
Season & Weather Guide
The pass is sealed by deep snow for over half the year. The primary windows are pre-monsoon (June, expecting heavy snow) and post-monsoon (September to early October, expecting dry ice and clear skies).
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Peak Season
september, june
Off Season
january, february, march, april, may, july, august, november, december
September Ice
Key point
September melts the dangerous soft snow, revealing the hard 'blue ice' of the glacier. It is far safer to walk on visible ice with crampons than to guess where hidden crevasses lie under soft snow.
Season at a Glance
Conditions
Buried in dangerous avalanche zones.
Crowds
none
Closed. Extreme winter conditions.
Conditions
Buried.
Crowds
none
Closed. Extreme winter conditions.
Conditions
Buried.
Crowds
none
Early season. Deep snow accumulations.
Conditions
Deep, slushy, unstable snow.
Crowds
none
Early season. Deep snow accumulations.
Conditions
Opens for extreme alpine expeditions. Heavy snow trenching required.
Crowds
low
Prime pre-monsoon window. Good snow stability.
Conditions
Snow begins to consolidate. Classic glacier climbing window.
Crowds
medium
Prime pre-monsoon window. Good snow stability.
Conditions
Monsoon renders the lower forests muddy and visibility drops.
Crowds
low
Monsoon danger. Landslides and severe rains.
Conditions
High monsoon. Rivers are dangerously swollen.
Crowds
none
Monsoon danger. Landslides and severe rains.
Conditions
The ultimate window. Crevasses are visible, skies are sharp blue.
Crowds
medium
Crystal clear skies. Best visibility of the year.
Conditions
First two weeks are spectacular but rigidly cold.
Crowds
low
Crystal clear skies. Best visibility of the year.
Conditions
Blizzard danger increases. Pass freezes.
Crowds
none
Winter setting in. Sub-zero temperatures rapid.
Conditions
Closed.
Crowds
none
Closed. Extreme winter conditions.
Important Tips
Attempting this in August is a common mistake. Plunging into hidden crevasses disguised by fresh monsoon snow is a severe hazard.
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