Snow Leopard Track Nepal 2026: Ganesh Himal, Dhaulagiri, Dolpo and Mustang
The Snow Leopard Track (SLT) is a high-altitude section hike across Asia, ranging from the Himalayan massifs of Nepal to the wild reaches of the Tien-Shan in Kyrgyzstan. During this 2026 season we will scout and document the remainder of Farwest Nepal, parts of Ladakh and Kashmir, and some of the last straggling sections of Central Asia.
Ganesh Himal & Ruby Valley:
This season of scouting in Nepal started with challening and unusually snowy conditions in the Ganesh Himal that forced me along a lower route than I'd originally intended. Thigh-deep snow and a perisitent head cold, compounded with a knee oveuse injury sustained on the way down from Pangsang Bhanjyang forced an early end to the route. A higher route that avoids roads and hydropower remains on the table for the future; DM me for details if you're interested in testing this out.
Dhaulagiri Circuit and Dhorpatan:
More recently, my partner and walked the Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek combined with a traverse of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve. We followed a seldom-used trail connecting Gurjakhani with Muri, then struggled along a hydropower access road that has decimated a sizable extent of the lower jungles along the main circuit. While most groups now jeep into Dobkhan Kharka, the old trail still exists in places. I will retain this lower route in spite of the new road, as conditions along the impacted stretch are likely to improve as the recency of the encroachment fades and primary growth overtakes the spilly piles... The communities along this lower stretch deserve better.
A climb to French Pass that was a bit too hasty dealt my partner a case of moderste AMS, delaying our itinerary by a day. This setback placed us in the path of an intense blizzard that fell upon us around noon the next day, near the summit of Dhampus Pass. Sustained whiteout conditions forced us to make an emergency bivouac on a snowy shoulder at 4900m, where we weathered the storm throuhh the night. This experience left us more than ready for the comforts of the city.
Dolpo and the Far West:
Next up, through May and early June, is a 34-day wilderness traverse connecting Rara Lake with Upper Mustang utilizing old trade routes and novel alpine passages deep in the rain shadow along the Tibetan Border. We aim to stay as high as possible through this stretch, utilizing some existing pieces of the Great Himalaya Trail high route as well as along a long, unverified connection between Dolpo and Lo Manthang. If all goes to plan, this trail will culminate at a nontechnical 6000m peak on the Tibetan border. Stay tuned!