Sunset Peak

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Sunset peak   /  Romesh Thong (4730m) 

Pir Panjal range is a lofty basaltic mountain range bounding Kashmir valley from South. It extends southeastward for more than 200 miles (320 km) from the Neelum (Kishanganga) River in the western Azad Kashmir area (administered by Pakistan), through southwestern Jammu and Kashmir union territory (administered by India), to the upper Beas River in northwestern Himachal Pradesh state, India. Rising sharply to an average elevation of more than 13,000 feet (4,000 metres), it separates the Jammu Hills to the south from the Vale of Kashmir, beyond which lie the Great Himalayas. (Britannica)

Sunset Peak, so named because it is the last of the tops to catch the rays of the setting sun.It is the second highest summit of Pir Panjal range encompassing Kashmir valley. This peak has a saddle-back, and has been several times ascended by Dr Arthur Neve, Dr Ernest Neve and various friends. The ascent, which is not difficult, lies for the last three hours up a snow slope, which gradually increases in steepness and culminates in a rocky arete, the southern face of which, and of the peak itself, drops as a sheer precipice for some hundreds of feet. On the summit pieces of smooth rock with vitreous fracture can be found, showing bubbles and other traces of igneous action. Beyond the Pir Panjal by E. Neve 

At base of Sunset peak(right one)
Chhata pani ko nezo (left one)

10-11 July 2021

We (Alpine Adventurers) planned an expedition to scale the Sunset peak and successfully summitted it on 11th of July 2021 at 10:30am in the morning. It was the first ever expedition to this peak which started from Yusmarg Budgam and ended at Zaznar Mughal road via Naba Pir pass. The peak was first summited by Ernest Neve in 1901, Dr Ashraf in 1970 , then by our team led by Adil Shah in 2017 nearly after three decades. This was my teams second expedition to this peak and we dedicated our success to our brothers Late Adil Shah and Naveed Jeelani who lost their lives while descending from Mt Kolahoi in 2018.

Dargahdolan

On 10th of July, we started our expedition from Yusmarg, a tourist destination in Budgam district. We packed our tents, food items and other things and loaded them on ponies.  The trail is well defined and pretty much wide with marks of vehicle tyres which carry the dead wood from forests. After 40 min of gradual hike through the forest, we reached to Dargahdolan, a small grassy meadow on lower slopes of Pansal range. Continuing further through the forest, suddenly a heavy downpour started which set us back by 20min as we have to look for the cover. Luckily we were in the forest and took a shelter under a tree.

Enroute Gagar Rayil

The trail further goes to Barga Maidan, Gagar Rayil, Dain Zeb etc, These are the upland pastures above the tree line with some nomadic dwellings. From Gagar Rayil, we followed the course of the Ramshi stream which originates from the Ramshi glacier, just below the Sunset peak/ Romesh Thong. After covering a distance of 22kms, we pitched out tents near the base of Katsgalu pass.

Ramshi Nalla below and our campsite

The next day, we left early in the morning after having a light breakfast. We handled our tents and other stuff to our porters because we were going to descend down from Mughal road and it wasn't possible for them to come along with us as horses can't move along the glacier and moraines.

Campsite 

 
Sunrise over the Ramshi stream

At about 10:30am, we were on the summit 4730m. We climbed via the eastern arete from the col below Chhata pani ko nezo (nezo=peak). The descent from the peak was made via the same east arete upto the small glacial lake fed by the Ramshi glacier. 

Enroute to summit

Eastern summit ridge of sunset peak

The lake lies at the snout of the glacier and to the east of it is Naba Pir Pass, from where we descended down to Mughal road by following the course of Zaznar stream. The descent is very much steep almost 1200m elevation drop in some 6/7 kms. 

Zaznar stream

The overall difficulity is moderate. It is not a technical peak but a trekkable peak. The easiest possible route is via the East arete from col to the summit. 

Starting Point: Yousmarg

Ending Point: Zaznar Mughal Road

Highest recorded altitude: 4730m

Total distance: 39kms

Best time: July - Sept

Team Members: Arshid Majid, Taous Baba, Owais Shamsi, Tariq Zargar, Muhammad Zahid, Javaid sahb, Musaib Ayoub, Salik Abbas, Ishfaq Aziz, Adil, Ishfaq, Ahmad Adil, Junaid Hussain, Kaisaer Jameel, Hilal Wani and myself.


Having ice cream at Mughal Road

Enroute to summit, ascending Ramshi glacier

Enjoying at basecamp

View from the Col, below is the Dhelimarg meadow

Mughal Road




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