Real Heroes of Chadar

What is now popularly known as the Chadar Trek, was decades ago, just a trade route, where the locals of the Zanskar region commuted back and forth to Leh, to sell goatskin, Yak butter and copper utensils. 

It’s hard to think that these locals, unlike us, did not have access to the expensive warm clothing or even sleeping bags to keep them warm. Being cut off from Leh during winter months, the frozen Zanskar river was their only means of survival. For days, they would navigate the tricky ice sheet and sleep the nights in the caves.