 Gondola
Terrain
Gulmarg's Poma designed gondola features
36 six-seater cabins to lift snowriders 1330 vertical
metres to the top station at 3980 metres above sea level.
From the top station an optional but easy 20 minute
walk will take you to Mt Apharwat's 4124 metre peak.
From the peak it is possible to glide
for over a couple of kilometres in either direction
along Apharwat's high Northwest and Southeast shoulders,
before descending the mountain's multiple ridges, faces
and bowls. From the Northwest shoulder this includes
magnificent and consistent advanced slopes (suitable
for fit intermediate
skiers and boarders) to distant parts of the Gulmarg
meadow.
 In
the other direction, gliding the Southeast shoulder
from the gondola exit door, before descending past Gulmarg
to the valley floor near Drang, provides a total ride
of over 1700 vertical metres of serious off-piste terrain.
Please do not attempt either of these adventures without
an experienced local guide.
Apart from the more exotic routes described
above, the central area from the gondola's top to mid
stations provides a superb array of high alpine slopes
for advanced and expert level skiing and snowboarding.
This is almost entirely challenging and ungroomed off-piste
terrain. Due to the area's size and steep topography
(and the small number of individuals who comprise the
local snowriding community), the resort plans to mark
only one run on the mountain's upper slopes this coming
winter.
The slopes served by Stage One of the
gondola, below the mid station restaurant at 3050 metres,
are far more gentle. With plenty of gigantic pines and
firs to help visibility, the area provides well protected
riding in all weather conditions. In addition to the
main groomed run which cruises from the mid station
to the gondola base, the resort plans to groom a couple
of additional runs in this area next winter. These include
a "return track from skier's left", which
will provide an easy finish to numerous unmarked descents
through scattered trees including plenty of "powder
stashes".
 One
of our favourite home tracks is the old chairlift line
which runs parallel to the gondola - "Mughuls"
is the closest Gulmarg has to a bump run. Empty chairs
hang overhead, defunct and motionless, like ghostly
spectators of your powder snow finesse - a surreal reminder
of skiers from bygone days and their earlier adventures
in Gulmarg!
Mountain map...
©Copyright, Peter
Robinson, Ski Himalaya
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