The biggest fear while doing a trek is altitude sickness because when you go high on a mountain, the air becomes thin. It makes less oxygen available for the body.

So, it’s better to understand how a Kedarkantha trek works:

What Is the Maximum Altitude of Kedarkantha?

First, we need to understand the altitudes of Kedarkantha. 

The Kedarkantha summit is at around 12,500 ft, which is 3,800 m above the sea level.

This could sound too high for a first-time trekker but the important thing here is how you reach that summit. 

There are multiple campsite altitudes and here is their comparison:

• Base at Sankri village (around 6,400 ft)
• First campsite at Juda ka talab (around 9,000ft)
• Second campsite at Kedarkantha base camp (around 11,000 ft)
• Summit (12,500 ft)

So the height here increases gradually over several days. It’s nothing like climbing 12,500 ft at once. 

Hence, this slow climb helps your body to adjust better to the altitude. And it makes the Kedarkantha trek safer as compared to other faster and higher treks.

Can You Get Altitude Sickness on Kedarkantha?

Yes, it is possible to get altitude sickness on Kedarkantha.

It is known as acute Mountain sickness (AMS). 

The risk of AMS on Kedarkantha is generally moderate. It happens when your body is not able to adjust to the high altitude. 

There are mainly three reasons why Kedarkantha has a moderate risk:

1. The summit is not extremely high. It is at a height of 12,500 ft and the risk of high AMS increases more above the 14,000-15,000 ft. and Kedarkantha stays below that range.
2. The trek has a gradual climb and takes at least 4-5 days to complete. So this gives the body the time to adjust to the high altitude.
3. The trek has a quick descent option, too. If someone feels unwell on the way, they can be taken to the lower campsite real quick. Because going down is the quickest way to deal with AMS.

Summon symptoms for AMS:

• Nausea
• Headache or vomiting
• Loss of appetite
• Dizziness
• Sleeplessness
• Extreme tiredness

And in most cases in Kedarkantha, symptoms are mild and improve with time and rest.

Why Acclimatization Is Important

Acclimatisation means giving the body time to adjust to the high altitude with lower oxygen levels. 

• Kedarkantha trek naturally helps with acclimatisation because 
• The climb is slow and gradual
• You rest in sleep in between, increasing the height step by step. 
• There is no rush to reach the summit on the first day itself.

To reduce the AMS risk, you can drink enough water, avoid alcohol and smoking, walk at a steady and slow pace, and inform your leader if you feel any uneasiness. 

How Trek Leaders Monitor Health

Safety is taken very seriously by the trek leaders. Trek leaders are trained to handle such situations and watch for the early signs of health problems, especially AMS. 

They are not just mere guides for the group. They also check everyone’s health every day. 

They monitor trekkers during the journey by checking their oxygen daily and pulse monitoring.

One of the most important safety rules is the slow ascent protocol: climb high, but slow.

Hence, daily checkups, careful observations and slow climbing make the Kedarkantha trek a safe and beginner-friendly trek. 

Winter Safety – Snow & Cold Conditions

The Kedarkantha trek is most popular in the winter season. 

The snow covered mountain views make it even more magical. But it also brings cold and snow related risks.

To understand this, we should know the answer to a few important questions:

How cold can it get?

So, in winter, the temperature can drop significantly at night.

The temperature during the day is around 8°C to 15°C in lower camps and 0°C to 5°C near the summit.

While in the night it can drop to -5°C to -10°C at higher camps.

Wind chill factor!

Winds at the Kedarkantha trek can get even colder than the temperature. It’s called the wind chill effect. 

It usually happens under the temperature of -5°C. When the strong wind can make it feel like -10°C or lower. This is why a proper wind breaker, jackets, gloves and caps are very important. 

Is Snow Trekking Dangerous?

Snow drawing trekking may look scary and tricky, but Kedarkantha is usually safe to do when done carefully. 

This is made possible with appropriate equipment and proper measures. 

The snow trails during winter become firm and packed because many groups trek at that time. 

This creates a clear walking path with sturdy snow for trekkers.

In such icy trails, trekkers use microspikes. These are small metal spikes attached to your shoes which improve the grip, reduce the risk of slipping and make walking easier on the ice.

Trek leaders follow a guided walking system. It goes like a guide walking in front and the group following the line while the support staff walks at the back. This keeps everyone safe and also reminds trekkers to walk slowly and carefully.

Equipment That Keeps You Safe

Equipment plays a very important role for safety purposes in a winter trek. 

Sleeping bags – These bags are designed to handle sub-zero temperatures. The bags are high-quality to be able to trap body heat and keep the trekkers warm at night. 

Tents – Winter tents are placed in a safe and stable area and can handle strong cold winds. Ground sheets and added insulated layers help reduce the cold from the snow on the ground.

Trekking poles – These poles help with maintaining balance on snow and downhill sections. They also help reduce pressure on knees, improve stability and prevent any slips.

Gaiters – Gaiters stop the snow from entering your shoes. They are worn over the shoes and lower pants as they keep your feet dry, warm and comfortable.