right way to use a trekking pole while hiking.
We hope this article answers all the questions you may have about the Bhrigu Lake trek. In case you need further assistance/information with something, please feel free to reach out to us. We are only a phone call away.
