Guides Tundup Wangail (left) and Achho thread their way past a waterfall on the Zanskar River, known as "Chadar" in its frozen state. Growing up in Zanska -- a remote valley in India that remains cut off from the world for five months each year -- Wangail has been trekking the frozen river since he was five.
Frozen waterfall —
Guides Tundup Wangail (left) and Achho thread their way past a waterfall on the Zanskar River, known as "Chadar" in its frozen state. Growing up in Zanska -- a remote valley in India that remains cut off from the world for five months each year -- Wangail has been trekking the frozen river since he was five.
Sankar Sridhar
Chadar's glass-smooth surfaces are difficult to walk across. On the bright side, they offer respite from lugging backpacks and rations. Zanskaris use homemade sleds to glide over the ice, saving both time and energy.
Natural slides —
Chadar's glass-smooth surfaces are difficult to walk across. On the bright side, they offer respite from lugging backpacks and rations. Zanskaris use homemade sleds to glide over the ice, saving both time and energy.
Sankar Sridhar
Climbing the walls of the gorge takes effort, but the reward of sleeping in caves makes it worthwhile. Zanskaris say that building a fire is easy in caves and that it's safer to stay high above the river at night to avoid sudden breakage of the ice.
Cave havens —
Climbing the walls of the gorge takes effort, but the reward of sleeping in caves makes it worthwhile. Zanskaris say that building a fire is easy in caves and that it's safer to stay high above the river at night to avoid sudden breakage of the ice.
Sankar Sridhar
Some rapids on the Zanskar River never freeze over. As the river chews the ice from beneath the surface and river rocks crack newly frozen sections, surface ice breaks off like shards of glass.
Shards of ice —
Some rapids on the Zanskar River never freeze over. As the river chews the ice from beneath the surface and river rocks crack newly frozen sections, surface ice breaks off like shards of glass.
Sankar Sridhar
Zanskar remains cut off even when schools reopen in winter 90 miles away in Leh, the capital of northern India's Ladakh region. Rather than asking kids as young as five to keep pace, fathers let them rest while they keep moving.
Going to school —
Zanskar remains cut off even when schools reopen in winter 90 miles away in Leh, the capital of northern India's Ladakh region. Rather than asking kids as young as five to keep pace, fathers let them rest while they keep moving.
Sankar Sridhar
One of the ironies on the Chadar river trek is the lack of drinking water. Breaking ice and melting it is a tiring task. Despite the risk, the Zanskaris prefer scooping water from exposed sections of the river.
Lack of drinking water —
One of the ironies on the Chadar river trek is the lack of drinking water. Breaking ice and melting it is a tiring task. Despite the risk, the Zanskaris prefer scooping water from exposed sections of the river.
Sankar Sridhar
Before it collapsed a few years ago, reaching this natural cave required a four-hour walking detour away from the Chadar to Ligshed Monastery. Residents of Lingshed village considered the feature a natural "mani" or gateway that cleanses and blesses people who walk the Chadar.
Sacred gateway —
Before it collapsed a few years ago, reaching this natural cave required a four-hour walking detour away from the Chadar to Ligshed Monastery. Residents of Lingshed village considered the feature a natural "mani" or gateway that cleanses and blesses people who walk the Chadar.
Sankar Sridhar
Climbing the gorge walls while carrying rations that weigh close to 40 kilograms (88 pounds) is painful. The thought of their waiting families and the urge to exit the Chadar as quickly as possible keep the Zanskaris moving.
Climbing the gorge —
Climbing the gorge walls while carrying rations that weigh close to 40 kilograms (88 pounds) is painful. The thought of their waiting families and the urge to exit the Chadar as quickly as possible keep the Zanskaris moving.
Sankar Sridhar
These two travelers are making their way to the temple in Pipiting, a village near the Zanskar capital city of Padum.
Faith —
These two travelers are making their way to the temple in Pipiting, a village near the Zanskar capital city of Padum.
Sankar Sridhar
Rays of reflected sunlight can be harsh for people such as this monk at Zanskar's Karsha Monastery. Even so, in winter, the sun becomes one of the villagers' most treasured commodities.
Sun, a hot commodity —
Rays of reflected sunlight can be harsh for people such as this monk at Zanskar's Karsha Monastery. Even so, in winter, the sun becomes one of the villagers' most treasured commodities.
Sankar Sridhar